My New Favorite Fashion Ritual? Wearing Chic, Ladylike Outfits to Art Museums

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!

Below are some recent finds to create your own ladylike museum day. Or even just to stay in your house and stare out the tallest window you can.