It’s inevitable that every time an art fair comes around, I’m struck with closet paralysis. What do I wear!? Art fair dressing isn’t easy: you have to dress for all day, comfortably, across multiple events, all while projecting an air of professionalism (which, in the art world, means a certain level of cool).
For those who claim fashion to be frivolous or unrelated to art: I’m sorry, but you’re wrong! I’ve written about it before, but fashion can act as a shield, imbuing confidence in an industry with complex class dynamics.
When it comes to art fair dressing, I rarely know what to wear (hence my fail-safe go-to: Issey Miyake). So I decided to consult the experts and reached out to some of my favourite fashion and art writers to ask what they would wear to an art fair. Their curation helped guide me along to my own outfit (shopping the closet!) by paying attention to overall themes:
Comfort is king! Not only flats, but also comfortable fabric that moves.
Stick to neutrals and let the art take centre stage
Accessories are where you can really have fun and let your personality come through
Wear what you already own!
Note: Below, there are some affiliate links (always clearly noted), and the associated writer may get a small commission if you make a purchase.
Art fairs tend to be better than fashion shows because people wear their real wardrobes, so embrace your favourite pieces and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer - you’ll be clocking miles!
I like the easy silhouette of Phoebe Philo’s aesthetic for art fairs in 2026 and her early Céline aesthetic has always been an art crowd favourite. An oversized cotton tee is the easiest way to style a silk slip skirt this summer when paired with walkable flats - I’ve chosen Birkenstocks as Phoebe was the first to encode those into high fashion. Ground it all with sculptural silver jewellery, a boxy leather bag and an art gallery tote in which I’d keep a pair of Jude Yaga wedges for evening. Personally, I’d wear with simple skin, natural hair and a wipe of Westman Atelier’s Hydrobalm in shade ‘Bob’ which is cool toned and goes perfectly.
Dress like the canvas, solid and down for whatever. Black is too on the nose, white is a liability. I’d go head-to-toe navy with a pop of something you deem fabulous, for me that’s any medium of diamonds and python. Something to signal to whatever masterpiece you’re thinking about taking home that they will be in good company.
I love seeing how creatives express themselves through their outfits at art fairs. Anything goes, but IMHO, the only must-do is to wear comfortable footwear!
I’d wear this outfit from Ashlyn’s FW26 collection with black ballet or glove flats. The outfit feels polished and elevated, while still feeling easy and effortless.
Is there anything better than feeling put together at an art fair?! That’s what you get with a matching suit set. I’m styling with a silk vintage bandana I got at Thanx God in Paris & metallic Made in Italy flats. You want the artwork to steal the show so this is my ‘fit to fly under the radar in a chic but not boring way.
This is a slight variation on what I’ll be wearing to the art fairs today. I only brought a carry-on, which meant all my clothes had to be versatile. I decided on a pair of wide-leg white jeans from Uniqlo (no longer available) since I’m loving the warmer weather in NYC, a button-down that I can pair with multiple outfits (mine is from COS, but I wish it was E.M Reitz), Lemaire flats, which I can walk in all day, and a bag big enough that I can throw a water bottle in it.
Also in my purse: Listerine breath strips, bandaids.
Do you have an art fair outfit you always fall back on? I’d love to hear about it!
How to dress for an art fair
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August 21, 2025
Here’s a bit of a confession: I’m jealous of fashion newsletter writers. It just seems like so much fun to write about fashion and wear beautiful outfits (and get sent free clothes).
What Artists Wear
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Mar 27
Have you ever heard the saying about dogs that look like their owners? I’m sure you have. The premise being that we start to morph into the things closest to us. Imagine my delight when I recently realized the same to be true for artists’ paintings and their clothes.
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