Valerie Steele Interview
Let Dr. Valerie Steele, take you into her exciting world as Chief Curator & Director of the Museum at FIT, in New York. Learn how cultural studies at Yale sparked an interest in how fashion influences culture and Valerie’s journey from fashion historian to curator, author and fashion icon.
With a permanent collection of over 50,000 garments and accessories from the 18th century to the present day, the Museum at FIT is well known for their interesting and provocative exhibitions, for example, Surrealism & Fashion, a Queer History of Fashion and Exposed: A History of Lingerie and their upcoming exhibit entitled, Faking It, about originals, copies and counterfeits. You will also learn about the museum’s free public programs, the most recent being a symposium in conjunction with their Fashion & Dance exhibition where designers and ballerinas came together to discuss dance costumes.
Interviewer: Welcome to The Museum at FIT. We are so thrilled to be here today with the one and only, Valerie Steele. Not only is she an author, fashion historian, but also the Chief Curator and Director of the Museum here at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Now, on the behalf of the University of Fashion, we congratulate you on being named as Business of Fashion’s one of the 500 influential people in the global fashion industry.
Valerie: That was a great thrill. It was a total surprise. I was really pleased.
Interviewer: Yeah. You know, I think we all seek recognition for what we do, and I can’t think of a better honor or recognition for the impact that you’re making on the fashion industry.
Valerie: Well, I’m addicted to Business of Fashion, so I was absolutely delighted.
Interviewer: Yeah, fantastic. So, can you tell us a little bit about your journey here as a curator at the Museum at FIT?