November 18, 2008

Dr. Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) will give a free lecture, "Sex and Shoes,' in Ruth Auditorium on November 18th at 6 PM as part of the Rest Your Feet exhibition. The Washington Post described Dr. Steele as "fashion's brainiest woman." She has authored 17 books including The Black Dress, Paris Fashion and most recently Gothic: Dark Glamour. In 1997, she founded Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture and today serves as editor-in-chief. Dr. Steele has been on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the PBS specials Undressed: The Story of Fashion and The Way We Wear.

Rest Your Feet is on display at the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery through December 12th. The history, evolution and role of shoes and chairs as practical objects and high design are illustrated in shoes by Roger Vivier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada and Christian Louboutin and chairs including Bertoia's 1952 asymmetrical chaise lounge from Knoll International and Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick's 1994 Aeron Chair from Herman Miller. Rest Your Feet is a collaboration of the Fashion and Design & Merchandising Department and the Interior Design and Graphic Design programs. FOX29's Good Day recently featured the exhibition.

DETAILS:

• Dr. Valerie Steele Lecture and Reception
• "Sex and Shoes'
• Tuesday, November 18, 6 PM, Reception, 5 PM
• Ruth Auditorium, Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market St.
• FREE and open to the public
• Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 AM - 7 PM, Friday: 11 AM - 5 PM
• For more information, call 215-895-1029 or visit www.drexel.edu/westphal