Betsey Johnson. © Ben Gabbe. Courtesy of Betsey Johnson

The Tilden Mansion on Gramercy Park has been home to The National Arts Club since the early 1900’s. Built in the 1840’s under the guidance of architect Calvert Vaux, Phillip Johnson has described the mansion as ‘one of the most beautiful’ in New York City.

Last week, The Arts Club presented designer Betsey Johnson with their annual Lifetime Achievement Award, placing the effervescent designer in the company of former award recipients Geoffrey Beene (2003), Oleg Cassini (2004), and Carolina Herrera (2005).

Even the tulle rosette-sporting pumpkins decorating the entrance were dressed à la Johnson. Betsey herself was resplendent in a citrus green mock frock and a minicrini. Five decades of her colourful past were on display in a bay window amid potted palms. Her friends, family and the fashionable present held forth in vintage Betsey Johnson threads, toasting the damsel to an evening of joy and celebration.

In true Betsey Johnson fashion, the legendary icon graciously accepted the award from Aldon James and called upon her family members to join her on stage to help present a visual timeline of her life in photos on a hot pink scroll. Johnson told the crowd that the happiness she felt was better than any of her husbands and only fell second to the birth of her daughter Lulu. “I’m so excited, honored, and thrilled! It doesn’t get any better than this,” she exclaimed.