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Betsey Johnson has always held the title of fashion's favorite free spirit, epitomizing the "girls just wanna have fun" mantra. Since starting her popular namesake line in 1978, Johnson has proven time and time again that success comes to those who live life on their own terms. Amongst a number of standout qualities, Johnson is a fighter (she beat breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2002), an idiosyncratic spirit, and an entertaining presence to be around in her wisened 75 years. After all, this is the same woman who would close out all of her lively fashion shows with a cartwheel and a split.
“Around ‘98, I did one and the audience went crazy. I was happy. I thought, ‘this is a good way to celebrate instead of walking down the runway,’” Johnson tells Allure.
Though Johnson is most known for her rock and roll feminine fashion designs that have been worn by the likes of Rihanna, Ariana Grande, as well as devoted fans like myself (for my Sweet 16, high school prom, and college graduation, no less) she is equally as creative when it comes to beauty. While she's worn all sorts of bold looks from fiery red hair to a platinum blonde bob with yellow highlights, one thing has remained the same: her love of red lipstick. So after hearing about her obsession with a classic rouge lip, I recently sat down with the fashion icon to talk about her current makeup obsessions.
ALLURE: Were you always a creative person growing up?
BETSEY JOHNSON: I just loved dancing across the board. Every bit of the real me was in dancing and recitals in cornball town, Wethersfield, Connecticut. My [dance] teacher was a chorus girl on Broadway, so I got to know New York. She brought me to New York all the time when I had a school break or summer vacation. I love New York. You want to find out if you're any good? Try New York. Who sang that, Frank Sinatra? If you make it here you can make it anywhere. The anywhere now is in Malibu with my daughter and my two grandkids — we're in heaven. Everybody works online [anyway].
ALLURE: Besides your fashion sense, you like to have a lot of fun with your makeup. What does your everyday makeup routine consist of?
BJ: I have discoloration, [so] I really like a base. I can't wear a little makeup. I have to wear a lot of makeup or no makeup. But even when I wear no makeup, I like [having a] base. On me at all times is my powder compact, which happens to be Laura Mercier at the moment. I like it because it's easy [to] access. It also comes with the little sponge.
ALLURE: How has your approach to makeup changed over the years?
BJ: In the '60s, I'd wear three pairs of eyelashes. Now they make them that thick, but back then they didn't so you had to kind of build your own. I wore white lipstick, [but] now it's red lipstick. I never was a pink or natural lipstick girl. I like the sloppy application. I am so tired of it being perfect. I know I photograph [well like] this, and it doesn't take the time and the preciseness. I know it looks really crazy up close, but I guarantee you, I know how photography works.
ALLURE: What are your favorite makeup brands at the moment?
BJ: You know, I hate to drop names, but I'm always guaranteed with Chanel. There's just something great about Chanel. Usually, if I run into a makeup store [and] I just want to spend three minutes, I don't wanna be wined and dined and romanced and made up. I've been to Sephora [recently], I had to go to get some lipsticks to talk to you. I hate that kind of shopping experience, so I'm trying to really nail the brands that really work because I don't like the experimenting. I've always liked the thickness [and] the coverage of Make Up For Ever and Chanel. And then I'll fool around with the latest, you know, Marc [Jacobs] or Tom [Ford] or Yves Saint Laurent, [even] the $2.99 [makeup]. I don't care what brand I'm buying, but I do try and find that perfect red lipstick, which is always hard. My base now is Laura Mercier. I have no allegiance to any brand.
ALLURE: You have a well-documented love for red lipsticks. Are there, in particular, you’re loving at the moment?
BJ: If I find the [exact] color [I love], I wear the lipstick down to the bone. I don't want to go look for anymore. My new assistant just picked this L’Oréal Colour Riche Matte Lip Color in Matte-Ly in Love [because] I was totally out of red lipstick. I [was] shocked because it’s a good red and it's probably pretty inexpensive. You eat, you drink, but this lipstick really holds well except you do have to touch up inside. I can [put it on] with no mirror — I know my lip line. I love Nars’s Powermatte Liquid Lip Pigments, I find [they] stay on like crazy. That's a big thing about lipsticks nowadays, [they] seriously need to stay on.
ALLURE: Would you ever create your own makeup line?
BJ: Oh, I would die to. And it could really go across the three generations. I mean, the kids wear makeup a lot. They really love all that stuff. I think that's where it all starts: your mind, your heart, and then your face. [When] you have that together, [you’ll] always look good.
ALLURE: What are your favorite beauty looks of all time from pop culture?
BJ: The ‘60s Twiggy look. The ‘80s Grace Jones look. Cyndi Lauper — [she’s] just always very experimental and playful and crazy good. Giselle, [but] I [personally] just can't do the natural, gorgeous beauty thing. And people like David Bowie, the rockstar makeup.
ALLURE: Do you have a beauty philosophy you live by?
BJ: As long as I look good, I'm very happy — and as long as I look consistently me.
More Timeless Beauties:
- Why Helen Mirren Wishes She'd Said "Fuck Off" More As a Young Woman
- Salma Hayek Spills Her Entire Beauty Routine and Philosophy
- Linda Ronstadt on Beauty, Style, and Becoming a Rock Icon
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