Maybe Vera Wang isn’t ready to compete solo just yet.
Sources close to the famous wedding dress designer, who announced on July 11 via the president of her multimillion-dollar company that she was separating from husband Arthur Becker , say she’s been playing house with someone young enough to be her son.
According to an insider, 27-year-old Olympic champion figure skater Evan Lysacek moved into Wang’s Beverly Hills mansion last month . The source says the 63-year-old fashionista offered Lysacek the opportunity “to stay there for a while.”
The status of their current relationship, however, is unclear even to those closest to them. There is “something going on,” says the source, while a second insider says Wang is “just enamoured with him and enjoys his company,” and doesn’t think a sexual relationship is in the cards. A spokeswoman for Wang had no comment.
The fashion designer and hunky athlete, who was once linked to Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin , have collaborated on more than a growing friendship: Wang created the tuxedo-style outfit Lysacek wore when he won the 2009 World Championships, and the duo also collaborated to design his costumes for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where the skater took home the gold .
Wang, a former figure skater herself, helped create outfits for other athletes, such as Michelle Kwan , in the past. A Wang confidante says she is working on future ensembles for Lysacek, but that it could all depend on where his skating career takes him. While the Chicago native did not skate competitively in 2010-2011, he did not announce his retirement, and has slowly returned to the ice. He trains at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, Calif., which is approximately 25 minutes from Beverly Hills.
Last September, the former “Dancing With the Stars” contestant surprised fans by announcing his interest in the 2014 Olympics after being out of the limelight of the competition circuit.
Regardless, we hear he is enjoying his time in Beverly Hills. Our first source says Lysacek has been spotted in a white Bentley and with a large, flashy Rolex recently.
Meanwhile, Wang, who wed Becker at the Pierre Hotel in 1989 and has two daughters with the businessman who works closely with her company, allegedly gave herself a makeover that has nothing to do with tulle. The first source says it is “common knowledge” that Wang “recently got a face-lift and recovered in San Francisco” in late May and early June.
By that time, a separate source, who also confirms the procedure, says the struggles in her marriage were already apparent. Again, a spokeswoman for Wang had no comment.
Representatives for Lysacek did not get back to us by deadline.
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