NEW YORK (AP) -- Vera Wang, arguably the queen of red-carpet dressing, didn't go into the fashion business with stars in her eyes. She knew about its unglamorous side, the hard work and, especially, the risks. And there were plenty of doubts along the way.
But every time one person
— and, she says, it really just takes one — understands what she's trying to express with a certain drape of a fabric, a particular color or a new silhouette, she's reminded of the reason why she became involved in fashion, and why she's still in it: There's an indefinable payoff that comes when she's helped a woman look and feel her best.
"I didn't come into this like all these teenagers who don't know better. I wasn't a 'young, new designer,' but I was a new designer and had to go through those growing pains. The risks were apparent to me, and I had seen so many of my friends go through ups and downs," Wang said in a recent interview.
Wang, 63, was honored for lifetime achievement by the Council of Fashion Designers at its star-studded awards show Monday night at Lincoln Center. She accepted the award from her mentor (and former employer) Ralph Lauren.
"To all the women and men I have dressed, thank you for your trust," she said during her acceptance speech.