At the tender age of 80, Betsey Johnson has lived a life many of us can only dream of. She’s built a legendary career out of kitsch, eschewing the minimalist motifs favored by some of her fashion industry colleagues for funky prints, an unabashed celebration of extreme girlishness, and the tendency to close her runway shows with her signature cartwheel and splits. Still, one has to wonder if Johnson was ever tempted to submit to the status quo. “I never feel pressure to conform,” Johnson says. “I am proud of who I am, and what my designs represent: Free spirit!” Joie de vivre has always been apparent in Johnson’s designs, from the silver lamé looks she designed in the 1960s (“Edie Sedgwick was always such a big fan of them!”) to the frilly tulle dresses that any “Betsey girl” from the ‘90s and aughts (and now) would be lucky to wear to prom.
It’s no argument that Johnson’s innate sense of playfulness and wonder is maximalist fashion at its core. Though flamboyant dressing is not a new concept by any means, it has been more embraced in recent years, thanks to an auspicious convergence of post-lockdown dressing, trend cycling, and the Y2K revival. But Betsey Johnson and her colorful designs have always been in vogue. Johnson believes that the current focus on flamboyant fashion is due to a hunger for optimism. “Kitschy fashion makes people feel good and joyful,” she says. “The world can be a rough place, and wearing bright, over-the-top colors just brings you excitement to take on the day. Color is an emotional thing, and people need uplifting right now. That’s why color is so important!”
Top Photo by Amanda Lopez
This article originally appeared in the Winter 22/23 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!