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About Valerie Steele
Valerie Steele (PhD, Yale University) is one of the most respected voices in fashion scholarship today. As director and chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT), she has shaped the way fashion is studied, exhibited, and understood. Often referred to as one of “fashion’s brainiest women” by The Washington Post, Steele merges academic insight with cultural relevance—bringing intellectual depth to the world of style. Over the past decade, she has curated more than twenty groundbreaking exhibitions, examining topics that range from Gothic fashion to corsetry, streetwear, and global couture.
Selected Bibliography
Valerie Steele is the author of The Impossible Collection of Fashion (2011), a definitive volume for Assouline that highlights the 100 most iconic dresses of the twentieth century. From Chanel and Dior to Alexander McQueen and Viktor & Rolf, the book offers a richly curated journey through fashion history, complete with commentary that bridges beauty, context, and innovation. Through this and her extensive body of published work, Steele frames fashion as both a visual art and a cultural force.
Perfect For
Ideal for fashion scholars, collectors, and those who view style as a form of storytelling, Valerie Steele’s work celebrates the depth, nuance, and transformative power of clothing. Her voice is essential for anyone seeking to understand how fashion shapes identity, history, and the human experience.