Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn by Jeanne Beker

Fashion and style icon Jeanne Beker delivers an uplifting and inspiring memoir that walks us through a wardrobe of memory, one article of clothing at a time.

Synopsis -

Jeanne Beker’s name is synonymous with style and grace in fashion. Recognized by many as the beloved host of Fashion Television and The New Music, Jeanne has spent an entire career interviewing celebrities and uncovering their most private selves. Now, in Heart on My Sleeve, Jeanne reveals who she is in an all-new way.

This is not just a memoir but a wardrobe of memory. Jeanne walks us through her recollections of specific pieces of clothing and jewelry, precious items that have made an indelible impact on her. She invites readers to think more deeply about how what we wear—whether it’s a thrift-store find or high-end couture—acts as a touchstone to our most treasured recollections, reminding us of who we once were or of loved ones we hold dear.

With Jeanne as our style guide, we get up-close and personal with a star-studded cast, including Paul McCartney, Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Oscar de la Renta, Beyoncé, and Keith Richards. But equally important, Jeanne introduces us to the family members and loved ones who form her closest entourage—including her wise Yiddish mother and her industrious father, both Holocaust survivors; her childhood neighbor Mrs. Jaskolka, a style maven ahead of her time; her two trailblazing daughters; and her many warm and exuberant friends who have seen her through the best and worst of times.

Jeanne proves that a life lived with style and substance is always in fashion. Bold, colorful, and authentic, this is Jeanne Beker at her very best and brightest.

FT: In Fashion - Jeanne Beker launches "EDIT"

Review -

When I heard about Heart on My Sleeve, I couldn't wait to get a copy.  Why? Two reasons. Many years ago I heard Beker being interviewed about her life onstage at a local event. I sat enthralled. Over the course of the evening she shared just the kind of personal stories I loved to hear when I was interviewing. All through the night I was kicking myself for not bringing my recorder. What a joy to find many of those same stories shared in this book. It took me back to that moment in time - the first time I heard her speak.

Second, I love the stories the clothing in my closet tell too, and share them often when I wear a special piece.  In 2022 I even started a blog submission series called Stories from my Closet. So the author's decision to share about her life through treasures from her closet hit the perfect mark for me. I couldn’t put the book down.

Heart on my Sleeve looks back on Beker's journey from childhood to today (including her parents backstory of escaping Germany).  She is a wonderful story teller and speaks of her life with both great joy and simple honesty.  What becomes quickly clear is how much she enjoyed her work and the people she was privileged to meet.  So many she interviewed quickly became long-time friends. I think this is because she has an intuitive knack for feeling what those she interviewed would like share.

A great read. In fact I will probably read it a second time highlighting favorite passages.  

Buy the book: Amazon CA ~ Amazon US

Meet the Author -

Born in Toronto to Holocaust survivors who instilled fearlessness, hard work, and tenacity in her from a young age, she began her professional show biz career at 16. After studying acting in New York and mime in Paris, she moved to Newfoundland where she made her journalistic debut as an arts reporter for CBC Radio. A few years later, Beker returned to Toronto to land a job at CHUM Radio and in 1979, she co-hosted the ground-breaking series The NewMusic. 

A founding member of MuchMusic, Beker launched the legendary Fashion Television in 1985 which was presented in over 130 countries for 27 years. A seasoned newspaper columnist for several publications, Beker was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazines (2003 - 2008) and has previously authored five books. She is a frequent keynote speaker and guest on myriad lifestyle shows and has been at the creative helm of numerous fashion lines under her own eponymous label. Since 2015, she has acted as Style Editor for The Shopping Channel where she currently hosts the series Style Matters with Jeanne Beker.

Beker has received honorary doctorates from St. Mary’s University and OCAD University. Active with several charitable organizations, she has been named to the Order of Canada (2014), inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Legends (2015), recognized with the Banff World Media Festival's Canadian Award of Distinction (2012), honoured with a Canadian Screen Achievement Award (2013), and received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame (2016).

Connect: @thejeannebeker ~ Website ~ Facebook