Canadian designer fashion will soon have another platform for applause, and it'll be a far cry from any catwalk.  Our brilliant Patrick Chan just conscripted Tu Ly to give Vera Wang-who designs for Evan Lysacek-a run for her money, by designing Patrick's costumes for his upcoming stabs at world domination.  Tu, who was part of The Bay's hot design team, responsible for all that nifty Olympic wear, is a seasoned fashion visionary with a hip, forward sensibility.  I have little doubt the designer and his new muse will make magic together.  A few days ago, Tu invited me to tea at The Loden Hotel for his first meeting with Patrick and his spirited mom.  I was bowled over by Patrick's easy-going charm, and definite ideas about elegance and understated style.  Patrick and Tu plan to work closely together when they get back to Toronto, to come up with something swish, inspired, and ultimately functional.

Jeanne Beker with designer Tu Ly, Patrick Chan, and his mom Mrs. Chan having tea at the Loden Hotel in Vancouver. Tu will be designing new costumes for Chan!

And speaking of dressing appropriately on the ice-I couldn't believe what some of the dance pairs were wearing, especially for their short programmes!  Obviously following an "international" theme, several of these ludicrous get-ups looked more suitable for the circus than a sophisticated global competition.  Of course, our darlings Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir blew everybody away-first, with their passionate ode to Spain in the short programme, and then on the night of the final competition, with an ultra chic and subtle fashion statement that truly enhanced their powerfully brilliant performance.  I was in my hotel room, all alone, weeping and clapping and thinking that I'd rarely seen ANYTHING more beautiful than that particular offering.  Poetry in motion, to be sure. 

Then just yesterday, at the women's hockey game, Tessa and Scott dropped by the CTV box, likely to meet the inspiring Michael J. Fox, who was there watching the game. "I'm a big fan!" smiled Tessa when we met.  Of course that made perfect sense: She'd obviously grown up watching FashionTelevision, and had developed an astute eye for fashion as a result. Scott then told me that Tessa and her mother design most of the duos costumes themselves.  It was a thrill for me to meet these young super-human superstars, and I was infinitely impressed by their humility, down-to-earth nature, and endearing, natural sparkle.

Click here more on my experience at the Olympics, including Johnny Weir's response to the homophobic comments made by two Quebec reporters.

Photo: Jeanne Beker poses with Olympic medallists Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir.

Jeanne Beker is host/segment producer of Canada's leading fashion series - FashionTelevision and is currently on the ground in Vancouver to cover the 2010 Olympic Winter Games for CTV.