Betsey Johnson
never goes unnoticed and with such passion you can see why. ”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 lip on the mouth, my clothes wake up and brighten and bring the wearer…drawing attention to her beauty and specialness…her moods and movements…her dreams and fantasies”- Betsey Johnson (Ehien 1).
Betsey Johnson has become the icon of fancy yet fun American fashion and stuck to her own subversively, pretty, wildly chic design formula. What is even more impressive is that
through all these years she is still looking forward, anticipating the next fun fashions of the new millennium. Betsey’s creative mind, always in full gear, is an inspiration for the future; she knows how to make things so exciting. Here is what she said when asked how she thinks fashion is going to change in the future. “I don’t think our clothes are going to go through a massive change until we start going t other atmospheres. And then I think clothing will be designed by scientists-slash-designers, chemist-engineer-scientist. Designers will be collaborating, working for the chemical companies, because I think our clothes won’t be the cottons, the wools, and the cashmere that they are now. There will be all kinds of NASA space uniform stuff. Or at least that’s where they will start, until we learn how to change the atmosphere to fit our clothing, or vice-versa”(Mistry 201). Betsey has seen many fashions come and go, she totally understands it and feels it in her every single day. She will continue with her strong design quality till the end because of her dedication and shinning love for fashion. With her always-impressive attitude she continues about change in the fashion industry. “…I just hope that somebody remembers to keep it a fun, creative, expressive venue. It should always have a thrill to it. It should always be risky and new and exciting. I hope that when fashion gets computerized in the future, it’s always kind of thrilling, scary, and exciting. I hope it never loses the thrill of it all”(Mistry 202). Betsey can be very inspiring with her words, continuing to always impress.
In 1999 the Council of Fashion Designers of America gave Betsey an award they’d created just for her called the Timeless Talent Award, “it was in honor of her durability in a field known for fickle trends” (Mistry 200). Betsey Johnson has impacted the fashion industry in many ways. Her importance is recognized among everyone. “If Betsey Johnson didn’t exist, we would have to invent her, simply to remind ourselves that fashion can be fun. She’s the original
wild child and set to paint the town pink”(Piken 56). Betsey Johnson’s attitude and success should be an inspiration to all.
Bibliography
Ehien, Katie “Betsey Johnson” The Fashion Page Feb. 2000.
20 Oct. 2002 http://www.fashionpage.com/betseyjohnson/bio.html.
Piken, Mary Brooks. The Fashion Dictionary. New York: [next page]