Entertainment
Veronica Beard: Two women, one vision, and the jacket that changed their lives
In the bustling heart of Manhattan, the women behind the luxury fashion label Veronica Beard are running a brand that has become synonymous with modern American style. And in a twist of fate, they share more than just their company; they share a name.
Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard first met at a wedding, where they were seated next to each other. That day, Swanson Beard made two important connections.
“I met my husband and my work wife all at that wedding,” she told CBS Saturday Morning with a laugh.
Their their lives began on opposite coasts: Miele Beard grew up in North Caldwell, New Jersey, raised by a single mother, while Swanson Beard was raised in California as an heir to the Swanson frozen-food fortune. The two became sisters-in-law when they married brothers. As their families grew, so did their careers. Swanson Beard pursued fashion, while Miele Beard thrived in finance. What the women shared was a passion for style.
“Since I was four years old, that’s been my dream,” said Swanson Beard. “Fashion was the greatest expression of yourself. You could wake up and be whoever you wanted to be.”
For Miele Beard, even on Wall Street, what she wore was a statement of confidence and authority in a male-dominated environment.
CBS Saturday Morning
But when it came to dressing for work, both women noticed something missing: a staple piece that could anchor a modern woman’s wardrobe. Their answer was inspired by history. In the 1840s, detachable shirtfronts known as “dickeys” gave men the appearance of a full shirt beneath their waistcoat without the bulk. Reimagining that idea, the duo designed a tailored blazer with an interchangeable insert.
In 2010, their namesake label, Veronica Beard, was born, along with its now-iconic Dickey Jacket. The early days were anything but glamorous. Swanson Beard set up a makeshift showroom in her apartment, juggling young children and a dog, while Miele Beard announced mid-launch that she was pregnant with her fifth child. Between the two, they had eight children and a fledgling business.
Their breakthrough came with Saks Fifth Avenue, which gave the brand its first major retail platform. From there, Veronica Beard rapidly grew, and today boasts 42 stores worldwide, including a flagship location on Madison Avenue in New York City.
“It was the most thrilling moment of our career,” Swanson Beard said of the store opening. “It was the physical manifestation of all of our hopes and dreams.”
CBS Saturday Morning 
Fifteen years later, the brand has evolved into a full lifestyle label, offering ready-to-wear, denim, shoes, and handbags, while still promoting the power of a great blazer.
“We love the idea of the uniform being your blazer with jeans,” said Miele Beard. “Get your best pair of jeans, throw on a white tank and a jacket, and you’re done. You’ve just elevated your style.”
The Dickey Jacket remains the brand’s signature piece. When Gwyneth Paltrow featured it on Goop, the Beards knew they had made it.
“For us, that was like being on Oprah’s list,” Swanson Beard said.
Beyond fashion, the duo is committed to giving back. Their philanthropic initiative, Veronica Beard Gives Back, supports causes including Feeding America, the American Heart Association, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Their mission resonates with the women who choose their clothes. Recently, Katherine, Princess of Wales wore a Veronica Beard dress to announce she had completed her cancer treatment.
“She could have chosen a power suit to say, ‘I’m strong,'” said Swanson Beard. “Instead, she chose something feminine and earthy. I was so emotional about it.”
At its heart, Veronica Beard is more than a label; it’s a mantra.
“We always say our battle cry is ‘make it happen,'” Swanson Beard explained. “For us, being the clothes on a woman’s back when she’s making it happen is the greatest thing in the world.”
Dave Chappelle surprised fans Friday night with a new Netflix stand-up special, Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…, filmed in Washington, D.C., and released without warning following the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight.
Taking the stage in a camo jacket featuring Colin Kaepernick’s name and number, Chappelle told the crowd, “We’ve got a lot to talk about,” explaining he returned home after Trump deployed the National Guard to the city.
“They’re trying to take the chocolate out of Chocolate City… I’ve got to go home while it’s still a city I remember,” he said.
Chappelle also addressed backlash over his appearance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, saying, “I’ve been getting a lot of grief,” before singling out Bill Maher: “I’ve never said this publicly but fuck that guy. I’m so fucking tired of his little smug, cracker-ass commentary.”
“I don’t feel guilty at all,” Chappelle said, adding that critics accused him of betraying his principles. He reiterated, “it’s easier to talk in Saudi Arabia for me than it is in America,” and joked, “transgender jokes went over very well in Saudi Arabia.”
The comedian later discussed reports surrounding Charlie Kirk, saying, “if you talk for a living and see Charlie Kirk get murdered that way, I’m gonna be honest, I was shook,” adding, “I was at home like, ‘Oh no! I’m dead as fried chicken.’”
Chappelle also reflected on Sean Combs’ sentencing, noting, “He saved my life,” and said of Cassie, “God bless her… what she went through was terrible.”
He closed by telling the crowd, “we are a community and we will stay sane together.”
David and Victoria Beckham are no longer following their estranged son, Brooklyn, on Instagram after he decided to spend Christmas with his wife, Nicola Peltz.
The heartbroken parents, who are said to feeling their eldest son’s absence more than as ever as Christmas approaches, have removed him from their following list.
Brooklyn, 26, is also no longer following his mother and father on the picture-based sharing platform.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s wife Nicola, 30, does not follow David and Victoria either and they no longer follow her.
The move comes after Brooklyn’s friends told DailyMail in July that his brothers Cruz and Romeo had blocked both him and his wife Nicola on the social media platform.
Despite several reconciliation attempts from Sir David and his brother Cruz, the aspiring chef will celebrate the festive period with actress Nicola’s billionaire parents Nelson and Claudia, who are said to be ‘excited’ to have him.
A source said: ‘Brooklyn and Nicola decided they would be spending this Christmas with her family. Her parents are really excited to have them.’
Brooklyn, 26, and Nicola, 30, arrived in Miami, Florida, earlier this week.
Wayne Lineker shared a worrying health update from hospital as he continued to recover from a life threatening illness that almost killed him.
The Ibiza club owner and reality TV star revealed that he could be forced to spend this Christmas alone if his condition does not improve at all.
The 63 year old was rushed to the hospital earlier this month and was later treated in good care.
Doctors diagnosed him with extremely dangerous pneumonia, an infection that left him unable to walk and struggle to breathe.
From his hospital bed, Wayne told fans that he is still undergoing treatment and might now go for a major surgery.
“I know I look a bit rough,” he said, before adding, “But, I’ve been through a lot this past couple of days.”
He also explained that parts of his lungs are not clearing properly despite medication.
“Parts of my lungs, weren’t clearing of the phlegm, and were very stubborn,” Wayne shared.
However, doctors asked him to do breathing exercises daily, well hourly, and to stay active around his room.
Wayne said he is currently on strong antibiotics but warned the surgery could happen soon if there is no such improvement.
“It’s a keyhole surgery and then they’ll go in and do what’s called a washout, and wash my lungs out and hopefully that will be the end of it,” he explained.
“It will be touch and go whether I’ll be going home for Christmas,” Wayne added. “There’s your update. Thanks guys.”
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