BETSEY JOHNSON
Mention the name Betsey Johnson and almost every woman from the age of 15 to 75 can rapturously recall a favorite dress or outfit of hers, whether worn for a prom, a wedding, or just to stand out from the crowd in a colorful style unlike anyone else’s. Some may remember Betsey best as a renegade single mother who palled around with Edie Sedgwick, Twiggy, and The Velvet Underground. They may also know her as a woman who built an empire from scratch, or even as a celebrity contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Others are familiar with her as the designer who brought stretch clothing to the masses in the 80s and 90s. She is also famous for her iconic pink stores (in 2011 she had 65 shops across the U.S.) and for her habit of closing out her runway shows with a signature split or cartwheel. Throughout her decades-long career, she’s taken pride in producing exciting but rule-breaking clothing at an accessible price—all while running her own company.
Betsey Johnson will talk about:
· What it took to go from a white picket fence childhood in Connecticut to an internationally known force in the fashion world.
· Candid memories of the fashion and downtown scene in the 1960s and how she started her own business from the ground up after designing successfully for multiple other houses.
· The ups and downs and reinventions of her business (including bankruptcy)
· Her thoughts on love, divorce, men, and motherhood…as well as her bout with breast cancer.
Betsey’s enduringly witty and exuberant voice charms and delight readers—just as Betsey’s unique, effervescent style has done for decades.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Betsey Johnson has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960s. Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over-the-top, her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has kept her at the forefront of fashion for over 40 years. She is the recipient of the Council of Fashion Designers of America Timeless Talent Award (created just for her by the CFDA), The National Arts Club Johnson Medal of Honor of Lifetime Achievement in Fashion, and was honored with a plaque on the Fashion Walk of Fame.
Betsey Johnson will talk about:
· What it took to go from a white picket fence childhood in Connecticut to an internationally known force in the fashion world.
· Candid memories of the fashion and downtown scene in the 1960s and how she started her own business from the ground up after designing successfully for multiple other houses.
· The ups and downs and reinventions of her business (including bankruptcy)
· Her thoughts on love, divorce, men, and motherhood…as well as her bout with breast cancer.
Betsey’s enduringly witty and exuberant voice charms and delight readers—just as Betsey’s unique, effervescent style has done for decades.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Betsey Johnson has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960s. Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over-the-top, her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has kept her at the forefront of fashion for over 40 years. She is the recipient of the Council of Fashion Designers of America Timeless Talent Award (created just for her by the CFDA), The National Arts Club Johnson Medal of Honor of Lifetime Achievement in Fashion, and was honored with a plaque on the Fashion Walk of Fame.
