Designer's Spotlight- Betsey Johnson

I was thinking it would be fun to pick a designer and talk about why I like them and a little of their history. So of course first I have picked Betsey Johnson (my role model :])

Betsey Johnson’s whimsical personality has shown through her wild and outrageous clothing for the last forty years. She does not go by the fashion rules but creates her own set of rules and that design philosophy has made her famous.

Guys Love BJ too.


Betsey and her daughter and grandaughter's at Spring 2010 New York Fashion Week.

Betsey Johnson was born August 10, 1942 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Betsey began attending dance classes as young as four and when Betsey was in the third grade she discovered a love for drawing and crafts. Betsey’s dance teacher influenced her greatly by encouraging her to make her own dance costumes and that is where she began to design her clothing. After graduating high school in 1960, Betsey attended Pratt Institute in New York, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University, which was also in New York. In 1964, she won a “Guest Editor Contest” put on by Mademoiselle Magazine, and also received a trip to London. At Mademoiselle, Betsey was the illustrator and only a year later she was the top designer for “Paraphernalia” which had the hippest clothing by London designers. In 1969 she opened up her first boutique called “Betsey Bunki Nini” in the upper east side of New York. In the 70’s she took over the label “Alley Cat” which was popularized by rock and roll musicians of the time. In 1978, she took a huge step and started her first fashion line with Chantel Bacon named “Betsey Johnson”, as we know it today.

Today Betsey has over forty-five stores worldwide as well as 1000 specialty and department stores. Her Clientele includes mostly women from the ages of 18 to early 40s and she also has a childrens line. In 2003, Betsey added shoes, leg wear, jeans, and lingerie, and in 2004 she added accessories, belts, handbags, wraps, scarves, hats, and ponchos. Betsey’s line is diverse from other designers because its not all about elegance, its about having fun, being feminine, and loving life.

Betsey presents her clothes in very unique ways. Her fashion shows are known for being outrageous. When the models walk the runway they look as though they are comfortable in what they are wearing and having a good time. In 2001 Betsey designed a line and named it “Betsey’s Closet”. All the clothes were things that she would wear and they all looked typically “Betsey”. In that show the models had extravagant makeup, funky hair extensions with bold highlights, and lightening bolt tattoos. It looked like a bunch of Betseys strutting down the runway. She always wants an element of surprise. Last year, Playboy bunnies modeled Betsey’s clothing, and before that biker chicks came out in her latest clothes. It is also a tradition for Betsey to do cartwheels down the runway at the end of each show.

Walking inside one of Betsey’s Boutiques is like walking into a clothing fairytale. The walls are funky colors like pinks, greens, silvers, and yellows, with her signature rose designs flourishing the walls. There are elaborate drapes cascading that make the clothes come alive. The first time I walked inside one of her stores I noticed that there was only one of each item. That is a great selling strategy because it makes each piece of clothing unique and all the more desirable. The tags on the clothing have snapshots of her with little notes that say, “have a nice day”, or other friendly phrases.

Betsey has earned many awards for her achievements. In 1972, Betsey was the youngest designer to win the Coty Award. In 1999, at the CFDA Awards Betsey won The Timeless Talent Award, which was made especially for her. Finally in 2002 Betsey was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame, which honored her contribution to the fashion society. In 2003, the bronze and granite plaque, which had her biography, signature, and sketch was placed on Seventh Avenue.

Betsey is a fashion icon to many people for more than just her creative fashions. Betsey is a breast cancer survivor and many people have been inspired by her bravery and vigor for life. She devotes much of her efforts to breast cancer fundraisers. The CFDA asked her to be a Honorary Chairperson for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer in 2003. Also she teamed up with Geralyn Lucas the author of “Why I wore Lipstick…To My Mastectomy” to design a t-shirt for breast cancer awareness that was sold inside her boutiques.

In 2003 Betsey went on vacation to Mexico and bought a hotel which she named “Betseyville”. She also bought another villa and named it “Villa Betsey”. She has been using her vacation homes as inspiration for her future designs. I think she has earned some well deserved time off but there is absolutely no signs of her retiring anytime soon. Betsey said something that can pretty much sum up her entire love for fashion and what she does, “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 clothes 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.”