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Betsey Johnson
New York clothing designer Betsey Johnson has built her long-standing career in fashion by following her own set of rules.
Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over-the-top in the clothes she designs, Betsey Johnson has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960s. Her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has afforded Betsey continued success in an industry known for its fickleness. Her ability to change with the times while keeping her clothing designs pure has not gone unnoticed. At the 1999 CFDA Awards, Betsey was presented The Timeless Talent Award, created especially for her, which recognized her influence on fashion throughout her career.
Betsey Johnson was born in Connecticut and spent her childhood in dance classes. Her aspirations to be a dancer and her love for costumes laid the foundation for Betsey's creativity and inspiration, which is still evident in her dress designs today. In 1964, Betsey officially entered the New York fashion scene by winning Mademoiselle magazine's "Guest Editor Contest." One year later, she landed the top designer position for Paraphernalia, a clothing boutique that at the time housed the hottest young London designers, including Mary Quant, Tuffin and Foale, among others. What would soon become known as Betsey's trademark look began its formations here: dresses and other clothes marked by sexy silhouettes, hippie-inspired flowing fabrics, whimsical detailing and, most importantly, a fabulous fit.
Now firmly part of what was considered the "Youth Quake," Betsey Johnson soon found herself in the unforgettable 1960s Warhol scene. Edie Sedgwick was the house model for her dresses, while the Velvet Underground's John Cale took to wearing her designs both on-stage and off. In 1969, Betsey began her foray into retail by opening a new boutique called Betsey Bunki Nini. Directly following the opening of the new store, Betsey was offered a job from Alvin Dunskin in San Francisco, and thus began living a bi-coastal life for the remaining years of the 60s.
Along with the new decade came new career opportunities for Betsey; and in the early 1970s she came into creative control of the label Alley Cat, a label which set the trends for the 70's rock 'n' roll clothing, with hippie and ethnic styles. In 1972, along with Halston, Betsey won the coveted Coty Award, becoming the youngest designer to ever receive the honor.
After a decade of designing for other labels, Betsey decided to make a dramatic change in her life, and in 1978 she formed a partnership with Chantal Bacon and started the Betsey Johnson label, as it is known today. Designing for herself allowed Betsey the creative freedom to execute her vision to its fullest potential. That same year, Betsey and Chantal launched their first retail store in the heart of Soho. In the early 80s, they were one of the first to open a store on Melrose Avenue, helping the street to gain its worldwide recognition as one of the best shopping areas of the 1980s.
Today, there are over 41 Betsey Johnson clothing stores worldwide. International expansion came in 1998 with the opening of the wildly successful London store, and in 1999 the Vancouver store opened its doors. Betsey Johnson clothing is also available in better department stores, as well as in over 1,000 specialty stores throughout the country and in Europe and Japan. The launch of Betsey Johnson Kids, in 2002, marked the first licensing endeavor for the company, taking Betsey's signature prints and whimsy to a new audience...the next generation of the Betsey Johnson girl. |
 
 
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Betsey Johnson
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