This past Tuesday evening, legendary fashion designer Betsey Johnson was awarded National Art Club’s Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Fashion. The venue of the event was New York’s National Art Club located in the historic Tilden building that has stood near Gramercy Park since the 1840s. In the reception area, the Victorian architecture and décor was thrown into sharp contrast against a display of Betsey Johnson through the ages. Five brightly colored mannequins commemorated five decades of Betsey Johnson’s reign in the fashion world with an iconic style from each decade. The guests were dressed in everything from brightly colored vintage Betsey Johnson dresses to traditional long ball gowns proving that the iconic designer has become a timeless classic. This Club, located in the historic Tilden building, has stood near Gramercy Park since the 1840s. In the reception area, the Victorian architecture and décor was thrown into sharp contrast against a display of Betsey Johnson through the ages. Five brightly colored mannequins commemorated five decades of Betsey Johnson’s reign in the fashion world with an iconic style from each decade. The guests were dressed in everything from brightly colored vintage Betsey Johnson dresses to traditional long ball gowns proving that the iconic designer has become a timeless classic.Betsey Johnson began her career in the 1960s and has since developed a trademark of sexy, hippie inspired patterns and whimsical detailing. She drew inspiration from her love for dance and costuming and became an icon of the youthquake movement and Andy Warhol’s underground scene.
Today, Betsey Johnson has over forty-five stores around the world and has been inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame. She has now joined the esteemed ranks of previous lifetime achievement honorees including Geoffrey Beene (2003), Oleg Cassini (2004), Carolina Herrera (2005), and Arnold Scaasi (2006).
