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"Betsey Johnson has been churning out wild and whimsical creations for nearly 50 years, making her archives some of the deepest in the business \u2014 but she&amp;#39;s certainly not resting on her laurels. The designer just announced she will indeed be mounting a show during New York Fashion Week this month (&amp;quot;You can expect the unexpected from me!&amp;quot; she tells us), and this weekend she&amp;#39;s opening her closet to the world.\n\nBetsey Johnson: Paraphernalia to Punk, a shoppable showcase of the icon&amp;#39;s designs from the sixties through the nineties, begins today at the Manhattan Vintage Show. As such, we caught up with the designer to talk about her illustrious career and all things fashion.\n\nIt&amp;#39;s industry lore that your career got started after winning a contest to be a guest editor at Mademoiselle. How did this turn into your first real job?\n\n I entered the contest because I wanted to get connected with New York somehow.\u00A0The guest editor gig lasted one month, but because I was working for a very pregnant editor in the fabric department, I got hired when she had her baby!\n\nHow have your designs changed over the years?\n\n They basically haven&amp;#39;t. I go back and forth from rock &amp;#39;n&amp;#39; roll punk modern to vintage Victorian goth to sweet and frilly girly girl.\n\nWhat is your first fashion memory?\n\n My dancing school recital and all the crazy costumes that I wore to them.\n\nYou&amp;#39;re known for your prom dresses. What did you wear to your prom?\n\n I wore the silliest, ruffliest, puffiest, over-the-top, pretty prom dress.\n\nDo you have prom any styling tips for us?\n\n Wear what you love. Your date will love it, and the night will be perfect!\n\nWhat is the most difficult situation you&amp;#39;ve dealt with during your career?\n\n Keeping my breast cancer a secret for six months until I was ready to tell it.\n\nWhat advice do you have for young people looking to get into fashion?\n\n Buck up, little campers! It&amp;#39;s going to be a tough ride, but it&amp;#39;s totally worth it."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/betsey-johnson-interview>