New York fashion week – from the sublime to the ridiculous
While iconic designer Oscar de la Renta presented a timeless, classic collection at New York Fashion Week, outlandish American designer Betsey Johnson - who is famous for doing a cartwheel at the end of her runway shows, celebrated her 70th birthday with a colourful, over-the-top collection of lace and puffy skirts
FASHION icon’s Betsey Johnson’s spring collection was modelled to a packed house on Tuesday during New York Fashion Week and featured a pig and Cindi Lauper – and more wild outfits. The 70-year-old designer’s event also featured cartwheels and splits on the run
way. The eccentric designer’s retail brand filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and closed its stores, but her creativity is undeterred.
Johnson did a catwalk show with a difference this season – the event was retrospective, featuring collections worn by fans from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
“I’ve been a Betsey fan since 1980,” Lauper told the crowd.
“So this is for you, Betsey,” she said, before performing her signature Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
Lauper wore black tulle and had her hair in a messy updo. She danced around a glittery black and pink stage. Celebs including Jonathan Cheban, Steve Madden and AnnaSophia Robb, were in attendance at the rocking show.
Outside, hundreds of guests stood furiously in line once Espace, the venue for the show, hit capacity.
Though the show staff tried to con- trol the crowds, many guests grew angry once the fire marshal announced the staff could only allow one person in for each person who left the Hell’s Kitchen hot spot.
Some speculated that the crowd showed up after the Betsey Johnson invite was posted online.
The chaos outside, however, did not alter the atmosphere inside during the wild runway show.
Guests sang and danced to hits during the show, and following the runway looks, Johnson, who was celebrating her 70th birthday, danced and cartwheeled to 50 Cent’s In Da Club. She also did the splits onstage with her daughter, Lulu, and granddaughter.