Sue Wong
Sue Wong | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Los Angeles Technical Trade School |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Style | Old Hollywood glamour |
| Spouse | Ralph Homann (divorced) |
Sue Wong is a Chinese-born American fashion designer best known for her dress designs that embody a modern twist on old Hollywood glamor style.[1] Her collections, available in some 27 countries, have been noted for employing the traditions of couture dress-making to evoke a modern interpretation of romantic eras such as Weimar Berlin, 1930s Shanghai, Pre-code Hollywood and Manhattan’s gilded Jazz Age. She owns Sue Wong Studio S, based in Los Angeles, CA.
Early life
Sue Wong was born in a remote countryside of southern China in April 1949.[2] At the age of 5, her mother bribed a border guard with her wedding jewels to allow their escape from Communist China into Hong Kong. A year later, they finally reached Los Angeles, where they reunited with Wong's father who had moved to the United States before she was born.[1]
Wong made her first blouse with her mom's Singer sewing machine when she was 9 years old out of a scrap of fabric and some lace. A few years later, in junior high and high school, she insisted upon designing and sewing herself a new dress for each weekly dance of the school year. Her senior prom dress was her own creation as well, adorned with beads hand sewn into the bodice.[3]
Career
Sue Wong landed an internship with Arpeja, a popular fashion design label in the 1960s and 70s.[1] After a brief attempt at venturing out on her own in 1970 to open a boutique with her best friend, she was back at Arpeja in 1976 with the position of head designer of their Young Edwardian line. By 1977 she had taken the company's sales from $5 million to $50 million.[4]
In 1979, Wong again attempted to strike out on her own, but was unsuccessful. She finally found success when she started her own clothing line in 1984. Now, with her licensed brand, Sue Wong Studio S, Inc., and her younger son Josh Homann working alongside her as COO of her company, Wong has made a name for herself in the fashion industry.[1] In 1999, she created Sue Wong Nocturne, an evening wear line that came just in time for the millennium. Her designs have been worn by such celebrities as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Vanessa Minnillo, Kelly Osbourne, and Tyra Banks.[2]
Personal life
In her early 20s, Sue Wong married artist and textile designer Ralph Homann and had two sons. After six and a half years of marriage, Homann and Wong divorced and she has remained single since.[1] In 2004, Wong purchased The Cedars, a hilltop villa in Los Feliz originally built in 1926, and spent 2 years restoring the mansion to its intended 1920s glamorous Hollywood state.[5] As an avid art collector for some 25 years, she has a collection of over 200 pieces, both on canvas and sculpture.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e Calvert, Kim (24). "Sue Wong – Fashion, Beauty and Bliss". Singular Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
2014
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=,|date=, and|year=/|date=mismatch (help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ a b FMD. "Sue Wong". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ^ Howard, Justin. "Sue Wong, The Fashion Alchemist". About Fashion Designers. About.com. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ^ Kalter, Suzy (28 November 1977). "In the World of Sue Wong, the Dress Is Making a Comeback and That's No Pipe Dream". People Magazine Archive. People Magazine. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ^ Morgan, Lynn (2007). "Hollywood Babylon Revisited". Antiques & Fine Art. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ^ Haines, Reyne (7 March 2013). "Celebrity Collector: Sue Wong". Huff Post Style. the Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 April 2014.