Overheard in the Front Row of Betsey Johnson (and Her After Party)

By | 02/14/12 11:18am
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    Betsey Johnson and her lovely ladies (Patrick McMullan)     Start the Slideshow
    63464787728486125012640128 8 betsey 20120213 pmc 127 Overheard in the Front Row of Betsey Johnson (and Her After Party)

    Betsey Johnson and her lovely ladies (Patrick McMullan)

    Out of all the shows we’ve gone to during this longer-than-a-week Fashion extravaganza, Betsey Johnson‘s was by far the most fun. Does that come as a shocker to anyone? The 65-year-old knows how to give her legion of fans–who run the gauntlet from punk-rock 15-year-olds to Russell Simmons–what they want, and we’re not just talking about her infamous cartwheel/splits routine that she’s become infamous for.

    A half hour after the show was supposed to begin in Lincoln Center, interns with black headsets began to look the other way as people grabbed closer seats in the giant theater to get a better glance at Ms. Johnson’s fall line. We were able to snag fourth row, along with a French photographer and a Japanese man with a camera who asked us what The New York Observer was approximately six times over the course of the 15 minute show. In between the Beatles soundtrack and the screaming ladies (“We love you Betsey!”), we managed to make out a couple of front row chatter. But the real lavishing began at the after party, held at the Stone Rose Lounge on the top of the Time Warner Center, where Ms. Johnson was joined by Kris Humphries (“How do you spell Kardashian?” The New York Observer heard one guest ask her friend,) Richie Rich, and Dani Stahl in celebrating another great season.

  • Russell Simmons and Angela Simmons (Patrick McMullan)

    "Russell is at every show," said New York Post's Fashion Buzz journalist Amber Sutherland.
    "Is that something new?" We asked.
    "Nope. He's always been interested in fashion."
    "And music. And Occupy Wall Street. And yoga. And everything else," we added, helpfully.
    "Look, it's Run-D.M.C.!" said the Japanese photographer, excitedly.

  • Kristin Cavallari (Patrick McMullan)

    "Oh my god, I just had the worst interview with Kristin Cavallari," moaned NBC Fashion Week correspondent Julia Allison.
    "I didn't know she was pregnant, and when she told me, I just started laughing."

  • Karlie Kloss and Coca Rocha (Patrick McMullan)

    The Canadian fashion model made sure everyone knew what show she was walking in last night. From photos with Nigel Barker to FashionEtc.com and her own Twitter, Ms. Rocha wasn't going to let her appearance slip under the radar.

  • Betsey Johnson at her afterparty at the Stone Rose (Sean Christopher)

    Over a video loop of her recent runway appearance and a kicking Katy Perry/Madonna-infused soundtrack, Ms. Johnson thanked everyone from Mr. Simmons to her daughter and granddaughter, Lulu and Layla, who had accompanied her down the runway at the end of her show.

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