Deirdre Clemente

Deirdre Clemente is an Associate Professor of History and Director of Public History at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She specializes in American fashion history, examining clothing as a lens for cultural and social change. Her work bridges historical scholarship with public engagement, notably through her research on Clara Bow’s Walking Box Ranch and the history of New York and Los Angeles as fashion capitals.

Education: BA in Writing Seminars (Johns Hopkins University), MA in Museum Studies: Costume and Textiles (Fashion Institute of Technology), PhD in History (Carnegie Mellon University).

Research focuses on the socio-cultural impact of dress, including the casualization of American wardrobe norms and the role of consumer culture in shaping identity. Her book Dress Casual (2014) redefines the influence of college students on national fashion trends. Current projects explore regional fashion dynamics between East and West Coast industries.

Teaching emphasizes material culture and public history, with courses addressing race, class, and gender through fashion. She leads UNLV’s public history initiatives, including archival work at the Walking Box Ranch. Media appearances include features in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harper’s Bazaar.