Betsey Johnson

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"Betsy Johnson" redirects here. For the American politician from Oregon, see Betsy Johnson (Oregon politician).
Betsey Johnson
Johnson at the 2007 Red Dress Collection show for The Heart Truth campaign
Born (1942-08-10) 10 August 1942 (age 81)
Wethersfield, Connecticut, U.S.
OccupationFashion designer
SpouseJohn Cale (1968—1969)
Children1
WebsiteOfficial website

Betsey Johnson (born August 10, 1942) is an American fashion designer best known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Many of her designs are considered "over the top" and embellished. She also is known for doing a cartwheel at the end of her fashion shows.[1]

Biography

Early life

Johnson is the second of three children born to Lena and John Johnson. She has an older sister, Sally, and a younger brother, Robert. Johnson took many dance classes, which inspired her love of costumes.[2] Following her graduation from high school, Johnson studied at the Pratt Institute and then later graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University[3] where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority.[4] After graduation, she spent a summer as a intern at Mademoiselle magazine.[1]

Career

A yellow Betsey Johnson dress, 2006.
Betsey Johnson jewelry, 2011.

Johnson's fashion career started after she entered and won the Mademoiselle Guest Editor Contest. Within a year, she was the in-house designer for Manhattan boutique Paraphernalia. Johnson became part of both the youthquake fashion movement and Andy Warhol's underground scene, along with The Velvet Underground, Edie Sedgwick and Lou Reed. In 1969, she opened a boutique called Betsey Bunky Nini on New York's Upper East Side. Edie Sedgwick was her house model and Johnson designed the clothing Sedgwick wore on her last film, Ciao! Manhattan. [citation needed]

In the 1970s, Johnson took control of the fashion label "Alley Cat" which was popular with the rock 'n roll musicians of the day. In her first year, her debut collection for Alley Cat reportedly sold $5 million in volume.[5] In 1972 she won the Coty Award.

In 1978, Johnson started her own fashion line.[6] In contrast, her second collection did not sell well, leaving her with 3,000 pieces of spring clothing and insufficient funds to stage a fashion show to attempt to sell them. In response, Johnson opened a retail store in the SoHo area of New York City.[3] As of 2011, she has more than 65 stores worldwide.[citation needed] In 2002, Johnson was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame. Her bronze plaque held one of her original sketches. In 2003, she expanded her line for 2004 to include handbags, accessories, hats, and scarves. [7]

In 2008, Johnson was a contributor to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb.[8][9] The National Arts Club awarded Johnson the 2009 Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion.[10] She once described her style as a formula: "Take a leotard and add a skirt."[1]

Personal life

In 1968, Johnson married Velvet Underground's John Cale but divorced him less than a year later.[11] Following her split from Cale, she relocated to San Francisco, California and New York City.[12][13] In 1975, Johnson gave birth to her only child, a daughter named Lulu. Lulu was born immediately after Johnson did a children's wear collection show.[14] In 2006, Johnson's granddaughter, Layla, was born to Lulu.[15]

In 2002, Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer.[16] Ultimately, she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation treatment.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c Anne-Marie Schiro (1999-05-18). "Betsey Johnson - Honor for a Life of Celebrating Youth". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  2. ^ "Betsey Johnson Still Loves Cheerleaders and the Prom". New York Magazine. February 14, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Michele Ingrassia (1981-08-20). "Her reputation for bizarre pays off". Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  4. ^ "Summer 2006 Quill - Distinguished Designer" (PDF). Alpha Xi Delta. 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-19. [dead link]
  5. ^ Marian Christy (1971-09-15). "Betsey Johnson Hits the Top With Funny Off-Beat Designs". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  6. ^ Phoebe Hoban (1998-06-07). "For Betsey Johnson, the Voice of Maturity Is Her Daughter's". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  7. ^ http://www.biography.com/people/betsey-johnson-23182
  8. ^ LA WEEKLY July 30, 2008
  9. ^ "WHO SAYS COOLNESS CAN'T BE TAUGHT?". 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  10. ^ Ramirez, Elva (2009-10-14). "Betsey Johnson Receives Award, Pledges Allegiance to Fashion "Through Hell and High Water"". The Wall Street Journal.
  11. ^ Simon Prince (2010-02-28). "John Cale: The long reign of the alternative Prince of Wales". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  12. ^ "Biography - Betseyjohnson.com".
  13. ^ "Designer Betsey Johnson tells NYC teens: You rule". Statesman.com. February 2, 2012.
  14. ^ Anna Gizowska (2004-02-24). "Relative Values: Betsey Johnson and her daughter Lulu". London: The Times. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  15. ^ "Article: FASHION SCOOPS: EURO STAR...WINDOW WATCHERS...LINE AND VERSE". WWD. 2006-03-06. Perennial fashion wild child Betsey Johnson has become a grandmother. Lulu Johnson gave birth early Tuesday to Layla Johnson Margulies, who weighed in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Mother, daughter and grandma are said to be doing fine. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  16. ^ "FASHION WEEK SHOCKER Designer reveals her breast cancer battle". New York Daily News. 2000-09-15. Retrieved 2010-03-09. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  17. ^ Rachel Evans-Biermann (2002-03-13). "Betsey Johnson fashions fight against breast cancer". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-03-09.

External links


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