Why do fashion designers and brands exert such influence in contemporary society? What explains the trajectory from The House of Worth to Chanel to Hood by Air? This course investigates the interlocking forces shaping fashion: the designer system, celebrities, technology, politics, the arts, and media. Through lectures and film viewings, readings, discussions, and individual research, students explore fashion as a crucial aspect of culture with an emphasis on how the contemporary fashion system evolved from French couture to become a global phenomenon.
Core Requirement Satisfied: Expressive Culture
Location
Fall seminar: NYU Washington Square
January travel: NYU Paris
Travel Dates
January 5-10, 2026 (students fly overnight on January 4th)
Faculty
Nancy Deihl, Department Chair and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Art Professions
Academics
Accepted students will be sent a permission code to register for the following course in Albert:
- ARCS-UE 1088, section 095: Fashion in Context (4 credits)
This course is offered through the Department of Art and Art Professions.