Betsey Johnson Peacing Out

Girly, flirty, funky and fun, Betsey Johnson's collections are perennially fabulous. I remember shopping for my first Betsey J. dress at 13 for my school's semi-formal and it was a big deal to get a Betsey dress every year! Will that experience survive for the next gen? After 30-something years in the biz, Betsey is finally taking some time off to enjoy life. She tells New York Magazine, "I should be retired. I?m basically screwing up because I?m not retired. I?d like to go in four days a month, something like that." She doesn't think she can totally let go, even as the amazo designer Eric Sartori is set to take over design direction.

She's hoping to take after Ralph Lauren, "Where he goes in, and his wonderful expert crews show him work, and he goes, 'Love it, love it, love it, um, we?ll just put that aside for the moment, love it, love it, hmmm.'" Ok, Whew! So Betsey will be around! On her Twitter feed yesterday, she quoted Bette Davis saying, "I will not retire while I've still got my legs and my make-up box." Amen, sistah!

Posted on: Wed Jul 1, 2009