We’re beyond thrilled about today’s post – considering we grew up watching this Canadian icon interview everyone in the fashion world on one of our most watched shows – Fashion Television. Born in Toronto, Beker began her career in TV playing a slew of characters on short-lived sitcoms, studied the art of mime in Paris, and then ended back in our hometown where she landed a gig with CBC radio reporting on arts and entertainment. From there, the rest is history, and every time we see Beker holding her infamous black microphone, our world stops momentarily, and we give Beker the full attention she deserves. She’s part of the world’s elite list of fashion journalists who have gained the respect and recognition of the global community due to their integrity and nobility towards their profession. She brought us into her home, where she took us through her closet and introduced us to some of her most loved pieces – like a dress Karl Lagerfeld gave her while she was pregnant and her loved Dior dress that she was given by the design house to make her smile after she lost her wallet. She took us through her Canadian designer heavy outfit she wore while she was attending the Royal Wedding, and above all, she’s a loyalist – supporting Canadian designer and charities from Day 1. Plus, she also has editorial skills under her belt, sitting on top of the masthead of FQ Magazine – a Canadian fashion magazine that we still miss today. But we still get our Jeanne fix watching FT every single Sunday. Tune in to a special episode airing today for a behind the scenes look at our shoot with Jeanne.

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Behind the scenes Comments

Clothes| Shoes| Accessories| All

This leather and wool knit tunic was given to me in the mid ‘80s by a fantastic Lebanese fashionista named Fetoun, who opened a very swish boutique in Toronto’s Yorkville district t... Tunic, Unknown Designer; Boots, Custom Made by Liberty

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This leather and wool knit tunic was given to me in the mid ‘80s by a fantastic Lebanese fashionista named Fetoun, who opened a very swish boutique in Toronto’s Yorkville district that carried French fashion by a variety of up and coming designers. Unfortunately, there isn’t a label in this garment, and I don’t know who the designer is. But because of the reindeer and evergreen tree leather appliqués, I always found this French-designed piece to be a little quirky, and very Canadian in spirit. The cowboy boots were made for me by the Liberty boot company – designed by my friend Tony Benattar, who also happens to play a mean bass.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Tunic, Unknown Designer; Boots, Custom Made by Liberty
</span>#inline_01

The footwear pictured here is a pretty cool cross section of what I love. The red booties are by Alexander McQueen. I was wearing these shoes the day I found out he died, and stood in t... Red Booties: Alexander McQueen; Cowboy Boots, Custom Made by Liberty; Shoes, Abel Munoz

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The footwear pictured here is a pretty cool cross section of what I love. The red booties are by Alexander McQueen. I was wearing these shoes the day I found out he died, and stood in them as I delivered my news report about his tragic death. (I was in Vancouver, covering the 2010 Olympics for CTV at the time.) Below the McQueen booties are custom Liberty cowboy boots, made in Mexico, and designed by Toronto’s Tony Benattar, who is a friend. And the high heels are by Abel Munoz, a very dear friend who was the associate art director on my magazines, FQ and SIR. After his stint working on the magazines, Abel went to Milan to study shoe design. The glam, high quality footwear he creates is always chic and surprisingly comfy. </span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Red Booties: Alexander McQueen; Cowboy Boots, Custom Made by Liberty; Shoes, Abel Munoz </span>#inline_02

This hat was a dollar store find. My older daughter Bekky bought it for my younger daughter Joey. The portrait of Jean Paul Gaultier (which originally appeared in Flare magazine) is by ... Hat, Unknown Designer; Shoe, Abel Munoz

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This hat was a dollar store find. My older daughter Bekky bought it for my younger daughter Joey. The portrait of Jean Paul Gaultier (which originally appeared in Flare magazine) is by Toronto photographer Paul Alexander, who also happens to be a good friend of mine – we were judges together on Season 2 of Canada’s Next Top Model. I bought the photo at a charity auction hosted by Flare magazine, to benefit AIDS. </span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Hat, Unknown Designer; Shoe, Abel Munoz </span>#inline_03

The house of CHANEL sent me this Karl Lagerfeld designed ‘Bearbrick’ doll in 2006. It was a thank you for all the years of support I’ve given the house. There was a VERY limited n... Cuff, CHANEL

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The house of CHANEL sent me this Karl Lagerfeld designed ‘Bearbrick’ doll in 2006. It was a thank you for all the years of support I’ve given the house. There was a VERY limited number of these Bearbricks made, and they only went out to select international fashion editors. I feel very privileged to own one.
The Chanel cuff was a gift from a former boyfriend, who regularly showered me with wonderful, stylish accessories. And he had SUCH great taste. Sigh…..
The portrait was created when I appeared on the Bravo! television series “Star Portraits” – a programme in which three portrait artists paint portraits of a celebrity, who then chooses the painting that he or she thinks represents him or her best. This particular portrait was especially compelling to me because it reminded me so much of my late, great dad. It brought me to tears when it was unveiled on the show. I don’t look pretty in it – not at all – but for some reason, I love the way it captures me, warts and all.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Cuff, CHANEL</span>

The miniature shoes are Christmas tree ornaments that were given to me by my dear friend Mary Symons, who sits on the board of the Bata Shoe Museum, where she purchased them. Mini Shoes, Bata Shoe Museum

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The miniature shoes are Christmas tree ornaments that were given to me by my dear friend Mary Symons, who sits on the board of the Bata Shoe Museum, where she purchased them.</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Mini Shoes, Bata Shoe Museum </span>#inline_04

These crystal bracelets were gifts from Swarovski. I wore the clear crystal one for a special dinner with Madonna, during the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, for the premiere ... Bracelets, Swarovski

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>These crystal bracelets were gifts from Swarovski. I wore the clear crystal one for a special dinner with Madonna, during the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, for the premiere of her film W.E. I most recently wore the red one, with a fab red Greta Constantine dress, when I spoke at the annual Gilda’s Club Variety Show fundraiser at Toronto’s Sony Centre. I’m on the honourary board of Gilda’s Club, and the colour red is a signature of the organization. </span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Bracelets, Swarovski </span>#inline_05

This doll, which I apparently inspired, was a Christmas present from my daughter Bekky O’Neil, who’s a puppeteer/playwright/director/visual artist. Bekky depicted me as a kind of �... Bag, Lulu Guinness

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This doll, which I apparently inspired, was a Christmas present from my daughter Bekky O’Neil, who’s a puppeteer/playwright/director/visual artist. Bekky depicted me as a kind of “Beatle/superheroine,” complete with a little cape!
The purse is by Britain’s Lulu Guinness, and I bought it in the early ‘90s in London. Actually, I think I ordered it at London Fashion Week, from a booth that Lulu had in one of the tents, when I was there with one of my dearest pals, the wonderful Irish designer Louise Kennedy. The red poppy brooch was a find from one of the small boutiques under the Louvre. I bought it several years ago, when I was killing time between shows at the Carousels du Louvre.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Bag, Lulu Guinness </span>#inline_06

Totally 80s! This sensational leather jewel encrusted dress with a peek-a-boo hole and huge shoulder pads is one of my most treasured pieces. I fell in love with it of course, but at th... Dress, Christian Dior

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>Totally 80s! This sensational leather jewel encrusted dress with a peek-a-boo hole and huge shoulder pads is one of my most treasured pieces. I fell in love with it of course, but at that time, it was about $6,000, so I thought ‘forget it!’

In the mid-80s, as one of our first Fashion Television stories, the crew and I went to Paris to do a story on the house of Dior – Marc Bohan was designing for the house then and Frederic Castet was designing all the fur and leather garments that Dior was producing at the time. While shooting at the house and capturing all these gorgeous clothes, I was loaned this dress to wear for the interview.

Later that night I went shopping with my producer to Gallerie Lafayette and I had this little shoulder bag on, we were trying on hats and just having a blast. When I looked down, my little shoulder bag was open and my wallet was gone, I was pick-pocketed! (I’ve actually been pick-pocketed three times there). I was so deflated and just really crestfallen and felt terrible.

The next day, I went back to Dior because we had to do more shooting at the house and my producer explained what horrible thing had happened to me. The PR woman from Dior said she had something for me and came out of the back room with this big gorgeous box and inside was this dress, She said, “you know it looked so fabulous on you, you have to have it.” I think they gave it to me because they felt sorry for me!
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dress, Christian Dior</span>

These red booties are by Alexander McQueen. I feel very privileged to have known Lee McQueen personally, and always felt a special bond between us, from the early days of his career. I ... Shoes, Alexander McQueen

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>These red booties are by Alexander McQueen. I feel very privileged to have known Lee McQueen personally, and always felt a special bond between us, from the early days of his career. I probably did more television interviews with him than anyone else on the planet, and have some amazing material with him in our Fashion Television archives. McQueen was one of the most brilliant, sensitive, and soulful individuals I ever met, and his artistry remains unparalleled. I simply adored him, and will always treasure the memories of all the great conversations we had over the years. Like the rest of the fashion world, I miss him madly. </span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Alexander McQueen </span>#inline_07

The first time I met Alber, shortly after he took over the creative reigns at YSL, he told me he used to watch me religiously on Fashion Television when he lived in Israel. The sculpt... Shoes, Lanvin

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The first time I met Alber, shortly after he took over the creative reigns at YSL, he told me he used to watch me religiously on Fashion Television when he lived in Israel.
The sculptural canvas, which hangs over my living room mantel, is by Irish artist Patrick O’Reilly. I met Patrick through my dear friend, Irish designer Louise Kennedy. He had a studio near her shop in Dublin, and she brought me by for a visit. I fell in love with the unusual piece that was hanging on Patrick’s wall, and he offered to sell it to me, and have it shipped to my home in Toronto. I didn’t know how he’d manage to get it there in one piece, but it arrived on my doorstep in a huge wooden crate, and I’ve loved it ever since.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Lanvin </span>#inline_08

These feathered stilettos are by Canadian-born British shoe designer Patrick Cox. I knew Patrick back in 1979, when he was a shop boy, working at Toronto designer Leighton Barrett’s Y... Dress, Jean-Claude Jitrois; Shoes, Patrick Cox

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>These feathered stilettos are by Canadian-born British shoe designer Patrick Cox. I knew Patrick back in 1979, when he was a shop boy, working at Toronto designer Leighton Barrett’s Yonge St. boutique. Patrick used to help dress me for the rock magazine TV show I hosted back then, called The New Music. I wore these shoes on a red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006.
The leather dress is by French designer Jean Claude Jitrois, and is circa 1986. It was a gift from Fetoun, who I talked about earlier. Can’t remember what specific parties I wore this racy fringed dress to, but every time I donned it, it caused a stir.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dress, Jean-Claude Jitrois; Shoes, Patrick Cox </span>#inline_09

The bracelet is by Argentinian-born, Dutch-based designer Rodrigo Otazu. It was sent to me as a gift, when I first started editing FQ magazine. The necklace is from John Wind of Maximal... Bracelet, Rodrigo Otazu; Necklace, Maximal Art

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The bracelet is by Argentinian-born, Dutch-based designer Rodrigo Otazu. It was sent to me as a gift, when I first started editing FQ magazine. The necklace is from John Wind of Maximal Art. I got turned onto him and his whimsical pieces when I was in Philadelphia a couple of years ago. I love the little wooden man pendant – it’s like the wooden figures artists use for drawing models. His parts are moveable, and I often joke that he’s the one man I can control! </span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Bracelet, Rodrigo Otazu; Necklace, Maximal Art </span>

The shoes on the right are by Gianvito Rossi and the sunglasses are by Oliver Goldsmith, based on a ‘70s vintage design, and created from vintage material. Oliver Goldsmith’s grandd... L to R. Shoes, Vintage, Gianvito Rossi; Sunglasses, Oliver Goldsmith

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The shoes on the right are by Gianvito Rossi and the sunglasses are by Oliver Goldsmith, based on a ‘70s vintage design, and created from vintage material. Oliver Goldsmith’s granddaughter helped me choose them when she came to Toronto for a “trunk show” at Josephson Opticians. The python shoes on the left are vintage, circa 1947, and were worn by Dorothy Lamour in the movie Road to Rio. They were gifted to me by Canadian designer Pat McDonagh. She saw me out one night wearing a python bandeau top by Toronto designer Joeffer Caoc. Pat said she had “just the shoes” for me…and the next morning, these fabulous numbers appeared on my desk. Pat said she’d acquired them from an old friend of hers in the UK who was a costume collector.</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>L to R. Shoes, Vintage, Gianvito Rossi; Sunglasses, Oliver Goldsmith</span>#inline_10

In 1989, I was pregnant with my second daughter, Joey – those were the days when women wore muumuus and circus tents to cover themselves during pregnancy. It was also the years that l... Dress, CHANEL

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>In 1989, I was pregnant with my second daughter, Joey – those were the days when women wore muumuus and circus tents to cover themselves during pregnancy. It was also the years that lycra was all the rage.

On a hot sweltering July day in Paris while I was at Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel design studio, I was feeling especially fat and horrible. It was Giles Dufour, who was Lagerfeld’s assistant at the time, who said to me “oh you know what, how about wearing something from the Chanel collection for your interview with Karl?’” Though I was wearing some drab, olive green whale-type dress or something at the time I thought, ‘I’m not going to be able to fit into anything’ (since I was seven months pregnant).

Karl insisted because he had kept us waiting for a long time; as Karl often does, but of course we forgive him for it always because we love him so much. So I looked and looked in this room that was filled with gorgeous pieces; it must have been samples or the actual clothes that had gone down the runways from over the years. He kept saying “choose something, pick something to wear,” and I kept thinking ‘nothing’s going to fit me,’ but he insisted that we’d find something. So he found this one dress…and it was this dress. I tried it on and of course it fit perfectly.

Finally once Karl arrived, I did my interview with him in the dress. He kept telling me how great the dress looked on me; it was so fabulous! So Chanel gifted this dress to me and I wore it proudly for the last couple months of my pregnancy. That’s when I thought to myself, ‘and now I’ve got a real CHANEL dress in my closet!’
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dress, CHANEL</span>

The floral dress is by Montreal-born London-based designer Erdem. The jacket is by Toronto’s Lida Baday, one of my favourite Canadian designers. The fascinator was custom made for me ... Jacket, Lida Baday; Dress, Erdem; Shoes, Rupert Sanderson; Fascinator, Vivien Sheriff

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The floral dress is by Montreal-born London-based designer Erdem. The jacket is by Toronto’s Lida Baday, one of my favourite Canadian designers. The fascinator was custom made for me by British milliner Vivien Sheriff, who I befriended a few weeks before the royal wedding when I was in London, taping pre-wedding stories for Fashion Television and CTV. The shoes are by British shoe designer Rupert Sanderson. I wore this outfit as I covered the Royal Wedding, live, in April of 2011, standing on a rooftop overlooking Westminster Abbey</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Jacket, Lida Baday; Dress, Erdem; Shoes, Rupert Sanderson; Fascinator, Vivien Sheriff </span>#inline_11

These are Rupert Sanderson shoes, a great British designer, and this pair really complimented the dress that I was wearing while covering the Royal Wedding. I stood on these from about ... Shoes, Rupert Sanderson

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>These are Rupert Sanderson shoes, a great British designer, and this pair really complimented the dress that I was wearing while covering the Royal Wedding. I stood on these from about 6 a.m. till 6 p.m. nonstop, ready for action. My crew kept saying, “take your shoes off” and I was like, “no!”</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Rupert Sanderson</span>#inline_12

This past spring I was lucky enough to cover the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton for CTV. A few weeks before the wedding, I went with FT to London for a few days... Fascinator, Vivien Sheriff

The bag on the left, featuring a photo of me and Viktor and Rolf is by Gina Alexander. The hat is by NY milliner Kokin. And the bag on the right is by Anya Hindmarch, and features me as... L to R. Bags, Gina Alexander, Anya Hindmarch; Hat, Kokin

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The bag on the left, featuring a photo of me and Viktor and Rolf is by Gina Alexander. The hat is by NY milliner Kokin. And the bag on the right is by Anya Hindmarch, and features me as a mime, circa 1974. </span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>L to R. Bags, Gina Alexander, Anya Hindmarch; Hat, Kokin</span>

I had a wonderful boyfriend who was a big marketing maven and he had an account for some big jeans store that was opening up in Montreal. They asked me to host their party, so of course... Jeans, Izzy Camilleri

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>I had a wonderful boyfriend who was a big marketing maven and he had an account for some big jeans store that was opening up in Montreal. They asked me to host their party, so of course I had to wear jeans. They had to be sensational jeans, and not just any jeans, so we went for the theatrical and called Izzy Camilleri, who is a wonderful, Canadian designer who’s done a lot of costume-y type pieces. So she made me these outrageous jeans with peacock feathers flying out of the legs.
The only other time I wore them in real life was to ring in the millennium in 2000, New Year’s Eve. It was just a house party, I don’t think I’d go out in public with them now though.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Jeans, Izzy Camilleri</span>

This is a beautiful piece that I bought at an art fundraising auction put on by the Textile Museum of Canada, here in Toronto sometime in the 90s. It was actually my husband who put in ... Bag, Vintage

<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This is a beautiful piece that I bought at an art fundraising auction put on by the Textile Museum of Canada, here in Toronto sometime in the 90s. It was actually my husband who put in the winning bid. A wonderful textile designer fashioned this evening bag out of antique hardware. I just thought there was such a romantic feel to it, a real little fishtail evening bag. It’s vintage quality too and I love the way it looks inside.</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Bag, Vintage</span>

When I was editor-in-chief of FQ Magazine, one themed issue that we did was art in fashion. I thought well, if we’re going to do that for the cover, we should really have some fabulou... Bag, Philip Treacy