Betsey Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betsey Johnson
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Johnson at the 2007 Red Dress Collection show for The Heart Truth campaign
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| Born | August 10, 1942 |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Spouse(s) | John Cale (1968–1971) Jeffrey Oliviere (1981–1984) Brian Reynolds (1997–2002) |
| Children | 1 |
Betsey Johnson (born August 10, 1942) is a famous American fashion designer. She is well-known for her bright, fun, and playful clothing styles. Her designs often look "over the top" with lots of decorations. At the end of her fashion shows, she often does a cartwheel and then a split!
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Growing Up in Connecticut
Betsey Johnson was born on August 10, 1942. She grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and later in Terryville, Connecticut. She was the second of three children. Betsey loved taking many dance classes when she was young. These classes helped her discover her passion for costumes and clothing.
College and First Steps in Fashion
After high school, Betsey studied at the Pratt Institute. She then went to Syracuse University and graduated with high honors. While in college, she was part of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. After graduating, she worked as an intern at Mademoiselle magazine for a summer. This was a great start to her career in fashion.
Betsey Johnson's Fashion Career
Starting Out in New York City
Betsey Johnson's journey in fashion began when she won a contest at Mademoiselle magazine. Soon after, she became a designer for a store called Paraphernalia in Manhattan. She became a part of the exciting "youthquake" fashion movement. She also joined the art scene around Andy Warhol, working with famous people like Edie Sedgwick. In 1969, Betsey opened her own store called Betsey Bunky Nini in New York City.
Designing for Rock Stars
In the 1970s, Betsey took over a fashion brand called "Alley Cat." This brand was very popular with rock 'n roll musicians. Her first collection for Alley Cat sold a lot of clothes, making about $5 million. In September 1971, she won a special award called the Coty Fashion Critics' Award.
Launching Her Own Brand
In 1978, Betsey Johnson started her very own fashion line. When one of her collections didn't sell well, she decided to open her own retail store. This store was in the SoHo area of New York City. She even designed a dress for singer Lisa Loeb. Lisa wore the dress in her music video for the song "Stay (I Missed You)" in 1994.
Awards and Expanding Her Style
In 2002, Betsey Johnson was honored with a spot on the Fashion Walk of Fame. Her special bronze plaque even had one of her original drawings. In 2003, she made her fashion line even bigger. She started to include handbags, accessories, hats, and scarves.
In 2009, the National Arts Club gave Betsey Johnson a special Medal of Honor. This award was for her amazing achievements in fashion throughout her life. She once described her unique style simply: "Take a leotard and add a skirt." By 2011, she had more than 65 stores around the world.
Memorable Fashion Shows
Betsey Johnson's fashion shows are always exciting. In September 2010, her Spring/Summer 2011 show caused a lot of talk. People thought models would ride bicycles down the runway! But it was too risky. Instead, a model named Kim Matulova rode a skateboard while wearing high heels. She accidentally fell, but it made the show even more memorable.
New Adventures: TV Shows
In May 2013, Betsey Johnson and her daughter, Lulu Johnson, started a reality TV show. It aired on the Style Network. In September 2014, Betsey joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars. She competed in the 19th season of the show. She finished in tenth place.
Betsey also appeared as a guest judge on TV shows. In 2018, she was on Sugar Rush for an episode about "Frosted Fashion." In 2022, she was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. She returned to the show in 2025 for an episode where contestants had to create looks inspired by her designs.
Personal Life
Betsey Johnson is a breast cancer survivor. She has bravely fought and overcome the disease. It is known that she lives in the Paradise Cove area of Malibu, California.
See also
In Spanish: Betsey Johnson para niños
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