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My Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week highlight was, without a doubt, the Betsey Johnson show, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone.  Betsey’s shows aren’t just a moving catalog of latest looks — they’re a full-blown party, with a kicking soundtrack, attitude-laden models and a vivacious atmosphere.  The crowd simmers excitedly, the models are laughing with one another and practicing dance-steps, and balloons litter the backstage area.

Before the show, Betsey was bubbling, exuberant… Everything you would expect her to be.  She is one of the few designers who truly personifies their brand.  It was Valentine’s Day, after all, so in addition to her full length black-and-white striped jumpsuit and a pair of black heels, she had sewn a heart-shaped glitter patch on the bum of her outfit.  A gaggle of journalists surrounded her, ravenous for a delicious soundbite, and she fluttered from one topic to another.  She also had a habit of bending over, mid-interview, flashing her heart-shaped glitter patch and yelling, “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!”.

Betsey’s inspiration for the collection came from digging through her bulging archives.  “I’m working on my stuff, being very true-blue Betsey,” she said.  Fair enough, too, with 45 years worth of designs to pore over!  She explained that her drive came simply from her passion for clothing and style.  This is one woman who really does love her work.

Her publicist rushed her away & the rest of us made our way upstairs to watch the spectacle.  The lights dimmed, the music roared, and we were away.  The show was opened & closed by Kelly Osbourne, who carried her tiny dog and wore a bristly black mustache with one of the looks.  She was followed by a slew of rambunctious models, sauntering along the runway, decked out in stripes, florals and gun motifs.  They blew kisses at the end of the runway & mugged for the cameras.

The show was not without seriousness, however.  Applause ricocheted off the walls when a model came down the runway holding a sign which said ‘LONG LIVE MCQUEEN’ — a poignant and fitting tribute to recently deceased fashion designer, Alexander Lee McQueen.

Still, the atmosphere stayed electric.  When she came out to do her signature cartwheel, she pulled mega-stylist Patricia Field (who was wearing a pointed witches hat) up onto the hay-strewn runway to dance.  The audience cheered, clapped, rocked out in their seats.

It’s true that Betsey’s punk rock roots are as evident as they’ve always been.  She does things her way… and we love it.  While the rest of the fashion elite were showing strictly Fall/Winter looks, Betsey’s show was a mishmash of seasons.  “We’re not in seasons anymore, anyway,” she said. “We’ll show a little bit of now & a lot of later.”  Indeed: days later, a selection of the looks we had just seen were already available for purchase on betsyjohnson.com.

The show was wonderful, a complete thrill.  The perfect antidote to the occasional pretension of Bryant Park.  Betsey’s ethos & designs are just like the girls she makes clothing for: fun, upbeat, surprising, mischievous & sexy.

For more information on Betsey Johnson, check out this brilliant article from Women Making History.

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