Lesley Heller has over thirty years of experience in the fashion industry, primarily in retail merchandising. She began her career as an executive in Macy’s training program, eventually becoming a buyer. She then led the buying office at Loehmann’s, managing women’s apparel, accessories, shoes, and jewelry, while traveling across Europe and the U.S. to source luxury designer fashions. Her work gave her invaluable insights into fashion trends and industry shifts. Most recently, Lesley directed a private label company specializing in direct-to-consumer cashmere. Drawing from her experience, she has focused on the study of fashion history, particularly the late twentieth century and beyond. Lesley is completing her master’s degree in Fashion History, Theory, and Museum Practice at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Additionally, Lesley was an adjunct professor at FIT, where she taught Fashion Merchandising. She earned a BA in International Relations from Tufts University and studied at NYU in Paris.