Kooky Maven: Betsey Johnson

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IN THE '60s, Andy Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick and Velvet Undergrounder John Cale sported wild-child clothes by Betsey Johnson. In the decades since then, the New York designer has given the world tutu skirts, leopard-print shoes and pink-walled boutiques, all of which seem two parts rocker, one part Vegas showgirl. We caught up with the big-haired, big-hearted, 67-year-old icon last week in her Georgetown store.

» EXPRESS: Why is D.C. a good spot for your designs?
» JOHNSON: It's a place that's very creative, kind of like SoHo. There's room in D.C. for a little frivolous dress-up. The town is driven by parties and lots of special occasions.

» EXPRESS: Well, party dresses are pretty central to your brand.
» JOHNSON: Yeah, they've been a real thing over the years. In the beginning, I was more about Lycra and stretch, kind of Jane Fonda leotard-y wear. But those ballerina tutu dresses caught on. Now we're trying to add casual stuff back, T-shirts and stuff, so we have a balance.

» EXPRESS: How do you like to dress?
» JOHNSON: I'm really a sloppy, raggedy dresser. I'm very T-shirt-y and casual. I want to hot-wash and hot-dry everything! My dressier clothes, my prom dress things, I think of those as my dance costumes. But most of my life is going to work, where I want to be so comfortable.

» EXPRESS: What are you not interested in designing?
» JOHNSON: A three-piece suit, a working woman's wardrobe kind of thing. I just can't imagine doing conservative clothes. And I don't think I'd be very good at menswear, because I would only want rock 'n roll skinny guys as my customers!

» EXPRESS: You have also become an icon of looking hot as you get older. What's your secret?
» JOHNSON: In my mind, I feel like I'm in my 20s! But as you get older, there are two ways to go. You can do the natural way, taking care of yourself, being happy in your body, whatever it is. Or you can choose a little surgical help. I chose the latter because of the cameras. It makes me feel better.

» EXPRESS: Don't you do a cartweel at the end of your Fashion Week shows?
» JOHNSON: I like having the pressure on me. I grew up an acrobat and a dancer, and if I can't do a cartwheel until I croak, what's wrong with me?

» EXPRESS: How do you get your hair so big?
» JOHNSON: Very expensive hair extensions! I have thin, crummy hair; I have always hated it. And one season, I did a show with these great wigs, which turned me on to hair extensions. I have to do it every three months. It's a big upkeep, but once you have a lot of hair, you can't live with less.

» EXPRESS: Your stores decor — pink walls, crazy chandeliers — seems like an extension of the clothes.
» JOHNSON: I'm changing my decor. We're opening more stores, and we'll be doing things that are more sophisticated. I'm trying to do the shiny, high-gloss minimalism. But I'll still have sofas shaped like bright red lips!

Photo courtesy Betsey Johnson