Ai-Ling Louie, illustrated by Cathy Peng,
Vera Wang:  Queen of Fashion, Amazing Asian American
Dragoneagle Press, 2007.

Ages 8-12

In this new addition to the world of juvenile biographies, Louie chronicles the life of champion ice skater, successful magazine editor and famous clothing designer, Vera Wang. A sticker on the cover of Vera Wang: Queen of Fashion, a picture book biography, informs readers that author Ai-Ling Louie (Yeh-Shen: a Cinderella Story from China) knows her subject personally – which adds veracity to the tale of a “Chinese American princess” who realizes the American dream.

Trips to Europe for fashion shows, impeccable clothing, ice skating and ballet lessons and elite schools all pave the way for Wang to achieve phenomenal personal success, both nationally and worldwide. Peng’s watercolors detail the bustle and opportunity in the life of a privileged, cosmopolitan young girl. They also point to the importance of Vera’s parents, husband and adopted daughters, all pictured on many pages. Budding fashionistas will particularly love the sketches of elegant bridal gowns and ethereal skating outfits, and will get a kick out of the details of one particular fashion shoot, involving models and Dobermans, which went  awry.

Although the author comments that Upper East Side New Yorkers “were not used to seeing Chinese children” in the 1950’s, there is surprisingly no mention of race or gender as a barrier to Vera Wang’s success. Whereas ‘Notes on Chinese American Immigration’ are included, the book’s focus is clearly on the subject’s determination and drive to achieve in every endeavor.

This slender biography offers an inspirational story about a multi-talented and very tenacious Chinese American woman, and the list of further reading and websites about Wang and Chinese American history are an appropriate nod to the book’s, most likely, very modern audience.

Following on from the publication of Vera Wang, Dragoneagle Press is promising more titles in the Amazing Asian Americans series, with musician siblings Yo Yo and Yeou Cheng Ma lined up as their next success story.

Kristen O. Daniel
May 2008