12 Museum Outfits With An Effortlessly Cool Vibe

Whether it’s a fun day or, or a date night, these museum-appropriate outfits will inspire your next cultural expedition.

A trip to the museum is a fun day out, whether in your own city or on vacation. Though there’s no dress code, depending on why you’re going, you may want to make an effort. Though these outfits are chic, they focus on being comfortable and easy to put together, in fact, you likely have most of these pieces in your closet already.

If you’re stumped for inspiration, we’ve curated 12 outfit ideas for days (or date nights) out at the museum.

What To Wear To A Museum

1. Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses and museums go together like bread and butter. They are comfortable, but still elegant, and can be dressed up and down.

If you have a sleeveless dress that might not be appropriate for the museum of your choice, tying a shirt over top can be a great way to wear it.

Recreate This Look

2. Straight Pants

Straight-leg pants are great for a day of exploring and can be paired with sneakers or loafers to keep your feet comfortable.

To dress it up, pair it with a flirty blouse or shirt, and a fun mini handbag to keep the look fresh.

Recreate This Look

3. Blazer and Jeans

A French-inspired outfit, the blazer and jeans, is a great daytime look for exploring a museum. Straight-leg jeans are more flattering (and chic) than skinny jeans.

To ensure the ensemble doesn’t look frumpy, go for a pair of comfy heeled boots, and a mini purse.

Recreate This Look

4. Shirt and Pants

A classic look for day and night will always be a shirt and pants. To dress it up for date night, layer some long necklaces and unbutton a few of the top buttons to draw attention to your décolletage.

Wide-leg pants work well, however, ensure they are fitted at the waist, or cinch in with a belt.

Recreate This Look

5. Midi Dress

Like a maxi dress, the midi is a perfect flirty, fun option for the day or evening. It’s also super easy to style as you only need to focus on accessorizing.

Keep the accessories neutral, like a pair of black ballet flats or comfortable kitten heels, and a small bag shoulder bag.

Recreate This Look

6. Sweater and Jeans

Museums and galleries don’t tend to be super warm, this is to keep any old artifacts and artwork intact. So during the winter months, it would be smart to wear a sweater – and it’s a comfortable option if you’re taking a solo trip to a local museum.

If jeans and sneakers feel too casual, opt for a pair of black boots and a structured handbag.

Recreate This Look

7. Button-Down Shirt

A good quality button-down shirt should be a staple in every wardrobe. If this seems like the option for you, we’ve already curated a collection of outfits to wear with a striped shirt.

For an easy-breezy outfit, pair it with wide-leg pants and a neutral-colored belt. If the weather is slightly chilly, you can tie a sweater over your shoulders to add over later in the day.

Recreate This Look

8. Leather Pants

All these looks have been fairly daytime appropriate, however, if you’re going on a date night in the museum and have dinner or drinks afterward, this outfit with leather pants is comfortable but still nighttime-ready.

Pair this with comfortable heels or boots, and statement jewelry to amp up the look.

Recreate This Look

9. Mini Skirt and Tall Boots

The French girls are all wearing a mini skirt with boots, and it makes another great flirty museum date night outfit that is still appropriate.

We can agree that a mini dress or anything too embellished wouldn’t fit the vibe of a museum, so this is a great in-between, particularly if paired with other more formal elements like a shirt or blazer.

Recreate This Look

10. Jeans and Boots

Jeans and boots are a safe option for any first-date outfit if you’re going on a fun or more casual outing. 

You’ll avoid the awkward encounter of being too overdressed (because in reality, this is a thing) but the boots ensure you won’t look too dressed-down.

Pair this with a fun top or cute bodysuit for a fun, and comfortable look.

Recreate This Look

11. Trench Coat

When you’re spending the day at a museum or gallery, outerwear can be a predicament. You don’t want to wear something too heavy as you may get too warm, and be forced to carry around a heavy coat, but you don’t want to go without as it can get chilly in certain exhibitions.

Keep the rest of your look casual with ballet flats or sneakers, and your favorite pair of jeans.

Recreate This Look

12. Dress and Heels

A dress and heels – not exactly the first outfit that comes to mind for a museum outfit, but hear us out.

A shirt dress or a knitted dress with a pair of kitten heels, or heeled loafers, can be the perfect day-to-night outfit for an afternoon date, which hopefully will turn into a nighttime date.

Recreate This Look

Up next: 12 Ways To Wear A Black Skirt For Parisian-Inspired Looks

Find Us Now On Instagram