The interviewer becomes the interviewee: Jeanne Beker at yesterday's preview of Edit
Last week, we wrote about The Bay’s new budget-friendly women’s clothing line, Moon, an assortment of inexpensive basics (a turtleneck is $19) in mostly black and grey. Now, the grande dame of department stores is debuting a small collection of slightly more expensive women’s clothes backed by arguably the most powerful woman in Canadian fashion: Jeanne Beker. We say “backed” because Beker didn’t design the clothes (check them out in our slide show). Instead, she worked with a Montreal manufacturer, selecting styles and fabrics, and suggesting changes to create 25 pieces for women Beker says don’t have time to shop. The name of the line: Edit.
Like Moon, the clothes—stylish basics aimed at women in their 30s, 40s and 50s—are mostly in black and grey, with a few hits of white, camel and red. There’s the classic Beker black dress ($150), a boyfriend jacket with ruched sleeves ($150), a cape-like camel jacket ($195), wide-leg dress pants ($79) and, somewhat surprisingly, a pair of jeggings ($85).
It’s not Beker’s first foray into making clothes rather than reporting on them: she had a short-lived travel line at Eaton’s before it was bought out by Sears, and for a time lent her expertise to a shapewear line. When Bonnie Brooks took over The Bay, the two started discussing the possibility of working together. Turns out that Brooks and Beker are old friends—it was Brooks who introduced Beker as a columnist in Flare magazine while she was editor.
Launching at 65 stores in September, Edit will come out with new looks every month. Don’t look for the clothes at Toronto fashion week, though. Beker doesn’t think that every line is runway worthy. Amen.
See the slide show of Edit’s first collection >>
The line is OK,you make what you want (accessories) of it, and I love high heels. I am a 52 year old from Montreal, and the fact that Mrs. Beker is the model for her clothes realy please me. Can we be glad for once that it is not a 17 year hold who weighs 80 pounds.
April 20, 2011 at 8:46 pm | by Lynda CôtéI think Jeanne looks fabulous. She a designer now and has been Fashion File’s one and only fashion reporter. I LOVE that show. It is well done. Who better to wear her clothes first but her. A dream through I’m sure. Love your denim chanel like jacket
May 14, 2011 at 1:47 pm | by SharonFinally, a pair of slim leg jeans that have a nice, long rise. Jeanne Beker has saved the day! I have a very difficult time finding pants with a rise long enough for my body type. Everything out there stops well below my belly button and not flattering on me at 58 years old. I bought three pair of your pants and love them all. Thanks Jeanne for thinking of us women who are shaped like real women. Love you and love the clothing line.
June 21, 2011 at 4:26 pm | by GlennaI agree, the line is certainly boring. I did like the black cords though, the fit was good from hips to waist and covered up that little tummy bulge some of us get in our 40s. I’m a reasonable weight for my height and the size 2 was still a little big. If they made a 0 size (which would really be a size 6) I would have purchased the pant.
September 30, 2011 at 1:37 pm | by LuciaJeanne Beker is the BEST!
October 3, 2011 at 4:21 pm | by Benjamin KanarekJeanne, fianally a person who thinks about the plus sizes with some style, thank you, thank you. For some time now
October 14, 2011 at 9:54 am | by SandraI thought I might have to have my clothes made for me but I now have a choice. Love it.
Just bought the chocolate brown shearling jacket, not shown above, which is really too bad because it’s lovely. It’s faux (which is totally fine with me), really well cut, very flattering and 40% off as I write this! Couldn’t do full price but glad I waited. Briefly scanned the other pieces but ruled them out as too old for me (and I’m 53!) – as my mom used to say… “I’m too young to shop here!” I agree with the reviewer above about colour but, for many, “basics” evokes a limited pallet and this collection is certainly basic.
October 26, 2011 at 4:28 pm | by Dee