Inspired by recent scholarship on fashion's role as a reflection of the political, social, economic, cultural, and aesthetic aspects of its time, art appreciation instructor Page Knox looks at the changing nature of “la mode,” the players (mistresses, queens, designers, and influencers) who drove French fashion during the pivotal years of the monarchy and the revolution. Beginning with the eras of Louis XIV and XV, explore the impact of style and attire on all aspects of court life, including the role of taste-makers such as Madame de Montespan and Madame de Pompadour. Consider Marie Antoinette's impact on changing accepted fashion norms at the dawn of the revolution. Then examine the new group of fashionistas such as Rose Beauharnais (soon to be Josephine Bonaparte) and Térézia Tallien, who radically transformed society with their daring choices of attire from the Reign of Terror through the Napoleonic era.

The series kicks off during Paris Fashion Week and begins with French Fashion in the Age of Louis XIV (Course 13840) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:00am.

Subsequent sessions cover the Court of Louis XV: Madame de Pompadour (Course 13841), Marie Antoinette (Course 13842 and Course 13843), the Revolution and the Reign of Terror (Course 13844), and Josephine and the Empire Style (Course 13845).

Each session covers a different topic and requires separate registration. Sign up for the entire series to make the most of your experience.

SAS's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring Marilyn DeRight will kick off the evening when renowned Italian classical pianist and composer Cristiana Pegoraro comes back to town on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 6:30pm.

Following the tribute to longtime literature instructor DeRight, the audience will have the chance to decide what Pegoraro plays from a musical menu of masterpieces from the classical repertoire and beyond. Pianist Cristiana Pegoraro in Concert, Patron's Choice of Program (Course 13850) combines live piano performances with stimulating conversation about the composers' lives, impact, and artistry.

Week of February 15, 2026

No classes are scheduled to meet this week. Our office will be closed during the February break but online registration is open 24/7.

Week of February 22, 2026

Special Event

• Chocolate Symphony, an Evening of Exquisite Indulgence (13851)

Art Appreciation

• Artistic Rivalry: Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud (13592)
• California Cool: Richard Diebenkorn and Ed Ruscha (13815)

Computers, Technology, and the Internet

• Intermediate ChatGPT: Unlocking AI for Productivity, Planning, and Precision (Wednesday morning: 13712; Thursday evening: 13714)

Literature, Film, Theater, and Television

• Secrets Behind The Wizard of Oz (13852)
• Shakespeare’s Henry V, War As Performance (13745)
• Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain (1924), a Young Man in the Snow (13847)

Walking Tours

• Walking Tour: Mondays at the Met, Iconic Black Artists (13797)
• Walking Tour: George Braque: Tactile Space at the Bruce Museum (13793)
• Culinary Walking Tour: Chinatown (13833)

Week of March 1, 2026

Special Event

• Pianist Cristiana Pegoraro in Concert, Patron's Choice of Program (13850)

Art Appreciation

• French Fashion in the Age of Louis XIV (13840)
• Reality and Impressionism: Thomas Eakins and William Merritt Chase (13816)

Computers, Technology, and the Internet

• Introduction to AI and ChatGPT (Wednesday morning: 13708; Thursday evening: 13709)

Games

• Beginner Canasta (Tuesday evenings: 13720; Thursday afternoons: 13721)
• Canasta: Supervised Play, Tips, and Strategy (Tuesday evenings: 13726; Thursday mornings: 13727)
• Let's Play Mah Jongg: Beginner Series (13761)
• Let's Play Mah Jongg: Supervised Play (13763)

Hobbies and Edutainment

• iPhone Photography: Beyond the Basics (13876)

Walking Tours

• Walking Tour: Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection at the Met (13838)

Writing

• Finding Your Voice through Memoir Writing (13830)

All upcoming classes through end of March 2026 will be listed in the Printer-Friendly, Interactive Version of our Fall/Winter 2025-26 Catalog. New classes and changes are added in real time.

Class times are for the Eastern Time Zone. Please check regularly for additional options to keep you engaged and learning, whether from the comforts of home or through our expansive number of in-person options.