I was thrilled to see this book on the “New Books” shelf at the library. I have a large interest in fashion (despite being completely unfashionable myself) and am a fan of Betsey’s work. I settled in with it, expecting insights into her life and creative process, as well as learning more about how the fashion world worked during her heyday. I read the book over one night.

Her early life at school and home came across well; there is a good deal of detail in that section. The part where she moves to New York and is working for Mademoiselle have a sense of exhilaration; how could it not when things move as fast as her early career did? Her professional life seems to have always been moving fast, leaving the reader to wonder if Johnson can keep up with it. Her private life also moves fast; she admits that she was in love with the idea of love and falls fast- sadly, for the wrong men. Her first three husbands are emotionally abusive (and sometimes physically so), which led me to thinking “RUN NOW” and being amazed at how long she stayed with a couple of them. Given how open she is about it being abused, I think she’s learned her lesson. She’s been with her current husband for 23 years now (she does not mention this man in the book) so things seem calm from the outside.

Her professional life was one of ups and downs; her clothes exploded on the fashion scene, different from what anyone else was doing. Trying to get out from under working for others, she had trouble borrowing money to start her own store- and paid it back in record time. At one point she had 66 retail stores. Then some bad business decisions were made, the economy went down the tubes, and she lucked out when Steve Madden bought her company. She is still creative director, so her fashions still live for yet another generation of girls. Sadly, I can only give the book 3 stars. ( )

Betsey Johnson's reality.

Don't get me wrong, I love Betsey Johnson designs. I own jewelry, shoes, sunglasses and my particular passion these days, watches. I loved her zany mixture of fabrics.
So who was this woman with such ingenious designs! I did watch a TV series about her that I enjoyed, but for some reason I didn't connect as I thought I would with this title.
Some of her reasons for doing things seemed unconventional, even when wrapped up in conventionality. Like marriage. Her reason for marrying burger flipper Jeff? Well it's ... really, I have no words. Possibly it was the times, the 60's. Still Betsey's reasoning maybe says it all. As she tells it, it was 'because that’s what I was designing at the time—a collection for an entire wedding party: the bride, bridesmaids, the hot ex-girlfriend, and of course, the flower girls.' The thought of capping off a new collection with a high profile occasion seemed liked a good idea. Maybe it was just part of going with the flow, seeking new experiences, the fantasy of it all. Who knows? Betsey doesn't seem to either. The marriage lasted three months.
This look into Betsey's colorful life is inviting, where she came from, her various struggles including health issues, her rise in and the challenges she faced over years in the fashion/design industry, her relationship with her beloved daughter Lulu, and her many friendships. Always ready to look in new directions!
BTW you just have to love her book cover.
Betsey the design icon! As I said' I love her work, and I do admire her ability to tell it how she saw it--Betsey being ... well, Just Betsey!

A Penguin Viking ARC via NetGalley ( )