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 known for her fun, bright, and sometimes "over the top" clothing designs. Her style is often described as feminine and playful. At the end of her fashion shows, Betsey is famous for doing a cartwheel and then a split!
Early Life and Education
Betsey Johnson was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut. She was the second of three children. She grew up in Terryville, Connecticut. As a child, Betsey loved to take dance classes. These classes helped her discover her passion for costumes and unique clothing.
After high school, Betsey studied at the Pratt Institute. She then went to Syracuse University and graduated with honors. During a summer, she worked as an intern at Mademoiselle magazine. This experience helped her learn a lot about the fashion world.
Fashion Career
Betsey Johnson's career in fashion began when she won a contest held by Mademoiselle magazine. Soon after, she became a designer for a store in Manhattan called Paraphernalia. Betsey became part of a new fashion trend called "youthquake." She also joined the exciting art scene around Andy Warhol, working with artists and musicians. In 1969, she opened her own store called Betsey Bunky Nini in New York City.
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 was a huge success, selling millions of dollars worth of clothes. In 1971, she won a special award called the Coty Fashion Critics' Award.
In 1978, Betsey Johnson started her own fashion company. She opened a retail store in the SoHo area of New York City. Her designs continued to be unique and popular. For example, she designed the dress that singer Lisa Loeb wore in her music video for the hit song "Stay (I Missed You)" in 1994.
In 2002, Betsey Johnson was honored with a spot on the Fashion Walk of Fame. Her bronze plaque included one of her original sketches. In 2003, she expanded her brand to include handbags, accessories, hats, and scarves.
In 2009, the National Arts Club gave Betsey Johnson an award for her amazing work in fashion throughout her life. She once described her design style simply: "Take a leotard and add a skirt." By 2011, she had more than 65 stores around the world.
In September 2010, Betsey's fashion show for her Spring/Summer 2011 collection caused a lot of excitement. There were rumors that models would ride bicycles down the runway! This idea was too risky, so instead, a model rode a skateboard while wearing high heels. She accidentally fell but kept going, showing Betsey's fun and unexpected style.
In 2012, Betsey Johnson's company faced some financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy protection. However, she bounced back! On September 12, 2012, she celebrated 40 years of her brand with a special fashion show. Singer Cyndi Lauper performed at the event.
In May 2013, Betsey and her daughter, Lulu Johnson, had their own reality TV show on the Style Network. In 2014, Betsey competed on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. She also appeared as a guest judge on TV shows like Sugar Rush in 2018 and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2022.
Personal Life
Betsey Johnson is a breast cancer survivor. She has bravely shared her story.
See also
In Spanish: Betsey Johnson para niños
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