Betsey Johnson is no cheap date!

I got the inside scoop on this fact  during  Fashion Week, while taking a breather at  the “Pink your Drink” event at the W Hotels Arrival Lounge at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.  The  iconic fashion designer, Betsey Johnson, unveiled for the first time in the U.S. arguably the world’s most expensive spirits container: a Chambord® bottle fashioned with $3 million worth of diamonds, gold and pearls.

My compadres at Laura Baddish’s firm, The  Baddish Group, (PR firm to such delicious luxury brands such as Chambord, Driscoll’s Berries, Pama Liquor, and more) invited me to partake in the festivities, and so having a few minutes between collections,  I did!  Squeezing into the airplane sized lounge was no easy feat though, as it was packed to the walls with security, press, artists, papparazzi, and of course, none other than Betsey Johnson, FASHION ICON, herself!  I have been a long time fan of Betsey’s, and in person, she is just as vibrant, colorful, and energetic as you would imagine!  All that yoga I hear she does must be paying off in spades because she looks AMAZING!

Just a little 411 on Betsey, in case you want some more details……New York designer Betsey Johnson joined forces with Chantal Bacon in 1978 and started the Betsey Johnson label, as it is known today. Her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has afforded continued success in the clothing fashion industry for 30 years. Starting in 2004, the Betsey Johnson label expanded as a lifestyle brand with the introduction of intimates, handbags and leather goods, footwear, watches, jewelry, eyewear, swimwear, legwear, outerwear and a fragrance. Today there are over sixty Betsey Johnson stores worldwide as well as an established wholesale business in international markets. For store locations or product information, visit www.betseyjohnson.com.

Designed by international jeweler Donald Edge, the appearance of the incomparable ‘Chambord by Donald Edge’ bottle at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was the latest stop on a worldwide tour that has taken the bottle to London and Berlin.  From New York it travels to Orlando and Australia for an appearance down-under.According to Edge, the unforgettable Chambord orb bottle is decorated with more than 60 carats worth of diamonds including 1,100 round brilliant cut diamonds, pear cut diamonds, a square cut emerald diamond, the finest round pearls and hand-wrought eighteen-carat yellow gold.

As it is the biggest week in fashion, Johnson was on hand to help Chambord unveil the $3 million bottle. Johnson is a breast cancer survivor and advocate, and Chambord was honored to have her as part of its “Pink Your Drink” program during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. In addition to its support throughout the year of the “Pink Your Drink” program for breast cancer charities, Chambord is making a donation to Johnson’s designated charity, the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

“We jumped at the chance to feature the $3 million ‘Chambord by Donald Edge’ bottle at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and to have a designer of Betsey’s caliber unveil the bottle for the first time ever in the U.S.,” said Josh Hayes, Chambord Brand Manager. “Our ‘Pink Your Drink’ program throughout the year revolves around raising funds and awareness for breast cancer, so it was natural to tie into this very fashionable occasion and very fashionable designer.”

According to Hayes, the ‘Chambord by Donald Edge’ bottle is currently being valued by the Guinness World Records to determine if it is indeed the world’s most expensive spirits container.  He jokingly added that the answer to the most frequently asked question about the bottle is, “Yes, it’s for sale.” Upon futher conversations at the event, I heard that the bottle had indeed been purchased by a gentleman from Dubai. No surprise there.

About Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur:

Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur was the Official Liqueur of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for the fourth consecutive year. Chambord is made from all-natural raspberries, blackberries, XO cognac, Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel and honey extract.  It is produced just south of Paris in the picturesque Loire Valley. Inspired by Louis XIV’s visit to Chateau de Chambord in 1685, Chambord continues to lend elegance and style to every occasion as one of the world’s most versatile liqueurs.If you have never had any , you should do so immediately!  It is absolutely divine in champagne or a French martini,  and always well loved! So have some fun and “pink your drink” this weekend!