FP News Features

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

A big, crazy 70th birthday bash for Betsey Johnson with confetti, Cyndi Lauper and a baby pig

By: Leanne Italie, The Associated Press

Posted: 09/12/2012 8:55 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 09/12/2012 1:04 PM

The Betsey Johnson Spring 2013 collection is modeled during Fashion Week, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Betsey Johnson threw herself a big, crazy 70th birthday party with pal Cyndi Lauper belting "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and confetti-slinging models prancing decade-by-decade down a runway in her wild clothes, including one clutching a not-happy-looking baby pig.

Johnson's grown daughter, Lulu, popped out of a huge faux birthday cake onstage and watched with her two young kids as grandma performed her signature cartwheel and split.

Some in the crowd had waited more than an hour to get in Tuesday night. Others, including invited guests, were turned away at the door after the fire marshal showed up at a rented 42nd Street space.

The party was heavy with industry folk in town for New York Fashion Week. Lil' Kim stopped by to wish Johnson well.

If anybody deserves a night out, it's the flamboyant Johnson, a breast cancer survivor who lost control of her signature boutiques earlier this year.

All 63 of them in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. held going-out-of-business sales in May through July. Johnson founded the fashion house known for funky, puffy party dresses in 1978, but Betsey Johnson LLC became mired in debt when the recession rolled in and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.

Steve Madden Ltd., which owns the Betsey Johnson intellectual property rights, said the company will continue to sell Betsey Johnson clothing and other products on a wholesale basis and online. The icon still oversees moderately priced clothing sold in department stores, along with accessories and other licenses.

So why not celebrate?

Huge video displays along the walls of the party offered glimpses of her rock roots in the swinging '60s, as did the runway. Models held up glitter-lettered signs marking the decades, culminating in new clothes for spring with a princess theme. They twirled and shimmied before a bra-clad parade of models in skimpy sparkle bottoms spelled out "cheers" in pink letters attached to their backsides.

Some models waddled down the runway in multicolored swim flippers, and others with rolling luggage and Jetson-like space age outfits — one shooting off play ray guns.

The staged filled up for the finale with models clutching pink, black and silver balloons and wearing slinky black shorts and tank tops that read "Guys (heart) B.J."

Johnson's actual birthday is Aug. 10, 1942, but who's counting?

___

Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More FP News Features

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.