For a lot of people, a Betsey Johnson was their first fancy dress. Much of her popularity stems from her industry longevity, not only as a businesswoman but as a vibrant personality known for ending her runway shows with a cartwheel, Chernikoff said. Johnson's career began in , when she officially entered the New York fashion scene by winning Mademoiselle magazine's Guest Editor Contest, her company biography says.
One year later, she landed the top designer position for Paraphernalia, a clothing boutique that housed the hottest young designers. In , after a decade of designing for other labels, Betsey decided to launch the Betsey Johnson label as it is known today. In late , Betsey was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame, honoring her contribution to American fashion. The demise of her stores signals the end of an era.
As customers gradually buy up the last of the stock inside her standalone stores, what were once pink-walled paradises, equal parts princess and punk, are now somber shells. A visit on Sunday to the store in Georgia's Perimeter Mall revealed lonely racks stripped bare of toile jumpers, sequin dolman tunics and crepe babydoll dresses.
The elaborate displays of colorful purses were gone, leaving empty spaces in their place. The pink flowered bench where customers used to try on funky bejeweled high-heeled platform shoes had a big 'SOLD' sign on it, as did the artwork in one of the dressing rooms.
Only a few varieties of the celebrated shoes remained on the shelves. All of the furnishing and fixtures, including those shelves, were also for sale or sold already. They are made for tiny women; I'm a Maybe if she started making larger sizes she could stay open," another Facebook fan said.
Penney have all declared bankruptcy. The Rat Pack-adjacent comedian is one of the many fans tuning in to the sport of kings while human athletic contests are on pause. By Paul Brownfield. Community labs want to make everything from insulin to prostheses. Will traditional scientists accept their efforts? By Margaret Talbot. Scenes from a week of weirdness under lockdown, as residents of New Orleans practice social distancing to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Rachel Syme is a staff writer at The New Yorker. She has covered fashion, style, and other cultural subjects since The New Yorker Recommends What our staff is reading, watching, and listening to each week. Enter your e-mail address. She was one of the first to launch an archival collection with Opening Ceremony, back in , which consisted of 35 pieces that reflected her time at Alley Cat and Paraphernalia.
That led to another archival re-release in , when she collaborated with Urban Outfitters to live-out her passion for romance and grunge. Next came Blue by Betsey Johnson , a bridal line that includes intimates , which lead to the teaming up with Say Yes To The Dress , where the designer helped provide more than New York high school students with head-to-toe looks for prom. As a pioneer of creating clothes for real women — and using them as models in her shows — Johnson has built her empire on the idea that fashion is a way to stand out, on purpose.
Or, at least, questioned. But, believe me, the reaction over the years has not been very accepting or good for me. She's right — it hasn't. In , Johnson filed for bankruptcy. After closing all 63 of her brick-and-mortar stores and firing almost every employee she had, Johnson, with the help of longtime friend and supporter Steve Madden, relaunched her line to include kids and eyewear — this time, at a lower price point across department stores like Macy's, Nordstrom, and Dillard's.
But, after championing practically every category out there especially accessories, which account for a good chunk of her business why has she never done menswear? Turns out she never had to. The men I liked would come to the showroom and wear my girls clothes. I know Jagger got my clothes from girls. But Betsey is not going down without a fight: Her brand and aesthetic will live on. The designer is staying on as creative director of the brand, and will continue designing sportswear, though, as mentioned yesterday, the emphasis will be on her more moderately priced Betsey Johnson line, which has sold much better than her runway collection.
Most of the 63 stores will close within the next few week and employees are expected to be let go. Betsey Johnson herself will stay on as creative director to design the brand's lower priced Betsey Johnson line, sold in Macy's and other mass retailers, as well as oversee accessories and other licenses. NYC Job Listings.
0コメント