Betsey Johnson (August 10, 1942 – ) started out young as a dancer and a college cheerleader at Syracuse, so she knew about making clothes and costumes that fit the body’s needs. Through an internship at Mademoiselle, she plummeted into Carnaby Street, the epicentre of London’s Swinging Sixties fashion. She soon began designing her own line of jazzy, flirty, bright clothes in unconventional materials. Exemplifing the Youthquaker Generation, she employed Edie Sedgwick as her fitting model. Betsey became a key designer at Paraphernalia, creating outfits for The Velvet Underground, and marrying John Cale. Betsey Johnson stores grew worldwide and she expanded beyond dresses to handbags, shoes, and accessories, incorporating punk aesthetics. Her fashion shows characteristically ended with her doing a cartwheel. Betsey now lives in Malibu.
Related series: Silver Factory
An enthralling journey through Andy Warhol’s Factory, uncovering the mesmerising stories of its vibrant inhabitants.
John Cale
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