May is blooming with buzzy exhibitions, art x fashion collabs, and shopping carts as full as a Frieze week diary. From museum-worthy accessories to perfumes that smell like a freshly primed canvas, we’re curating our closets with pieces that scream “I have a solo show opening soon” (whether you do or not). So whether you’re packing for a summer city break (Paris, anyone?), prepping for Tate’s 25th birthday bash, or just want to look like you moonlight at Palais de Tokyo, here’s what we’re buying now:
The Met Gala Book You Actually Want on Your Coffee Table
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
Hot off the heels of the Met Gala, this bold book celebrates the radical style of Black dandyism – a perfect blend of fashion, resistance, and cultural flair.
The Fan That’s as Chic as It Is Functional
Fondation Louis Vuitton’s Artist Fan
Heading to Paris for the Hockney show? You’ll want this in hand. Elegant, lightweight, and museum-shop certified – it’s the fan equivalent of a front-row seat at an opening.
The Polka Dot Power Move
Spot Vest by The Norah Store
Florals? Groundbreaking. But polka dots? They’re back! This playful vest and skirt combo by Love Thanks is practically made for gallery-hopping and post-opening prosecco.
Sunglasses for a Discerning Curator
Loewe Tortoiseshell Aviators
Sculptural, statement-making, and just the right amount of aloof – like your favourite art critic. These sunnies say: I’m dodging an art fair hangover, and doing it in style.
A Poster for the Tate Girlies
Do Ho Suh ‘Nests’ Poster
Tate Modern is turning 25 (!), and the Do Ho Suh exhibition is stealing the show. Bring some of that ethereal architecture home with this dreamy print. Hang it and pretend your flat’s a gallery.
Ballet Flats for the Private View Hustle
Balletcore Is Back
Perfect for gliding between booths at the latest art fair and still making the 7pm panel. Ballet flats are officially back – and we’re eyeing this dreamy pair from Cecilie Bahnsen.
Smell Like a Gallery Girl
Art Life Eau de Parfum by CRA-YON
Finally – a fragrance for people who “don’t do florals.” Think fig, black tea, and crisp gallery air. This is your olfactory press release.
A Top in the Colour of Curatorial Ambition
Arket Tie-Belt Blouse in Dusty Yellow
Soft structure meets sunny-day styling. This butter-yellow blouse is polished enough for a studio visit, breezy enough for terrace Aperols, and made all the more covetable thanks to Jacquemus for turning the shade into a whole mood – and Arket for keeping it affordable.
The It-Bag with Actual Storage
Longchamp Le Pliage Tote in Lemon
Yes, Longchamp is trending again – and this one’s a winner. Lightweight, recycled canvas, and chic enough to swing into any museum. Fits everything from sketchbooks to an emergency diet coke!
Surrealism You Can Wear
Anything from Bimba y Lola
BIMBA Y LOLA is marking the National Gallery’s 200th birthday in the most stylish way – with a capsule collection inspired by Georges Seurat’s Bathers at Asnières (1884). Think art history meets high street: soft pastels, painterly prints, and silhouettes that feel straight out of a Sunday in the park (with a very chic twist).
See you at the gift shop. (We’ll be the ones fan-fluttering in yellow with perfect sunglasses.)
