Fashion Designer Betsey Johnson-Indelibles.com

Betsey Johnson was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA in 1942. She spent a year at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, before graduating from Syracuse University in 1964.

During 1964, she was guest editor on the summer college issue of Mademoiselle Magazine and was hired by the review for one year following her graduation. During that period she made and sold clothing designs in her spare time and later became a freelance designer, retailing through a New York boutique named Paraphernalia.

In the 1960's, Betsey Johnson gained a reputation as a radical young designer, producing chalk-striped 'gangster' trouser suits, a clear vinyl dress sold with paste-your-own star motifs, a 'noise' dress made of jersey with loose grommets attached to the hem, silvery motorcycle suits, clinging T-shirt dresses and a wrapped cowhide mini dress which was worn with some thigh-high leather boots.

Later on in the 1960s, Betsey Johnson opened a New York boutique called "Betsey, Bunkey and Nini".

In 1999 the Council of Fashion Designers of America, presented Betsey with their Timeless Talent Award, as a recognition of her ability to change with the times and her continued success in the fashion world for over 3 decades.

A dress with a 10-inch extended collar, worn by Julie Christie, the film star, made her name when it sold in the thousands. Betsey says : "fashion is all about having fun and mine are clothes to have lots of fun in". Going into the 21st century, she is still striving to make "fun" and interesting clothes.

For her Spring 2001 collection, Betsey recruited 29 Playboy bunnies to model her line of bikinis and bustiers.

Betsey has been married three times and now has a daughter named Lulu. She however pays no attention to age and says she feels as if she might be 22 years old. On her 60th birthday in 2002, she did a back-flip at the party by her pool.

In the year 2000/2002, the city of New York decided to honour American fashion designers by placing bronze plaques along the pavement of 7th Avenue, the well known street of fashion in New York, also known as the "FASHION WALK OF FAME." Betsey Johnson was one of those honoured with a worthy plaque.