Betsey Johnson Heart Stud Earrings

New York designer Betsey Johnson has built her long-standing career in fashion by following her own algorithm. Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the excessive, Betsey has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs because the 1960’s. Her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has afforded Betsey continued success in an industry known for its fickleness. Her ability to change with the times even as keeping her designs pure has not gone unnoticed. On the 1999 CFDA Awards, Betsey used to be presented The Timeless Talent Award created especially for her, which recognized her influence on fashion all the way through her career.

Betsey used to be born in Connecticut and spent her childhood in dance classes. Her aspirations to be a dancer and her love for costumes laid the foundation for Betsey’s creativity and inspiration, which is still evident in her designs These days. In 1964, Betsey officially entered the New York fashion scene by winning Mademoiselle magazine’s “Guest Editor Contest.” One year later, she landed the top designer position for Paraphernalia, a clothing boutique that On the time housed the freshest young London designers, including Mary Quant and Paco Rabanne, among others. What would soon turn out to be referred to as Betsey’s trademark look began its formulations here: sexy silhouettes, hippie inspired flowing fabrics, whimsical detailing and, most importantly, a fabulous fit.

Now firmly a part of what used to be regarded as the “Youth Quake,” Betsey soon found herself Within the unforgettable 1960’s Warhol scene. Edie Sedgwick used to be her house model, even as the Velvet Underground’s John Cale took to wearing her designs both on-stage and off. In 1969, Betsey began her foray into retail by opening a new boutique {referred to as|called} Betsey Bunki Nini. Right away following the opening store Betsey used to be offered a job from Alvin Duskin in San Francisco and thus began living a bi-coastal life for the rest years of the 60’s.

Along with the new decade came new career opportunities for Betsey and Within the early 1970’s, she came into creative regulate of the label Alley Cat, a label which set the trends for the 70’s rock n’ roll clothing, with bohemian and ethnic styles. In 1972, at the side of Halston, Betsey won the coveted Coty Award becoming the youngest designer to ever receive the honor.

After a decade of designing for other labels, Betsey made up our minds to make a dramatic change in her life and in 1978, she formed a partnership with Chantal Beaverbrook and began the Betsey Johnson label, as it’s known These days. Designing for herself allowed Betsey the creative freedom to execute her vision to its fullest potential. The similar year Betsey and Chantal launched their first retail store Within the heart of Soho. Within the early 80’s, they were some of the first to open a store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, helping the street to gain its all over the world recognition as some of the best shopping areas of the 1980’s. These days there are over sixty-five Betsey Johnson stores all over the world. International expansion came in 1998 with the opening of the wildly popular London store. In 1999 the Vancouver store opened marking the company’s first move into Canada, where there at the moment are four locations in more than a few provinces. In September 2006, the first Betsey Johnson store opened in Japan. Betsey Johnson clothing could also be to be had in better department stores in addition to in specialty stores all the way through the USA and a lot of countries around the globe.

The year 2003 marked some exciting licensing endeavors for the company, taking Betsey’s signature prints and whimsy to new audiences with categories including handbags and lingerie. She continued this trend and has since added footwear, belts, eyewear, watches, jewelry, swimwear, legwear, outerwear and a fragrance thus effectively emerging as not just a clothing designer but a top American Way of life brand.

In late 2002, Betsey used to be honored with an induction into the Fashion Walk of Fame, honoring her contribution to American fashion. A bronze and granite plaque containing an original sketch, signature and biography used to be embedded into Seventh Avenue sidewalk in early 2003. In March 2005, the Signature Awards and NAWBO-NYC committee honored Betsey with the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award. And following that, Betsey received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Accessories Council in November 2005. Betsey Johnson used to be also honored with the Designer of the Year Award at the yearly Fashion Accessories Benefit Ball (FABB) in May 2007 and used to be recently honored with the National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion in October 2009.

A survivor of breast cancer, Betsey continues to be a strong advocate Within the fight against the disease, making public appearances, participating in a lot of fund raising events and creating one-of-a-kind items which have been auctioned off to raise funds for plenty of charities. In 2003, the CFDA asked her to be an Honorary Chairperson for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative, which she graciously accepted. In April of 2004, she used to be awarded any other honor by the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) for her continuous fight against Breast Cancer at a prestigious ceremony hosted by Ron Perelman. In Spring of 04, she teamed up with Geralyn Lucas, the creator of the book “Why I Wore Lipstick…to my Mastectomy,” designing an accompanying t-shirt which used to be launched in Betsey Johnson stores nationwide in October 2004 at a series of events {referred to as|called} “Courage Nights.” Courage Night continued for its second year in October 2005 where CFDA Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and SELF Magazine joined the cause. Johnson continues to toughen, webhosting a charity event every October in her boutiques nationwide and across the world, in addition to creating limited edition products from which a portion of the proceeds are donated to more than a few breast cancer related charities.

Betsey Johnson, both the woman and the label, is continuously moving forward and continues to keep a strong foothold Within the fashion industry and not using a signs of letting up anytime soon. Her love of detail and design is evident in the whole thing she does in life and in business. Her enthusiasm, creativity and boundless talent that have kept her at the leading edge of fashion for the past 45 years will keep Betsey going for future years.

“Making clothes involves what I like…color, pattern, shape and movement…I like the on a regular basis process…the people, the pressure, the surprise of seeing the work come alive walking and dancing around on strangers. Like red lipstick at the mouth, my products get up and brighten and bring the wearer to life…drawing attention to her beauty and specialness…her moods and movements…her dreams and fantasies.” – Betsey Johnson

As one journalist recently quoted, “If Betsey Johnson didn’t exist, we must invent her, simply to remind ourselves that fashion will also be fun. She’s the original wild child and set to paint the town pink!”