Betsey was a fashion pioneer long before the punk scene of the late '70 and early '80s ... she first made her presence known in the world of fashion in the 1960's. She was among the artists who hung around at Warhol's infamous Factory, and she has said in multiple interviews that Warhol "superstar" Edie Sedgwick was a prominent muse for her early work. She was briefly married to John Cale of the band Velvet Underground, and designed clothes for her husband and other members of his now iconic band. She was a pioneer of rock and roll style ... I'd say she influenced punk as much as punk influenced her later work.

As a young girl, Betsey didn't set her sight on a career as a fashion designer. She was fascinated by the world of dance ...she began her dance studies at the age of four, and studied for a number of years under a former Broadway showgirl. We can see influence of that early love of dance in many signature aspects of her work through the years. She is a master of creating flattering, shapely designs in spandex, and has often played with putting a streetwise edge over tutu-esque crinoline detail.

Betsey's work became very widely known (and worn!) in the '80s, and it was in this decade that she created a lot of gear that showed inspirations from the British punk rock movement. She's brought back design elements from her successful '80s lines again numerous times over recent years ... these seem to be the clothes many associate most with her, and love to wear.

In several interviews, Betsey has cited music and pop culture trends as key inspirations for her fashion collections ... not just punk, but the full spectrum of music that has shaped pop culture during her lifetime. (See the first video below for an interview about her 2008 collection, a line created with inspirations from her roots in '60s Beatnik music and culture).

Check the article on my sources list for lots of great info on her (best bio I've seen about her online) and fabulous pics :-)