Nancy Deihl

Nancy Deihl is the Department Chair and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Art Professions at New York University's Steinhardt School. She specializes in fashion history from the mid-19th century to the present, focusing on the American fashion industry and intersections with modern and contemporary art practices. Deihl holds an MA in Costume Studies from NYU (2002) and has been with the university since 2003 as Director of Costume Studies. She previously taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Her research explores connections between fashion and art, with notable works including The History of Modern Fashion (2015) and The Hidden History of American Fashion (2018). She has contributed to scholarly platforms like Grove Art Online and authored chapters on topics such as 1920s modernist fashion, African American designers, and fashion in 1960s cinema.

Deihl teaches courses like Fashion in Context, examining cultural and historical forces shaping the global fashion system. She is frequently consulted by media for her expertise in fashion history.