A biography for Betsey Johnsonhasn’t been written yet.
“Hard times always lead to something great.”
“I just get makeup from wherever I can. From Maybelline to Chanel - you know, all over the place.”
“I hate to say it, but the truth is that the upscale line is where I get respect as a designer. The higher the price range, the higher the respect level from the industry, even though it's much easier to make a great $500 dress than a great $100 dress.”
“I don't like to have time on my wall; it's too-in-your-face.”
“I used to design for my body, which was flat-chested with big hips. That's why my clothes were tight on top with full skirts.”
“I was always dancing and acrobatics was my specialty.”
“I just did what I loved - flowers and rock n' roll. Pretty and punk. I was largely inspired by my dancing school classes and costumes.”
“Celebrate the idea that you don't fit in. Find your own fit. Stay unique.”
“I don't feel comfortable without my makeup on. I've got to have my lipstick! I just don't feel like the same person, and I don't like the way I look without makeup.”
“I'm not the type of person who dwells too much on bad things.”
“If a girl comes to me first for a prom or a bar mitzvah and she likes the way she looks and her boyfriend likes the way she looks, she'll come back.”
“My favorite era was the '60s because it was filled with incredible creative newness, from panty hose to landing on the moon to Twiggy and Andy Warhol - I loved them, and they loved to wear my silver clothes.”
“If I could choose to have one superpower, I would want to be able to make everyone love everyone!”
“I never wanted to be on a pedestal.”
“If I hadn't decided to be a fashion designer, I would have loved to be a Broadway showgirl or a Rockette!”
“A good use for me is to let me go away with my sewing machine and come back with some really new stuff.”
“Accessories design is one of the most creative categories. It's like cooking, like decorating, because it involves the person. They have to choose, and they have to figure out how to wear it and to mix it based on their style.”
“Real success is being totally indulgent about your own trip. You put your blinders on about the garbage and go full speed ahead.”
“Just to see what a pink dress can mean to a woman, any woman, but a disabled woman, that's extra special and thrilling because they shouldn't be separated and their disabilities don't have to separate them in anyway.”
“My makeup hasn't really changed since the 1960s!”