JOHNSON, BETSEY

(1942- )

Bold, brash, and playful describe Johnson's design sense; astute, intuitive, and focused describe her business sense. She began her career selling designs to the hip New York City store Paraphernalia in the 1960s, which became the springboard to the famous Betsey Johnson label started in 1978. She was presented with theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America(CFDA) Timeless Award in 1999. As popular today as in the 1970s, she is the creator of a distinctive look very much her own. She has more than forty stores worldwide and designs two collections. Her garment hangtags are an extension of her personality and creativity— they are snapshots taken by Betsey with personal notes, and stylistic doodles. Never one to follow trends, Betsey consistently reinventsminis,corsets, andbloomers. And while she is cartwheeling down the runway in fishnets and spiked hair as playful as ever, Betsey has a very keen eye for fit as well as a savvy business sense. Very much a part of the rock 'n' roll world, Betsey lived in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City in the late 1960s and maintains her 1960s energy.