Betsey Johnson, a fashion veteran who is 79 years old but maintains the body of a 20-year-old girl. She’s vibrant, witty, and smart, with a knack for generating buzz and a penchant for a bustling party life.” ‘Baby, I’m sipping champagne while you’re enjoying your lunch,’ she reports as she brings us this live report from London as she searches for a new place to live. She revealed, “I come here to get my hair done – my hairdresser has been living in London for 35 years – so I commute a lot. Now I’ve finally decided to find a new home here and start a new chapter of my life at the ripe old age of 79.” However, finding a new home isn’t the only task on the veteran designer’s to-do list. She’s also juggling her fashion label and the launch of a new makeup line named “Luv Betsey” – which debuted in November 2020 and is back in Walmart stores today.
While waiting for the room service doorbell to ring at the hotel where she’s staying, Johnson shared everything from her favorite pieces from the five-piece collection to how she’s adapted her makeup routine as she’s gotten older. Read on for all the details.
What is the creative inspiration for your product line?
“My two granddaughters are a huge inspiration to me. I know everything they play with like the back of my hand. They made me look at fashion cosmetics in a whole new light – it’s a way to give vent to creativity, especially this kind of makeup that is both approachable and affordable. Everything in this line is priced under $15 and won’t be a financial burden, so you won’t be able to resist trying them! I’d also like to point out that higher priced products aren’t always the best, and lower priced ones aren’t always the worst. Maybe people have been misled in the past into thinking that only expensive products are good, but I’ve tried these products myself and they’re all great. Therefore, I want young girls to have access to these products so they have the opportunity to try and play with them. Makeup is a treat and a great way to take care of yourself.”
Has affordability always been the main thrust of your brand?
“I never considered making something more expensive than a round-trip flight or a three-night stay in Mexico. I wondered how anyone could want to spend more money on a piece of clothing. I wasn’t born into wealth – I grew up in a rural Connecticut town where most of the women sewed their own clothes. So, I always wanted my designs to be affordable because it’s easy for designers who create expensive clothes to pick and choose fabrics or materials at will.
