Betsey

A Memoir

By: Betsey Johnson, Mark Vitulano

Narrated by: Betsey Johnson

A memoir by the internationally famous fashion designer and style icon

Mention the name "Betsey Johnson" and almost every woman from the age of 15 to 75 can rapturously recall a favorite dress or outfit; whether worn for a prom, a wedding, or just to stand out from the crowd in a colorful way. They may also know her as a renegade single mom who palled around with Edie Sedgwick, Twiggy, and The Velvet Underground, or even as a celebrity contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Betsey is also famous for her iconic pink stores (she had 65 shops across the US) and for her habit of doing cartwheels and splits down the runway at the close of her fashion shows. Throughout her decades-long career, she's taken pride in producing fun but rule-breaking clothing at an accessible price point. What they might not know is that she built an empire from scratch, and brought stretch clothing to the masses in the 80s and 90s.

Betsey will take the reader behind the tutu and delve deeply into what it took to go from a white picket fence childhood in Connecticut to becoming an internationally known force in a tough, competitive business. The book will feature Betsey's candid memories of the fashion and downtown scene in the 60s and how she started her own business from the ground up after designing successfully for multiple other companies. She will discuss that business's ups and downs and reinventions (including bankruptcy), and her thoughts on body image, love, divorce, men, motherhood, and her bout with breast cancer. Betsey will be the perfect gift for every girl (of any age) for whom Betsey is, as a recent New York Times profile noted, "a role model still."

Who knew she was so inspiring

I love her spirit, courage and of course her creativity. I’ve got to find a Betsy dress or any item really so I can smile and be inspired. What an amazing life. So glad she wrote a book and that I stumbled upon it on audible.

Who doesn’t love Betsey Johnson?!

I’m a child of the 70’s and I have nothing but great memories of Betsey Johnson! She inspired me to wear what I wanted, in all-the-colors, no matter what others were wearing! I’m a 64yr-young Nana who still wears all the colors! Oh how I wish I still fit into my treasured Betsey frocks because I’d wear them now! I loved listening to Betsey tell her story in her way. I will listen to this again and again, most likely when I’m in my sewing studio, sewing my own updated versions of those dresses I wore back in the day! Thanks, Betsey, for all you’ve done and are going to do!!!

Delightful, energetic, and intriguing!

Loved this book and that Queen Betsey herself narrated it. Finished it in 24 hours bc I did not want to put it down!

Love her so much

Her story is so inspiring. Love her quirkiness and attitude. She inspired me to be a designer when I fell in love with her stores, hot pink decor and vibrant prints.

I am Betsey and I love us!

I can’t believe how much similarity I found out between my favorite fashion designer Betsey Johnson and myself. Her story is so incredible and iconic. All the ups and downs, yet I’ll always know her as a role model in style and spirit. Her story gives me so much hope for my own life story. What else is possible for me? I’m so happy she was able to get her full-length story out and I LOVE that she was able to do the voice recording.