Designer of the week-Betsey Johnson

I happen to LOVE Betsey Johnson. So of course it was time to feature her as designer of the week. Betsey does a little bit of everything: clothing, jewelry, accessories, handbags, and shoes. I have a few Betsey pieces, 2 pairs of earrings, a necklace, and a cocktail dress. I simply adore every piece!

New York designer Betsey Johnson has built her long-standing career in fashion by following her own set of rules. Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over the top, Betsey has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since 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. (Betsey's Bio)

Her designs have been on Hollywood gals like Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, Paris Hilton, Rhianna, Kate Moss, Jessica Simpson, Lauren Conrad, Beyonce, and Agyness Deyn.

In 1978, she formed a partnership with Chantal Bacon and started the Betsey Johnson label, as it is known today. There are over fifty Betsey Johnson stores worldwide. The year 2003 marked some exciting licensing endeavors for the company, taking Betsey’s signature prints and whimsy to new audiences with categories including shoes and lingerie. She continued this trend and has since added handbags, belts, cold weather accessories, eyewear, watches, jewelry, swimwear, legwear and a fragrance thus effectively emerging as not only a clothing designer but a top American Lifestyle brand.

“Making clothes involves what I like…color, pattern, shape and movement…I like the everyday process…the people, the pressure, the surprise of seeing the work come alive walking and dancing around on strangers. Like red lipstick on the mouth, my products wake 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

Wwd.com said of her Fall RTW 2009 Collection

Betsey Johnson transformed her Seventh Avenue showroom into a Fifties malt shop and served up some of her favorite recipes: pouf skirts, corsets, classic rose prints and plenty of sequins. What looked fresh was a knit ensemble; a cropped cable-knit sweater and satin corset over a pointelle skirt that ballooned over a crinoline, as well as some graphic color-blocked sweaters à la the Eighties. Yes, there’s an appetite for Johnson’s sense of fashion fun — she will be partnering with Opening Ceremony for a reissue of past hits.

Her crazy style will keep me and her many fans intrigued for years!

In the Tyler area, Betsey Johnson designs can be found at the following locations:

Spinout on 8th Street (clothing)

Dillards at the Tyler Square Mall (jewelry, handbags)

Macy's on Broadway (Jewelry)