Betsey Johnson

Parties, if one has the energy to attend them after viewing collections all day, are a mainstay of New York Fashion Week. On Valentine's Day, Victoria Beckham, right, feted Allure magazine's 20th anniversary at a tony bistro called Minetta Tavern. She unexpectedly showed up with David Beckham, her husband, who had on a dark plaid suit and wide tie. "He looks like he just stepped out of an ad," offered a reveler in the bar area, jammed with well-known faces.

Kiefer Sutherland and his delightful gal pal, Siobhan Bonnouvrier, a fashion editor at Allure, were squeezed into one corner. Author Simon Doonan and his boyfriend, Jonathan Adler, the interior designer, chatted with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelo. Iman, looking as youthful as the first day she arrived in New York, stood catty-corner beside designer Tory Burch.

Linda Wells, Allure's alluring Editor in Chief, later seated beside the Beckhams at dinner, dinged her glass and made a speech about "loving" her 20th-anniversary cover girl, Victoria Beckham. Did RSVIP mention that the steaks were enormous and delicious? Fun fete.

Betsey Johnson's Fall 2011 Collection, which was presented at this evening at Lincoln Center during NY Fashion Week Fall 2011 was a spectacular production---and definitely is the highlight of the entire week. The "He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not" show was more fun to watch than most of the theatrical productions currently headlining on Broadway--and was a wonderful way to spend Valentine's Day eve.

The collection was colorful and whimsical, as one would expect from the eclectic and charismatic designer. The show started with models (each with a blunt, dark wig) wearing the "Black Tag" Collection, described by the program as sophisticated, sexy and sleek. Each look had a name, such as "Wicked Game" and "Heartbreaker". The collection featured a fantastic black and white leopard print suit and wonderful dresses, including one that was both dramatic and sculpted (accessorized with a black and white leopard shawl and matching hand-warmer). Next up was the "Pink Patch" Collection, which is described in the program as "Affordable (under $100), Accessible and True-Blue Betsey". The fantastic footwear worn by all of the models throughout the show, called the "Lizzzy-L" collection (seen on the model in the above photo), was provided by Steve Madden and is available exclusively at SteveMadden.com and Steve Madden's mobile site for a limited time.

After her models walked the runway, employees of Betsey Johnson's fashion empire strutted the runway, too, wearing what looked to be pieces from previous collections while wearing blond Betsey Johnson-look-alike wigs. The "real models" included store managers, regional managers, design assistants, stylists, the knitwear designer, and even the VP of Retail Operations. The "real models" were of all shapes and sizes. One was pregnant (she looked adorable, by the way) while the last to walk (more like dance down) the runway was the lone male in the group (a store manager, named Seth Lefkof, according to the program) who revealed his identity after tossing his wig into the audience.

Last year, Marc Jacobs grabbed headlines when he picked a couple of girls off the street to walk his runway show. He just loved their style, much to the envy of wannabe models everywhere. This year Betsey Johnson takes it a step further. How much further? Luxist has the scoop.

We spoke to the amazingly down-to-earth designer at the Diet Pepsi lounge at Lincoln Center this morning, where she stopped by for a brief meet-and-greet. Dressed in her lucky studded New York belt, a draped Alexander McQueen scarf, and quintessential red lipstick, Betsey Johnson was full of a shocking amount of energy after her long week leading up to the tents.

During the inaugural fashion week at Lincoln Center, the Mercedes-sponsored tents where the shows take place were almost identical to the old structures at Bryant Park, but more airy, with a glass atrium in the center and 30 percent more space.

The monolithic rectangle in the far left corner of the plaza at Lincoln Center that introduces the tents looks as if it were carved from white stone and balanced on a tornado shaped point. But the structure is an optical illusion. It is a metal box, stabilized from behind and covered with white vinyl that looks like marble.

Inside the tents, fresh computers print out paper tickets for the tide of fashionistas and celebrities who are invited to shows-Carmen Electra, Kelly Rowland, Rumer Willis.

The private Mercedes lounge was designed by interior guru Carlos Mota using Iman's new fabric line; colorful zebra-skin and peacock-feather patterns upholster couches and ottomans. Photos of Iman by Bruce Weber and Peter Beard on the walls are from Iman's private collection.

Across the street at an atrium space, WWD (Women's Wear Daily) would later showcase its 100th anniversary by featuring retro designs by Thakoon and other hip designers to be sold by Gilt Groupe.

On August 16, The Plaza Hotel will debut its one-of-a-kind Eloise Suite, designed by celebrated fashion designer Betsey Johnson.

Johnson has designed an exclusive Eloise Suite that blends luxury and whimsy for a charmingly original result. It is Johnson's first-ever hotel collaboration. The suite channels the ebullient spirit of The Plaza's most famous "resident," Eloise, the precocious six-year-old in Kay Thompson's classic 1955 book, who lived with her Nanny, pet pug Weenie and turtle Skipperdee at The Plaza and had the unfettered run of the place.

"'I absolutely loooove The Plaza!' as Eloise would say," says Betsey Johnson. "Now I hope she says, 'I absolutely loooove my new room decorated by Betsey Johnson! She's so pink, so fun...neon, and stripes, and flowers, and yipes!!! ...petticoats, princess crowns, and even pink chandeliers! Ahhhh...absolutely home-sweet-home. Hey Eloise! Me and my grandkiddos want a sleepover with you real soon! Thanks to my absolutely most favorite hotel, The Plaza, for inviting me to decorate Eloise's room!"

Perennially girly designer Betsey Johnson is taking her love of pink and black to New York's Plaza hotel. Johnson, who has a show at New York Fashion Week, will be creating an Eloise suite at the Plaza, capitalizing on the popularity of the beloved children's books featuring the young girl. Johnson already has her own hotel of sorts, the warm weather escape Betseyville and this isn't her first foray into interior design.For a peek at what the future might hold for the Plaza we can check out Johnson's own New York City apartment which was for sale a couple of years back.

I have to admit I am not well-versed in the world of Betsey Johnson but I'm not too psyched about this creation. The Studded Flap Satchel offers a theatrical punch with pyramid-shaped goldtone studs and tassel zip top in either black, silver or berry. I do like the optional shoulder strap and protective metal feet -- fantastic additions to any handbag -- and the triple-compartment interior does keep things organized. But I could do without the gusset edges...this bag just has a bit too much going on for my taste for $348. (14" x 10" x 9")

From the LA Times Hot Property:
--Grammy Award-winning music producer Danny Bramson and wife Julee are selling a 40-acre horse ranch in Topanga for $4,195,000. The listing is here.
--Robert Olodort, who invented the Stowaway -- a full-size QWERTY keyboard tthat fits in a shirt pocket is selling his Brentwood house for $3,195,000. The three-bedroom home was recently redone. The listing is here.
Producer Danny Dimbort is selling his two-story English Tudor in Hancock Park for $6 million.
-Music producer Jimmy Jam (Harris) and his wife, Lisa, are selling the 20-acre property they own in Thousand Oaks for $7,995,000. It is a gated ranch adjacent to the Sherwood Country Club. They tore down the existing house and plans have been approved for a 17,000-square-foot estate with a 2,500-square-foot guesthouse. There are existing barns and horse facilities. The listing is here.
--Actor Chris Masterson has put his traditional 1939 Los Feliz home, shown above, on the market. The virtual tour is here.
--Former NFL football player Phil McConkey sold his contemporary home above La Jolla Cove in San Diego County for $2.85 million. McConkey and his wife, Erin, are in escrow on another home in the Beach Club Terrace neighborhood of La Jolla Shores. The Spanish-style house was listed at $4.5 million and has five bedrooms and five bathrooms.

From the NY Post's Gimme Shelter:
--They are already flipping at the 15 Central Park West condo complex. A four-bedroom unit is now on the market for $90 million after being sold to a venture capitalist for $30 million last month. I know the building is hot but could it really be that hot?
--One of the Hamptons' largest waterfront estates, Tyndal Point, a 55-acre property in North Haven is now being offered at $75 million, down from its original $80 million listing price in January 2007.
--Manhattan House on the Upper East Side has hit their sales go which means that the project is now official.
--Fashion stylist Phillip Bloch has put his Chelsea penthouse on the market for $1.5 million. He says he was to busy to renovate but it has roof rights for the construction of an additional 1,000 square feet above to create a duplex. The listing is here.

From the NY Observer's Manhattan Transfers:
--Scarlett Johansson has paid $2.1 million for a penthouse on East 53rd Street near Sutton Place.
--Designer Betsey Johnson paid $1,854,000 for an apartment at 30 East 85th Street. Her pink apartment in the Village remains on the market and is now listed at $2.495 million. It was listed at $3.6 million when it was our estate of the day last December.
--A 15-room, six-bathroom, four-fireplace co-op at 1030 Fifth Avenue, put on the market for $34 million has found a buyer in less than a week. It belongs to psychoanalyst Christine Wasserstein, who kept the apartment after her divorce from New York magazine publisher Bruce Wasserstein, the billionaire CEO of Lazard.

From Berg Properties Big Time Listings:
--"Malcolm in the Middle" actor Justin Berfield has paid $1.45 million or a new three-bedroom house in Venice, California.
--A three-bedroom home in the Beverly Hills post office area that was owned from 1996 until 2007 by actor Brendan Fraser is back on the market for $3.995 million. The virtual tour is here.

From the Wall Street Journal's Private Properties:
--An investor group led by fashion trade-show producer Elyse Kroll has sold a townhouse in New York's venerable Sutton Place neighborhood for $30 million, which is roughly $8 million more than the group paid almost a year ago.
--The Montana ranch of the late fashion designer Liz Claiborne has sold for close to its recent $7.5 million asking price. It was our estate of the day in October of last year.
--Kenny Rogers has listed his six-bedroom home in Atlanta, Georgia. It's our estate of the day later today.
--CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien has put her downtown Manhattan loft up for sale for $4.6 million. The listing for the elegant full-floor apartment is here.
--The widow of best-selling author Sidney Sheldon, Alexandra, has sold one of the Palm Springs, Calif., properties she listed earlier this year and cut the price of the others by 30%. A four-bedroom home known as the "playhouse" and used for entertaining sold for $1.425 million, slightly less than its asking price. She is asking $2 million for the adjacent main house and $2.3 million for a guest house. A second guest house, across the street, now sells for $3 million, down 25% from its original asking price of $4 million. The listings can be found here.
--Philanthropist Lois Pope, widow of National Enquirer founder Generoso Pope Jr., is asking $36.5 million for her ranch in Colorado.

From the Real Estalker:
--Rumor has it that Beyonce and Jay-Z have picked up a house in Scarsdale, New York which is also where they picked up their marriage license.
--Chris Noth and his girlfriend Tara Wilson recently bought a mid-century modern style home in Sherman Oaks, California for $1.445 million.
--Matthew Perry has put his condo in the celeb-friendly Sierra Tower in West Hollywood up for sale for $4.5 million.
--NIcole Kidman has put her Sydney, Australia home on the market for $20 million.
--Stylist Philipp Bloch, mentioned above, has also put a two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles on the market for $629,0000.

Today's home brings up the age-old question, when does a woman outgrow the love of pink everything. If you check out fashion designer Betsey Johnson's New York apartment the answer seems to be that you can live in Barbie's dream apartment well into your dotage. The aging designer is preternaturally bouncy and giddy for her age but still perhaps even she has grown weary of her two-bedroom penthouse. The loft in the Gold Coast area of Fifth Avenue is described in the listing as a "lavishly presented confection of fifties Hollywood glamour trimmed in lace, velvet, and gold tassels." Underneath there somewhere is a rather nice apartment with great views and a nice roof deck. It's just hard to see for all the flounce. It is listed at $3.6 million. The listing pics are pretty small but Radar has them bigger.

For another look at Betsey's home decorating style, check out Betseyville, her Mexican getaway home which is available for rent.

Betsey be very, very good with this satchel. The soft burgundy leather is just barely pleated and the perforated corner details really make things pop. I love the contrast and the minimal use of brass-tone hardware on the handle, strap and studded accents. The 5 inch drop handles are kind of short, but attach the 16 inch shoulder strap and you can be hands-free. Inside are two open pockets and a printed faux-quilt logo lining. $325.

Betsey Johnson is a wild and crazy designer - there is no other way to put it. She constantly pushes the design envelope and appears to create products that are a reflection of fun, excitement and boldness. With that, will come hits and certainly some misses. Needless to say, I am unsure which category Ms. Johnson's Vixen Hobo falls into. Made of leather with python embossed trimming, there is a lot going on with this bag. It features a zip around bottom, front zip pocket with tassel pull, a chain and leather handle and 3 buckle accents on either side. The interior features leopard lining – wild and crazy to the core. Bag Dimensions: 12"W x 11"H x 6"D with a 8.5" shoulder drop. Price: $350.

The Jet Set Betsey Weekender from Betsey Johnson really does get you in the mood to travel. It is covered with a variety of patches that, in addition to making the gold-trimmed canvas bag look flashy, serve as reminders of all the places that are on your to-go-to list. Pick up some patches of your own and add them onto the bag after you wrap up your trip - you can always tell people that you managed to snag a custom bag.

The large tote measures 19 1/2"W x 14 1/2"H x 10"D and can easily fit either clothes and other necessities for a weekend away or serve as a carry-on tote for a long plane flight. It has both handles and a shoulder strap, so you can carry it whichever way is the most convenient. Rest assured that the wide straps, despite their flashy look, are quite comfortable - something you're sure to appreciate when rushing to your gate at the airport. Price: $195.

Some designer labels such as Armani, Missoni and Versace create opulent hotels to splash their names on but Betsey Johnson has always done things in her own unique way. Her vacation offering, Betseyville, is actually one of her getaway homes located on the Mexican Riviera. Betseyville is a cluster of five palapa buildings with palm-frond roofs, a hanging out pool and a lap pool and multiple garden areas. The getaway can sleep eight in four bedrooms and there is a cleaning woman and caretaker on staff. Betseyville is decorated in bright colors and fabrics similar to the designer's exuberant fashions. Betseyville rents for $5500 per week from May to October.