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Betsey Johnson[edit]

**Betsey Johnson** (in pink and black petticoat) celebrating the end of one of her runway shows. Models all wearing Betsey Johnson themed "Yes We Can!" tops. 2011.

Betsey Johnson (born August 10, 1942, age 78) is a celebrated fashion designer. She is known for her extreme color use, mixing patterns, use of bold textiles and silhouette design. Johnson has had a lengthy career do to her creativity, ambition, self-motivation and perseverance. Her clothing and accessories are described as over the top whimsical yet just as edgy, making it easy to be a stand out brand among the competitive fashion industry. One of her trademarks has been (and continues to be) doing a cartwheel into the splits at the end of her runway shows.

Website: https://betseyjohnson.com/^[1]

Instagram: @xoxbetseyjohnson^[2]

Twitter: @xoxbetseyjohnson^[3]

Life and Education[edit]

Betsey Johnson was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut and grew up in Terryville, Connecticut. She has two siblings, an older sister and younger brother. Her father was an engineer and her mother was a guidance counselor. In her youth, Johnson had a passion for dance and dance costumes, which inspired her having a costume-like influence in her own designs. Her love of dance has also influenced her love of exercising and designing athletic wear and athleisure.

After high school, Johnson continued her undergraduate studies at Pratt Institute where she developed and advanced her creativity and education in art and design before transferring to and finishing her degree at Syracuse University.

Johnson was married three times in total, marrying her current husband, Brian Reynolds in 1997. She also had a daughter in 1985, Lulu Johnson.

Betsey Johnson is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed about 21 years ago. Johnson regularly promotes to be at "your breast health" and to "luv your ladies" speaking out about the intensity and importance of awareness of this cancer.

Johnson also promotes female empowerment and body inclusivity.

Career[edit]

Betsey Johnson has had a long career in the fashion industry, beginning in the 1960s, as part of the "Youthquake" movement. Johnson's ambition, creativity, drive and willingness to learn more was what led her through a successful career, and continues to. Johnson launched her career by winning a contest that won her a guest editor position at Mademoiselle Magazine. Within one year of this, she accepted the head designer position at Paraphernalia, a New York City boutique. At Paraphernalia, she was able to focus into her aesthetic of bright, quirky, whimsical and edgy designs. Within a few years, Johnson moved on to accepting creative control for Alley Cat, a clothing brand that specialized in "crazy colorful" sportswear - athletic, athleisure and ready to wear. Johnson was really taken notice of during this time, as she was showing promising talent and success, at such a young age. One year after leading Alley Cat, she was honored with the Coty Fashion Critics Award, being the youngest recipient of said award. After some years, in the later 1970's, Johnson decided it was time to develop her own brand. Partnering with former model, Chantal Bacon, they launched the brand, Betsey Johnson. Together, they made clothing "for them and their friends", inspired by the music revolution entering the 1980s with punk and new wave, they combined prints, textiles, textures, colors and uncommon silhouettes to not only express their creativity, but they were having fun.

After opening their first store front in SoHo, Manhattan, New York, the establishment, success and love for the Betsey Johnson brand landed Johnson to be awarded the CFDA Timeless Talent Award in the later 1990s. In the next couple years, New York presented Betsey Johnson with a star of the NY Fashion Walk of Fame. Soon after, Betsey Johnson began her now infamous and trademark move of a cartwheel into the splits at the end of all of her runways. She grew up with a love of dance, and even all of these years later, dancing and the dance costumes has an influence on her actions and her designing.

In the early 2000's (2009), at the age of 67, Johnson was again honored with another recognition award, the National Arts Club Lifetime Achievement Award.

Unfortunately, in the years to follow, Betsey Johnson stores were struggling to keep up the success and Betsey Johnson ended up declaring bankruptcy. In 2010, the Betsey Johnson shoe line was bought out by Steve Madden. Continued misfortune in 2012, when Johnson declared bankruptcy again.

Johnson works really hard and continues to refocus and reset to do what is best for her, her family and friends, and her brand. She has now created more affordable lines and well as primarily selling online rather than store front. Doing the best she can to ensure a smooth running brand, she stabilized her business while still maintain her heart and love for what is being created under her name. So much so, that in the later 2010's, she was honored with the ACE Style Icon Award.

In the past couple years, Betsey Johnson has published her very own book, Betsey: A Memoir. Telling all about her life and career.

Scholarly article written about the designer with detailed information on Betsey Johnson^[4]

Brief article on "green in the new black" that includes Betsey Johnson^[5] as well as other designers, understanding the concepts of sustainable practices, fabrics and production.

Notable Moments[edit]

1964: Jump starting her career, Betsey Johnson won a guest editor contest for Mademoiselle Magazine. Within one year, she landed a lead designer position at a quirky NYC boutique, Paraphernalia. About this moment^[6]

1970: Johnson became head of Alley Cat clothing brand. About this moment^[7]

1971: Johnson became the youngest recipient of the Coty Fashion Critics Award, also referred to as the Coty Winnie, at 29 years of age. About this moment^[8]

1978: Johnson started her own brand, Betsey Johnson. About this moment^[9]

1999: Johnson was honored with the CFDA Timeless Talent Award. About this moment^[10]

2002: New York honored Betsey Johnson with a star on the Fashion Walk of Fame. About this moment^[11]

2009: Johnson earned the National Arts Club Lifetime Achievement Award. About this moment^[12]

2010: Steve Madden buys out Betsey Johnson brand from faltering. About this moment^[13]

2012: Betsey Johnson declares bankruptcy. About this moment^[14]

2017: Johnson was honored with the ACE Style Icon Award. About this moment^[15]

2019/2020: Johnson published, Betsey: A Memoir. About this moment^[16]