GRAND Magazine - March 2009 - 20

cover story Cool stuff Cruising the ’net for Betsey Johnson designs yields a wild variety, many of which—such as the faux-vintage multistrand charm necklace, above—are available at big discounts (necklace was $150, is now $89 at Nordstrom ). The elegant gold metallic mesh bow with dangling watch face is $94.99 from ModCloth . We found the best place to shop Betsey Johnson purses was Great Style Deals , and then we couldn’t resist including the black-and-garden-flowers halter-top summer dress, $190.83 (42% off) at Zappos.com  or, also at Zappos, an adorable black & rosebud babydoll “chiffon flutter sleeve and thong” lingerie, happily available in Plus 16-18, $86 . Best pick for cool summerevening dinner top over white pants: Betsey’s Guadeloupe lined cotton & nylon sweater dress, Zappos, 42% off for $171 . through a partnership she formed with Chantal Bacon, and was followed by Betsey Johnson retail stores in Manhattan’s Soho and Los Angeles. Hose, lingerie, handbags, belts, eyewear, watches, jewelry, swimwear and fragrances were added to the line; today, there are more than 50 stores worldwide. In 2002 Johnson’s wild ride came crashing to earth with a diagnosis of breast cancer. At the time she was afraid to tell anyone but her daughter, Lulu; she thought if the industry knew she had cancer, no one would sell her any fabric because they would assume she was dying. “It wasn’t as [uncomplicated] as telling my daughter, my family and my girlfriends. I had to be careful. I had to protect my business. I didn’t want all this public, rumor, speculation stuff going on.” She later recalled that what sent her to the doctor was a deflated saline implant she wanted removed, not a cancer fear. “In the healing process I noticed scar tissue, and then I saw this little bump next to the scar tissue.” The bump was diagnosed as cancer; she had a 2009 She stays relevant because it’s in her DNA. discreet lumpectomy and radiation treatment. She has now been cancer free for nearly seven years and has spent those years as an advocate and fundraiser for breast cancer research. Five years ago Johnson teamed up with Geralyn Lucas, author of Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, and designed a T-shirt to go with the book. “I’ll do anything constantly to just keep the money coming in and to keep young girls and everybody aware,” Johnson says. Fashionistas and industry mavens say Johnson has found the fountain of youth. “Betsey Johnson…still has this funky, edgy vibe that is obviously very different from…95 percent of women her age,” says Anne Zeigler, style director of Closet Couture, a fashion network . “What has made her stand out is that she developed that style when she first started and has stayed with it. She still has this crazy, crinkly hair and wears these outlandish outfits. She stays relevant because it’s in her DNA. I’ll bet she’ll be that way until her last day here.” G 20 GRAND MARCH Click and connect to more resources instantly where you see this symbol: 

GRAND Magazine - March 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - March 2009