Perhaps as another countertrend to the minimalism of “clean girl” aesthetics and Love Story-inspired capsule wardrobes, vintage Betsey Johnson has cartwheeled back into the mainstream.
Throughout the years, Olivia Rodrigo has worn a number of vintage Betsey Johnson dresses, kickstarting the search for the designer’s pieces in secondhand stores and mom’s closet. For a full-circle moment, Busy Phillips’ daughter Birdie borrowed her mom’s vintage Betsey Johnson dress to see Rodrigo in concert.
Last night, Rodrigo continued her streak with a Betsey Johnson find from 2013. She wore the white ruffly tiered mini dress complete with a bow tied around the strapless neckline for an appearance on The Tonight Show. While it was styled with a plethora of accessories on the Betsey Johnson runway back in 2013, Rodrigo simply paired the dress with black sandal heels, fitting for her cool, punk-inspired aesthetic.
The Betsey Johnson resurgence has been going on strong this year. In Sabrina Carpenter’s “House Tour” music video, Margaret Qualley wore an archival Betsey Johnson dress. And at SXSW, Iris Apatow and Maddie Ziegler both donned vintage Betsey Johnson dresses while promoting Pretty Lethal.
Betsey Johnson has carved out her own fanbase on TikTok as well. On social media, shoppers are sharing their best finds—and the busier the better! Creators go viral for showing off their favorite Betsey Johnson finds from thrift stores, whether that means a one-off they happened to stumble upon or the newest addition to an already robust collection of her items. While celebs seem to have an affinity for the floral or lace-trim slip dresses, it’s the fruit-covered frocks that have become a fan-favorite online. But any colorful, flouncy piece has the potential to earn thousands of admirers on social media.
At a time when many secondhand stores have become inundated with fast fashion garments, any quality find feels like a treasure, but spotting Betsey Johnson’s fun, maximalist designs sorting through the racks takes dopamine dressing to another level. While shopping IRL has its perks, when it comes to coveted brands like this, the search might feel a little easier from the comfort of your home. Here are a few secondhand shops to find vintage Betsey Johnson online, and some of our fave picks.
