Betsey Johnson

It depends what you want from it. Betsey Johnson's draw is its colorful, whimsical, over-the-top aesthetic, so if you love that playful, embellished look, the personality is the value. Reviews are mixed on durability and materials, with some shoppers finding pieces fun but not built like high-end designer goods. It tends to be most worthwhile for statement accessories and standout pieces rather than heavy-duty everyday basics.

She is known for clothes that are colorful, cute and whimsical, often described as over the top and heavily embellished. Just as famously, she ends her fashion shows by doing a cartwheel into a split, a signature flourish that captures her exuberant spirit. That joyful, theatrical sensibility is the heart of the brand.

Betsey Johnson is an American fashion designer, born August 10, 1942 in Wethersfield, Connecticut, celebrated for her whimsical, embellished designs. She studied at the Pratt Institute and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University before breaking into fashion. Her growing-up love of dance and costume shaped the playful style she became known for.

It began with a contest win. Johnson won the Mademoiselle Guest Editor Contest in 1964, then became the in-house designer for the Manhattan boutique Paraphernalia in 1965, putting her at the center of the youthquake fashion movement. Her early clothes were worn by figures like Linda Ronstadt and Anouk Aimée.

Alley Cat was an early career high point. In the 1970s Johnson took control of the label, which was popular with the rock 'n' roll musicians of the day, and her debut collection for it reportedly sold $5 million in its first year. In September 1971 the work earned her the Coty Fashion Critics' Award, a 'Winnie.'

She launched her own fashion line in 1978. After a tough early stretch, she opened a retail store in SoHo in New York City, and the brand grew from there into one with more than 65 stores worldwide by 2011. The journey was not a straight line, but the label endured.

Yes, with serious recognition. She was inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame in 2002, received the National Arts Club's 2009 Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion, and was honored with the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. Her peers have repeatedly acknowledged her impact.

The line reaches well beyond clothing. In 2003 Johnson expanded for 2004 to include handbags, accessories, hats and scarves, broadening the brand into the accessories that many fans now know it for. The whimsical aesthetic carries across all of it.

Often. She designed the dress Lisa Loeb wore in her 1994 hit "Stay (I Missed You)" video, competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2014, and has appeared as a guest judge on shows including RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, even with an episode themed around her own looks. Her personality has kept her culturally visible for decades.

For a first buy, lean into what the brand does best: a bold, fun statement accessory like a playful handbag or a piece of jewelry. Those capture the colorful, embellished signature without asking too much of materials that reviewers say are best suited to lighter wear. Pick something that brings the whimsy you love into your wardrobe.

Treat the embellished pieces gently. Because the brand favors decorative, eye-catching detailing over heavy-duty construction, owners get the most longevity by saving statement items for special wear and handling straps, hardware and trims with care. Match expectations to a fun, expressive label rather than a workhorse one and it tends to satisfy.

Shop with the brand's playful, accessory-rich range in mind. The line spans clothing plus handbags, jewelry and other accessories, so focusing on the whimsical statement pieces you will actually reach for, and buying during the brand's regular seasonal refreshes, gets you the most joy for your money. Choose for personality and you will rarely be disappointed.