Vera Wang admitted she was taken aback by the viral response to her youthful appearance.
The 73-year-old fashion designer sent shockwaves across social media in 2020 after she posted an age-defying Instagram snap of herself in a sports bra and shorts.
In the image, Wang, who was 70 at the time, showed off her toned arms and midriff as her long locks flowed in the Miami breeze.
“I guess it’s just that people have an idea of what 70 looks like today,” she told People of the overwhelming response to her viral snap. “I have so many friends that are 65 to 70 that look fabulous. But I have to say that hopefully, it’s a good thing.”
“I hope it makes women feel more comfortable with themselves or are confident, or there are many definitions of what a woman can be,” the wedding dress designer added.
Wang recalled the moment the viral picture was taken, revealing to the outlet that she was quarantined with a few of her employees at a Miami pad at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There was a treadmill in our house, and they kept pushing me to get on it. I said, ‘I’m busy watching CNN!” she said.
“I was going to get on the treadmill when my design director for mass bridal said to me, ‘We’re selling barrettes. Could you put these in your hair? I’ll take the picture.’”
As she was “about to get” on the treadmill, her pals rushed over and told her about the viral response to her youthful snap.
Not understanding what all the fuss was about, she asked her friends which photo they were referring to.
“You. In an orange workout top with white jeans shorts,” they responded, leaving her puzzled as to why her outfit sparked such a strong reaction.
“Now, it was like 90 degrees in Miami, I wasn’t going to wear a turtleneck sweater! We just all looked at each other and said, ‘Are you kidding?’ Just didn’t really get it,” she explained.
“I’ve been to the Met Gala. I’ve gone to the Oscars. It’s crazy,” she said. “Seriously, when I say to people, ‘I don’t get it.’ If we planned something like this, it would’ve never happened.”
This is not the first time Wang has been championed as “age-defying” as she shares frequent snaps on social media that flaunt her toned physique.
Wang previously revealed that “work, sleep, a vodka cocktail, not much sun” is the key to her wrinkle-free glow.
“I value having a vodka cocktail at the end of the day. Because it helps me to transition from a very intense work schedule to a bit of a private life,” Wang told the BBC in 2020.
“I was really shocked, I have to be very honest,” she told the outlet. “I didn’t think of myself as being particularly risqué.”
However, she noted that she was “grateful” when people praised her abs and called those remarks “very complimentary”.
