Betsey Johnson Shoes

Betsey Johnson is known for her cartwheels on the catwalk and her joyful over the top fashion and footwear designs. Exuberant, embellished and whimsical are words that have often described the Betsey Johnson Shoes and footwear line which continue to rock the fashion industry.

Born in Connecticut in 1942 Betsey Johnson spent many formative years studying dance and her love of costumes and live theater is reflected in her bold and innovative fashion creations. Betsey Johnson Shoes stand out in the world of fashion footwear with Betsey’s trademark whimsical and often theatrical inspired designs. Betsey has proven that after forty years in the fashion industry she remains a relevant, gifted and prolific artist with her shoe and footwear designs still having a wow factor that continues to be original and distinctive.

Betsey Johnson has always lived a fun, exciting and avant-garde lifestyle. She lived in New York’s dynamic Soho district in 1960’s and mingled with people like Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and Edie Sedgwick. In 1967 Betsey married John Cale who was a member of the edgy rock band Velvet Underground and then divorced from him in 1971. Daughter Lulu was born in 1975 and she now works with Betsey. Betsey is also a proud grandma with her daughter Lulu giving birth to her grandchild Layla in 2006. Betsey Johnson is a breast cancer survivor since 2000 and a strong supporter of breast cancer awareness and fundraising. Betsey has recently been spending a lot of time south if the border as she vacations and rents out her small hotel “Betseyville” and small estate “Villa Betsey” that she owns and enjoys in Barra De Potosi, Mexico.

Betsey Johnson is a terrific example of how women can be tremendously successful when they follow their heart and passion into the business world. Betsey first gained attention in 1964 when she won Mademoiselle magazine’s “Guest Editor Contest.” Betsey broke all the rules throughout her career when she followed her instinct and created her now trademark bold, embellished over the top shoe line and fashion collections. Betsey Johnson opened a retail boutique called Betsey Bunki Nini in 1969 in New York and also worked for Alvin Duskin in San Francisco and living a bi-coastal life for a few years. In 1970 Betsey gained creative control of Alley Cat which was a trend setting rock n’ roll, bohemian and ethnic styled clothing label. Betsey was the youngest designer to receive the Coty Award in 1972. In 1978, she formed a partnership with Chantal Bacon and started the Betsey Johnson label opening their first retail store in the heart of Soho the same year. Betsey and Chantal opened a retail store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in the early 1980’s and enjoyed the success of being on a street that gained world wide recognition as a shopping Mecca. In 1999 the CFDA Awards, Timeless Talent Award was created for and given to Betsey Johnson recognizing her for her years of success and influence in the fashion industry. Betsey Johnson continues to make her mark in this world as she inspires women to be bold, colourful and take centre stage in their personal and professional lives.

In 2003 the Betsey Johnson Shoes and footwear collection appeared in her fashion line. Betsey eventually expanded her fashion line from clothing to include shoes, lingerie, jeans, handbags, hats, scarves and accessories. Betsey Johnson has over fifty stores worldwide with stores in London, Vancouver, Toronto and Japan. The Betsey Johnson Shoes and fashion lines can be found in department and specialty stores throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Betsey Johnson has won numerous awards in the fashion industry including an induction into the Fashion Walk of Fame in 2002 and the Designer of the Year Award at the annual Fashion Accessories Benefit Ball (FABB) in May 2007. Women everywhere owe a measure of thanks and gratitude to Betsey Johnson as she has blazed a trend setting trail in the shoe, footwear and fashion industry proving to the world that women, fashion and business are a powerful combination.