Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson was just a normal girl from Wethersfield, Connecticut. She was born in 1942, with aspirations to go to New York and become a rockette. She had always had a love costumes and fun. Little did Betsey know that one-day she would have her own fashion label with over 65 retail locations, and also be the winner of countless awards including her career launching award, Mademoiselle magazine’s “Guest Editor Contest.” in 1964. After that this big dreamed Connecticut girl, with a little bit too much love for the color pink, Betsey headed off to New York City. After winning Betsey began working for Paraphernalia, a clothing boutique that at the time housed the hottest young London designers. This is where Betsey’s now “Signature Style” was born.

Betsey found her self in the Warhol era, full of color and pop art. Her house model
was Edie Sedgwick and in 1969 she opened her first boutique calling Betsey Bunki Nini. After her store opening she started working for Alvin Duckin in San Francisco.

After almost a decade of designing for other labels she created her own. Betsey Johnson label was created in 1978. Her first retail store was in the middle of Soho, in New York City, and from there the company grew to her now having over 65 retail stores today. The label has also gone from just apparel to apparel, accessories, footwear, swimwear, lingerie, and handbags. Betsey has also won a numerous awards including Fashion Walk of Fame in 2002, Designer of the Year Award in 2007, National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion in 2009. Also a breast Cancer survivor Betsey Johnson is truly a incredible women.

When interviewing Betsey knowing all the awards she has received and how many successful collections she has put out, you would expect her to have a pretty big head. But surprisingly it is the exact opposite. When asked, “What’s the most surprising thing about fame…?” She replied humbly, “I’m famous?” Also she when asked what her proudest achievement she says “LULU! My daughter! And my second best thing are my two grandkids.” Betsey also goes on to say that her favorite things in her life are her “Lover, Pets, and Family.” When she talks about her pets she says, “Lucy’s like my little girlfriend. She’s the friendliest, sweetest Maltese you’ll ever meet.”

Also surprising is after all this time, Betsey’s collection hasn’t lost its spunk. She says she "I always stuck to my guns no matter what." This says a lot of the designer considering her collection it is like nothing you’ve ever seen on the runway, but her collection sells, and people still love it. Showing that even though she usually takes her designs to the max, and always surprises people with the amount of color in her collections. You can design what you want, and design from anything and everything that inspires you, no matter how crazy or out there, and you can still be successful.

Betsey also talks about what she would do if she wasn’t a designer she says “A Rockette, an interior decorator or a florist.” She says she has wanted to be a rockette ever since she was 9 years old. Betsey goes on to say why she still designs and stays in the industry, she says, “Making clothes involves what I like…color, pattern, shape and movement…I like the everyday process…the people, the pressure, the surprise of seeing the work come alive walking and dancing around on strangers. Like red lipstick on the mouth, my products wake up and brighten and bring the wearer to life…drawing attention to her beauty and specialness…her moods and movements…her dreams and fantasies.” After over 40 years in the fashion industry, still loving it, and people still love her. It’s quite an achievement. By the looks of the traditional cartwheel at the end of the Fall 2010 runway done by Betsey herself, I don’t think she will be retiring anytime soon. When asked about retiring Betsey quotes Bette Davis “Retirement? I’ll never retire as long as I have my legs and my make-up kit!” So Betsey fans have no fear, Betsey is here to stay.