What To Wear To A Museum Or An Art Gallery: How To Look Your Best

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Heading to a fancy museum or an art gallery near you? You’ll look like a work of art yourself once you take the tips in this guide on what to wear to a museum into account!

If you’re looking for a fun and cultured date night, look no further than your local museums or art galleries! Museums and galleries are a great place to learn about history and art, and they can be a lot of fun to explore, especially if you’re going with someone special.


But what should you wear to an art museum? You don’t want to be too overdressed or underdressed, and you definitely don’t want to distract other visitors with your outfit.

While most major museums don’t have a dress code for visitors (except on special occasions like an opening night of an art exhibition), it still pays to show up in a decent outfit. This means avoiding wearing clothes that can be considered too casual, like flip-flops.

Museums and art galleries still follow a formal aesthetic, and what better way to appreciate some works of art than by taking the time to get dressed up for the occasion?

In this article, we’ll give you some tips on what to wear to a museum so that you can look your best. Most of the outfits before are completely shoppable, so if you see something that you like, just click on the photo and it will take you on the retailer’s website for an easy purchase.

What To Wear To A Museum

1. Sweater Vests

What To Wear To A Museum: Brown sweater vest with plaid pants
Get this sweater vest on Nasty Gal

A sweater vest is the perfect way to dress up your casual clothes by a little bit, especially for museum visits. Pair the vest with a collared shirt and jeans for a classic, preppy look.

If you’re feeling extra fancy, finish the look with a blazer or sport coat. For a more relaxed look, try pairing your sweater vest with a t-shirt and khakis.

To accessotizee, choose comfortable shoes like ankle boots or white sneakers. You’ll be doing a lot of walking on your museum trip, so make sure you wear shoes that won’t give you blisters.

2. Blazer + Jeans

What To Wear To A Museum: Black blazer
Get this blazer on Lulus

A blazer is a great way to dress up a pair of blue jeans for that modern, contemporary look – perfect if you’re planning a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or equivalent.

For a more casual dressy look, try pairing your blazer with a t-shirt or collared shirt. If you’re feeling extra fancy, wear a pair of block heels and a cross-body bag. We absolutely love this Saint Laurent chevron quilted cross-body bag for that subtle hint of glamour.

3. Jumpsuits

What To Wear To A Museum: Black jumpsuit
Get this jumpsuit on Lulus

A jumpsuit is a great option if you want to look put together without feeling too overdressed for an art gallery opening. Choose a solid color or subtle print for a classic look. For a more fun and trendy outfit, try pairing your jumpsuit with a statement necklace or earrings, with a cross-body purse.

Whether you’re dressing up or dressing down, remember to be comfortable! You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so make sure you wear shoes that won’t give you blisters. Plus, make sure to layer your clothing — museums can be chilly, so it’s always a good idea to have an extra layer on hand like a light trench coat.

4. Plaid + Khakis

What To Wear To A Museum: Plaid longline coat
Get this plaid coat on Nasty Gal

What better way to appreciate art than by wearing dark academia aesthetic clothing? Plaid is one of the patterns that make up the academia style, so definitely consider adding a plaid feature to your outfit.

A plaid button-down is a great way to add a laid-back pattern print to your outfit. Pair the plaid with khaki pants or chinos for a classic, preppy look. If you’re feeling extra fancy, add a plaid trench coat over a plain white tee.

For a more relaxed look, ditch the jacket and roll up your sleeves, and accessorize with a small purse or one of those stylish mini backpacks from Louis Vuitton.

5. Trousers + Silk Top

What To Wear To A Museum: Black pleated silk shirt
Get this top on Princess Polly

Trousers are a great option if you want to look more polished and put-together while looking at your favorite pieces of art. Choose a solid color or subtle print for a classic look, and accessorize with a statement necklace or bag.

A silk top is the perfect way to dress up a pair of trousers, as it is super comfy and stylish without all the extra jazz. You can opt to complete your look with a pair of nude pumps, or you can also go for comfort instead with these designer fashion sneakers from Dior.

6. Midi Skirts

What To Wear To A Museum:  Floral red midi skirt
Get this midi skirt on Lulus

A midi skirt is a great way to dress up a casual outfit. Pair your favorite midi with a t-shirt or tank top for a more relaxed look, or if you’re feeling extra fancy, add a blazer or cardigan.

Alternatively, for a more fun and trendy outfit, try pairing your skirt with a crop top or off-the-shoulder top. To finish off this look, you can also layer up with your favorite leather or denim jacket, or you can also match it with a sweater for ultra comfort.

Complete your ensemble with a pair of black mules for that chic, comfortable slip.

7. Dress + Denim Jacket

What To Wear To A Museum: Denim jacket with sequin dress
Get this denim jacket on Nasty Gal

A dress is a great option if you want to look feminine and flirty. You can opt to recreate the look above, or you can also play with different styles of dresses as well as prints and colors.

You can also break out your favorite little black dress if you’re attending an evening event that requires a more elegant attire.

8. Pantsuits

What To Wear To A Museum: Beige pantsuit set
Get this look on Pretty Little Thing

Lastly, if you want to look super formal and chic, you can never go wrong with a matching pantsuit. Pantsuits are very trendy on social media right now, and you’ll feel like a boss babe when you’re walking through the museum halls. Don’t forget to take lots of pics for your Insta feed!

And there you have it – these are our 8 favorite looks to wear to a museum or an art gallery! So, what are your favorite looks? Let us know in the comments section!

If you’re still looking for more fashion inspiration, don’t forget to check the posts down below.

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