Betsey Johnson

Biography

Betsey Johnson (born August 10, 1942), is an American fashion designer best known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Many of her designs are considered "over the top" and embellished. She also is known for doing a cartwheel ending in a split at the end of her fashion shows.

In 1978, Johnson started her fashion line. Her second collection did not sell well, leaving her with 3,000 pieces of spring clothing and insufficient funds to stage a 1981 fashion show to sell them and Johnson opened a retail store in the SoHo area of New York City. She designed the dress that Lisa Loeb wore in the music video for her 1994 hit "Stay (I Missed You)".

In 2002, Johnson was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame. Her bronze plaque held one of her original sketches. In 2003, she expanded her line for 2004 to include handbags, accessories, hats, and scarves.

In 2008, Johnson was a contributor to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb.

The National Arts Club awarded Johnson the 2009 Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion. She once described her style as a formula: “Take a leotard and add a skirt.” As of 2011, she has more than 65 stores worldwide.

On September 12, 2012, she celebrated 40 years of her brand with a retrospective fashion show with Cyndi Lauper performing.

As of May 2013, Johnson and her daughter Lulu Johnson have a reality TV show that airs on the Style Network.

On September 4, 2014, it was announced that Johnson would be one of the celebrities competing in the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. The couple was eliminated in week 4, finishing in tenth place.

In 2018, Johnson appeared on Sugar Rush as a guest judge (Episode: "Frosted Fashion").

In 2022, Johnson appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars as a guest judge (Episode: "Legendary Legend Looks").