The Art of Ladylike Museum Day Outfits, Explained

Gather ‘round, children. There was a time when people dressed to board an airplane. To be clear, I’m not in favor of that coming back; I fold, tuck, and cocoon my way through a long flight, so a well-ironed suit has no chance of surviving the way I inhabit seat 14A. However, a part of me does miss that rigor of dressing up… just a little.

Perhaps it’s because of Wuthering Heights, all the images of windswept moors and spirited women staring out of tall windows, but lately, I find myself craving a reason to get properly dressed. There’s something undeniably ladylike about getting dressed just for dressing’s sake. I think of my own grandmother, who never left the house without lipstick and a skirt on, even to go to the grocery store. Not rigid or theatrical—just polished.

But then I wondered: must there even be a reason to get really dressed? I find it deeply satisfying to decide, almost arbitrarily, that today will be an occasion. Not because there’s a gala, a runway, a fashion week, or even a birthday, but simply because we said so. So, I’m proposing we create a new ritual (look at me diving right into the Year of the Horse!): enter the museum day.

Winter feels made for chic museum day outfits. While many default to denim and sneakers (and I get it), I’m going for more composed this season. My personal favorite museum is the Frick Collection in New York City. I like to pretend I live there and dress accordingly in a long wool coat and gloves tucked into a structured bag. I do a lipstick check before entering the gallery, my heels clicking against all those marble floors. The artwork just looks different when I’m standing in front of it in heels and a vintage Prada coat. I also figure it’s the least I can do to honor centuries-old masterpieces.

But no matter which museum you choose, and regardless of the art, dressing like it’s a special occasion is more fun than you might realize. In a world that’s grown aggressively casual, this almost feels daring and new!