She's the same age as Meryl Streep and Julie Walters, but what IS the secret to Vera Wang's youthful looks as she dazzles in very low-cut dress at the Met Gala?

Daily Mail​

07-05-2025

She was born in the same decade as Joe Biden, Robert De Niro and King Charles.
But you'd be forgiven for mistaking Vera Wang for someone decades younger.
The designer, who turns 76 next month, shocked fans at the Met Gala as she appeared on the red carpet in a risque low-cut gown with a bold new hair style, more likely to be seen on a member of Gen Z than a baby boomer.
Her sartorial choices are in stark contrast to those made by her same-age peers, such as Meryl Streep and Julie Walters, who often for more coverage when posing on the red carpet.
But any attempt to pigeonhole Vera - who designed the wedding dresses of some of the world's most famous faces, including Victoria Beckham, Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian - into what's 'appropriate' for her age, though, will be roundly dismissed.
She previously said she finds ageism 'so old-fashioned', adding that in life, 'you have to try and continue to grow in one way or another'.
In a 2022 interview with BBC 100 Women, Vera said her 'magic elixir' for staying youthful is work.
She continues to work as chief creative officer of her fashion empire, which encompasses bridal wear, ready-to-wear fashion, accessories, fragrances, and homeware.
Vera has been working in the fashion industry since the age of 18.
At 23, she made history as the youngest-ever fashion editor at Vogue, but it wasn't until nearly 20 years later that she launched her namesake fashion label.
However, perhaps more powerful than work is her approach to beauty - which is not to take it too seriously.
Amazingly, she's also praised her diet for youthful looks - claiming the secret is vodka, McDonald's and donuts.
'I do eat McDonald's, absolutely, I order it every day, like two weeks on it, and then I'll change,' she told Page Six last year.
The wedding dress designer also admitted she enjoys Dunkin' Donuts, sharing: 'I like the cream-filled, sugar-coated donut.
'It's like a jelly donut, but it's cream inside, vanilla cream. I like the pink with sprinkles, too.'
The star previously shared in 2020 that her anti-aging secrets included 'work, sleep, a vodka cocktail [and] not much sun.'
The beauty also told Page Six that her work life keeps her young.
'Basically, I've worked my whole life, so it's really been about work. I think work keeps you young and stimulated.'
'I work very long hours, I've raised two daughters. I think keeping busy is the best antidote [for] good health.'
The iconic bridal fashion designer has been praised for her youthful looks, which she credits to having a vodka cocktail and getting enough sleep every night
In 2020, Wang, then 71, became a viral sensation over lockdown for sharing photos of herself in a cropped sports bra and tiny white denim shorts. She is the same age as Julie Walters (left)
She continues to share photos of herself wearing age-defying outfits, including lots of short shorts, skirts and crop tops despite being in 70s. She is the same age as Meryl Streep (left)
Vera is no stranger to showing her skin and not letting her age dictate what she wears.
At the BAFTAs, she wore a strapless gown with a cut-out that showed off her toned midriff.
In 2020, she went viral for her youthful appearance after sharing snaps of herself posing in a bright orange sports bra and tiny white denim shorts.
Since then, Vera has continued to post photographs of her age-defying outfits, never shying away from super-short shorts and skirts, sky-high heels and crop tops.
Vera said she never thought of 'going out of my way' to preserve her youth 'in a fanatical obsessive way'.
She added that she 'never thought about youth' while working in fashion over the last 35 years.
'Probably because I work with the most beautiful women in the world on a daily basis,' the designer said.
'Because of that, I more envision them as my muses. Maybe it's a way of dealing with ageing that is productive.
Wang shocked her fans with age-defying snaps on her birthday in June 2022 with one saying 'Dang girl what's your ageless secret!'
Wang is pictured in New York in 2005 aged 55
Wang is pictured in 2008 in New York
While she balances out her meals between healthy, nutritious whole foods and junk food, Wang is prone to periods of eating the same fast foods every day.
In 2012, she revealed to Harper's Bazaar that 'at one point I was eating a slice of Ray's pizza every day'.
Apart from her nightly vodka cocktail, though, Wang said she only drinks water.
She gave up drinking Diet Coke in 2006, which she said was 'the hardest thing I ever gave up'.
However, the thing she won't compromise on in order to feel and look healthy is sleep.
Getting enough shut-eye is 'very important' to the designer.
She told Page Six that she gets a minimum of eight hours of sleep a night, adding: 'I don't feel healthy unless I get eight.'
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, when she was 73, she said: 'I think what happens sometimes as you age... I'm more frightened about physical disabilities... not all this.
'I'm not totally preoccupied with how I look. I love my work, and I'm very passionate about my work, my friends, my daughters... I mean, I have a very full life.'
Vera - pictured above in 2001 (left) and 2004 - made history as Vogue's youngest-ever fashion editor when she landed the job at 23
Vera, seen above in 2019 at two separate events, continues to work as the chief creative officer of her fashion and lifestyle empire and credits working with her youthfulness
Vera enjoys sharing poolside photos from her home in Los Angeles and doesn't shy away from swimsuit snaps
The beloved designer is no stranger to showing some skin and her approach to beauty and ageing is not to take things so seriously
She has a surprisingly relaxed approach to beauty and diet, regularly indulging in Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's
Vera started her own company at the age of 40 and revealed she felt 'very lucky' to have built her own empire.
And while she is now known as a bridal wiz, she hasn't always been obsessed with the wedding industry.
At eight years old, she trained to be a figure skater but wasn't successful, so she decided to enter the fashion industry.
She worked at Vogue for 17 years before moving to Ralph Lauren for two years.
After that, she became an independent bridal wear designer and has designed gowns for Ariana Grande, Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Khloe Kardashian, and Kim Kardashian.