NEW YORK, May 1, 2001 / --- On average, a bride spends about an hour-and-a-half of her wedding day with her back to her guests. All the more reason for Vera Wang, the doyenne of wedding wear, to look in one direction for her spring 2002 bridal collection: backwards.

Wang introduced some radical variations on the train yesterday during an intimate presentation held in the new showroom space at her 39th Street offices.

Talking guests through a lineup of about 30 gowns, Wang pointed out twists on the traditional flourish, as well as on hemlines. The result was a bridal collection that garnered the kind of gasps heard when a real-life bride marches down the aisle.

For an entirely new take on trains, Wang fastened them to all parts of the dress. A chignon train fell to form a knot at the small of the back, and an empire train was secured with tiny bows and delicate straps. Continuing her tradition of honoring the myriad needs of modern brides, many of these trains - as well as a number of skirts - were removable for a more relaxed post-ceremony look.

"So many of my clients say they want to look one way for the wedding and another for the reception," Wang said. And with such clever tricks of tailoring and design, Wang once again delivered.

"Architectural" is how she described hemlines that fell in irregular, eye-catching lines. A duchesse satin gown echoed the delicate scallop of the neckline on the hem. Another gown, an organza strapless sheath that Wang called "car wash," moved with ethereal grace thanks to a split skirt and the lack of a fixed hem. In her eminently likeable manner, Wang told the crowd that she called this dress the "car wash," referring to the chammies used to suds up cars.

In addition to hems and trains, Wang also concentrated on color. Her spring 2002 collection features 8 different whites, from oyster and pearl, to marble and bone. Other nuances came in the form of square buttons and rigid, structured cowl necks.

The highlight of the collection was an organza strapless gown embellished with beaded ferns on tulle overlay. The gown, which Wang said was "Dior inspired," met with obvious approval from both Polly Mellen and Andre Leon Talley, who received it with enthusiastic applause.

In addition to presenting her collection, Wang used the opportunity to announce the completion of her first book "Vera Wang on Weddings." The book, which Wang has been working on for five years, is due out this fall.

Vera Wang Bridal Collection

Vera Wang Bridal Collection

Vera Wang Bridal Collection

Vera Wang Bridal Collection