What to Wear: The Art Museum Edition

For so many Getty visitors, a trip to peruse our galleries and gardens is also a chance to don some fabulous fashion. We stopped a few well-dressed folks strolling the Getty Center and asked them to share the inspiration behind their outfit and their approach to style.

Kevin

• From: San Jose, California
• Outfit inspired by Kevin’s favorite films and maximalism

“My favorite piece I’m wearing today is probably my Matrix pants. The Matrix is a classic, classic movie. Most of my fashion choices are a bit maximalist. Nowadays there’s a push towards minimalism, and I think it’s played out. There’s only so many different things you can do with solid colors. I spent many years of my life where I literally only bought black T-shirts. I was trying to discover my style and save money then, but I’ve moved past that and am willing to take bigger risks now. I have a better grasp on who I am.

I also think Louis XIV’s furniture and the vibe [in the South Pavilion] at the Getty is very much the antithesis of what’s going on nowadays, with Ikea furniture and stuff that’s easy to break down and move. There’s not really too many people buying 500-pound cabinets anymore. I think it reflects, to a certain degree, what I desire in life, which is stability and wealth and the ability to have that kind of stuff—because I’ve moved around a lot in the past few years.”

Kitxia

• From: Long Beach, California
• Outfit inspired by the coquette aesthetic and the Renaissance

“I really love butterflies, the whole coquette aesthetic, anything with bows. I haven’t been to Getty since high school. I wanted to put some thought into my outfit so I could go with the theme of the museum. I love the whole vibe of this place. I really love the Renaissance era, and I think the fluffy sleeves on my dress speak to the volume of that era.”

Lauren and Michael

• From: Los Angeles, California
• Lauren’s outfit inspired by how she felt in the moment; Michael likes to “dress for the occasion”

Lauren: “My fashion style is an expression of how I feel in that moment, and my fashion choices provide the means to express that, whether it be playful, sexy, elegant.”

Michael: “Whether I’m dressing for a nice night at the Getty, the Greek, or a Dodgers game, I try to be mindful of style. But I have my favorites.”

Molly

• From: Oregon
• Outfit inspired by Japanese Gothic Lolita fashion and the French Rococo movement

“It’s been my dream to come to the Getty and see all of it while wearing a pretty dress I made! Going through the decorative arts here made me feel like “Oh, I belong here! I should just be in the exhibition with all the portraits of the lovely ladies and all the sumptuous fabrics and bright colors.” One of my favorites was the Manet portrait of a lady in spring fashion with a parasol and floral dress [Jeanne Demarsy].

I like to sew dresses for myself. My mom taught me how to sew. I like being fluffy, I like all the little detail work with the trim and the fabric and the little pearly bits. If you treat every day like a special occasion, it just kind of gets more fun. And that’s part of why I dress like this and do this. It’s making every day a little bit better for yourself. And oftentimes it also makes other peoples’ days better, too, because they see you being happy and enjoying yourself.”

Masuda

• From: New York and Dubai
• Outfit inspired by fun and self-expression

“I was born in Afghanistan and escaped during the Soviet war with my family as a child. Even in the middle of war in Afghanistan, people dressed fashionably and celebrated life. There’s a big lesson in that. Fashion is an art. You have a canvas to paint every time you dress—your body. How do you want to show up in the world? Make it fun! Fashion and art are both expressions of emotion and thought. Fashion makes life artful!”

Makai

• From: Santa Maria, California
• Outfit inspired by the French New Wave movement, pirates, and Westerns

“This is my first time at any art museum. I came with the idea that you’re around such beauty, and to me, beauty is a very divine thing, a very godly thing. It’s almost like getting ready for church or being in a beautiful cathedral where you want to dress to be one with the beauty of art. I was getting ready, and I was like, I want to pull out all the stops today because it’s so important to appreciate art and beauty and to present yourself like you care.”

Jonalyn

• From: Ontario, California
• Outfit inspired by color theory and pirates

“I believe that fashion is an art form. It’s a way to express yourself to others. I always try to dress up to fit the occasion, but with a little twist that fits my personality. I take inspiration for my outfits from nature and creating themes.

I wanted this outfit to seem quite intricate. Museums are used to showcasing a variety of art pieces, artifacts, objects, etc., so I made sure I created my outfit to be monotone with texture. And it’s great that the dress had floral increments within the lace, since I was excited to check out the garden.

Regarding art, I love color theory. In high school I created the color wheel for the first time and loved it. I would use it for my paintings to figure out what types of colors fit the scenery. Color individually, or together, has meaning. Dark colors have a mysterious nature, while bright colors usually give off more of a positive and bursts of energy. I love making contrasting, layered, textured, and monotone outfits.”

Abby

• From: Seattle, Washington
• Outfit inspired by springtime colors

“I’ve enjoyed all the flowers at Getty, and I like my dress because it reminds me of spring. My favorite color is black.”

Zoe

• From: China
• Outfit inspired by sales racks and Impressionist painting color palettes

“I got my jacket and pants from the sales rack. Nobody wanted them. I really like picking up stuff from the sales area, because it feels like if I’m not there to love them, who will do that?

I came to Getty to see art, so I wanted to dress colorfully. I want to feel creative and confident in what I’m wearing. I like bright colors; I love how they play with the light.

I think fashion is the passion to look for beauty, to look for creativity in everyday life. I think that’s special and inspiring and makes your day just a little bit better.”

Christopher

• From: Riverside, California
• Outfit inspired by self-expression and floral patterns

“Artists are expressing themselves in their projects, as am I when I’m getting dressed. It just feels good to be able to do that. There is definitely an overlap between fashion and art. They go hand in hand, both trying to tell a story, just in different ways—the difference being that with fashion, you can definitely express yourself way more often.

I don’t like black jeans, but I do like these because they have a print design of roses. I don’t like plain stuff. One of my favorite things to see at Getty is the garden.”

Yimika

• From: London, England
• Outfit inspired by Nigerian fashion and confidence

“This standout piece is a beautiful ruffle top from Kai Collective, a brand founded by fellow Nigerian Fisayo Longe. I’ve followed Fisayo’s journey since her fashion blogging days, and it’s been incredible to watch her vision flourish. I am quite intentional about building a more technicolor wardrobe. Living in the UK, I’ve found that wearing bright colors helps lift the spirits, especially on gray, cloudy days.

If I were to say one thing that inspires my fashion style, it would be other Nigerian women. Women I know personally like my own mother, but also the archetypal Nigerian woman who is known to take bold risks with her style—whether through color, silhouette, or accessories—to arrive at the most effortless, representative, confident version of herself. My own fashion style is still unfolding, but I try to carry that spirit of self-discovery with me.”