At the sound of Betsey Johnson's name, images of tulle, leather, wool and lace collide together in a fringed flurry of sparkles and fur trim. She combines everything with anything, mixing ballerina with punk rock, hippy with new-age chic, and (somehow) it all works.

She takes the cyborg out of the models, the untouchable out of couture, and the unaffordable out of the price tag. And while she's at it, she slides the fun right back into fashion.

Johnson, known for her bush-whacked mop top, sexy tights, and horizon-scraping smile, arrived in the 60s as the heart-shaped glint in the eyes of all the decade's It girls (and boys).

Twiggy wore her designs. Julie Christie and Brigitte Bardot loved them, too. Velvet Underground's John Cale got wrapped up in her - and her clothing - and Edie Sedgwick became her house model.

How did Johnson land an ultra-cool spot in the friend-of-Andy scene? After art school, the Connecticut native won Mademoiselle magazine's "Guest Editor Contest" in 1964, shipping her off to London for an inspiring jaunt. A year later, at 21 years of age, she scored the top designer position at U.K. retailer Paul Young's hot shop Paraphernalia. Through fashion shows for the clothing boutique, which housed such young designers as Mary Quant and Tuffin & Foale, she met Cale - a "match made in heaven," he writes in his autobiography - and the two were married.

Before the 60s came to an end, Johnson opened a new boutique called Betsey Bunki Nini, took a job from Alvin Duskin in San Francisco, and left both Paraphernalia and Cale behind. In 1970, she came into creative control of the cutting-edge, rock 'n' roll label Alley Cat, and two years later, won the coveted Coty Award, along with Halston, as the youngest designer to ever receive the honor.

Johnson's designs resonate just the right mood: a sexy giggle wrapped in a touch of blush topped off with one helluva wink.

In 1999, the Council of Fashion Designers of America presented Betsey with the Timeless Talent Award, an honor created especially for her. And as the creative mind behind a world where dancing costumes, circusy pomp and doll-like daintiness can be worn by prom-goers, sexpot partiers and rock 'n' rollers alike, we think the CFDA got it spot on.

With more than 45 Betsey Johnson stores currently worldwide, the kitschy queen's hot pink buzz shows no sign of fading - even though she's in her 60s. Johnson still concludes her runway shows with an energetic cartwheel, sprinkling the grandiose productions with impressive dance moves, lit-up signs, or bunches of balloons - whatever suits her fancy. Her boutique has expanded internationally overseas and above the border, adding shoes, leg wear, lingerie, denim, handbags, belts, hats and scarves to her already bustling brand.

But before morphing her line into a top American lifestyle brand, Betsey was honored with an induction into the Fashion Walk of Fame on New York City's Seventh Avenue in 2003 - and a year later fell in love with Mexico. While on vacation, Johnson bought a "magical little hotel," which she called "Betseyville." She transformed the retreat into her dream home and used it as a place to conjure inspiration. Enamored by the country's culture, Johnson bought a second hotel, named it "Villa Betsey," turned Betseyville back into a hotel, and worked on converting the villa into her main home in Mexico.

Throughout Johnson's life of face-smothering smiles and cladding the rockerati, she had to live - and win - a personal battle that was far less glamorous. As a breast-cancer survivor, Johnson has become a fervent advocate in the fight against the disease. She has made many public appearances, participated in various fundraising events, and has created unique items for auction to raise funds for charity. In 2003, she accepted the CFDA's offer to become an Honorary Chairperson for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative, and in the following year, the National Breast Cancer Coalition awarded her for her continuous fight against breast cancer.

From her childhood frolics through dance classes in over-the-top costumes, Johnson laid the foundation for her creative and whimsical vivacity. With her audacious outfits and enchanted ensembles, she's become the designer that makes you want to be part of her secret club - a club with an endless roster and wide-open doors.

She's the fun in fashion and she's the laughter in sexy, flirty, rocktastic styling.

She's the hot pink in all of us.