Le Tour de Betsey || NYFW Spring/Summer 11

Words by Kaiti Dangerkat
Photography courtesy of Kaiti Dangerkat

“Le Tour de Betsey” was a massive show inside the Lincoln Centre, the new home of NYFW. Before I delve into the details of the show, I want to acknowledge the late Jasmine Herron, an ACAD graduate who was recently killed riding her bike in Brooklyn.

The horrific news met me before the show and later found out, 1 hour later to be precise, Betsey’s show was bike themed, and even though it was a flirty and exuberant show, I couldn’t jump on the jolly wagon after knowing what had just occurred to such a beautiful, talented, and kind person that many of us have been touched by….whether it was through her art, her friendship, her warm heart, or her friendly smile behind the Cafe Beano cash register.

RIP Jasmine.

I was fortunate to meet Betsey not too long ago at a special Paper Magazine dinner where she smiled ear to ear and was nice enough to inquire about my work and the House of Dangerkat. Flabbergasted by how young she looks and acts for a 68 year old, and better yet how she cartwheels and dips on the runway at the end of the show! Betsey’s youthful spirit and perma-grin helped me understand the nature of her work as she seems to radiate energy and enthusiasm in person.

Through video, the Spring/Summer 11 show took us for a spin through Manhattan where each model’s look was dictated by the corresponding footage of Betsey and her entourage riding from Brooklyn to the Metropolitan Museum, to Central Park, to each of her stores, to the South Seaport with a final lap in Times Square.

Depending on where they were on the map, we were introduced to the punk princess, the glam rocker, the neon cinderella, the sailor, and the 80′s prom queen (among several others). Any colour under the sun, any style, any motif, any feminine cut- this collection seemed to almost have it all. By looking at the audience, she continues to be every girly-girl’s dream designer as she pumped out the dresses, spandex and RIDE ME necklaces for days.

Let’s not forget about the model who tried, (keyword) to skateboard in stripper heals. She’s alright, no bruises and still made it to the end of the runway just fine. I have to admit out of the whole fashion show, I may have enjoyed Betsey the most while she cruised down the runway on her bike and proceeded to cartwheel, duckwalk, deathdrop, and pose!