What to Wear Where

Looking for Things to Do? Here’s Where to Go in May (and What to Wear)

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Photographed by Mikael Jansson, Vogue, January 2014

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Not long ago, you might have found yourself all dressed up with nowhere to go. Or more likely, you weren’t dressed up at all. But that was then, and this is now. May tides us over until summer arrives with plenty to do. In Los Angeles, head over to LACMA to see the West Coast’s first Alexander McQueen retrospective. Frieze New York arrives mid month at Manhattan’s The Shed. And Atlanta just got a whole lot more fashionable with the opening (this weekend!) of Antidote—a destination for clothes and accessories that tip toward the avant-garde. Down in Miami, the opening of Dirty French Steakhouse will satisfy your craving for a good steak (and scene). More on all of these—plus outfit suggestions!—in May’s edition of What to Wear Where.

Photo: Courtesy of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

“Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse,” LACMA, Los Angeles

Open now through October 9

Late last month, the West Coast got its first-ever fashion exhibition dedicated to Lee Alexander McQueen. Visit LACMA to see the awe-inspiring show, which features some of McQueen’s most memorable contributions alongside the garments and objects that informed his creative vision. To visit the show is to explore his darkly romantic world, teeming with nymphs, crustaceans, and Macbeth skulls. See it dressed as a walking ode to the designer, pairing a blue dress referencing McQueen’s curiosity about corsetry with a pair of subtly logo’d hoops, a patent-leather bucket bag in a moody red hue, and a spritz of McQueen’s Blazing Lily perfume.

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Alexander McQueen strapless tulle-trimmed pleated faille bustier midi-dress

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Alexander McQueen gold and silver-tone hoop earrings

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Alexander McQueen curve mini bag in red

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Alexander McQueen Blazing Lily eau de parfum

Photo: Teddy Wolff

Le Dive, Manhattan

Open Now

Jon Neidich (of Acme and the buzzy The Nines) has done it again with the just-opened Le Dive. Located in Dimes Square on the Lower East Side, Le Dive aims to bring a touch of the Parisian to the neighborhood. At the bar-café, expect tiny bistro tables for two topped with red tulips, antique mirrors, brass fixtures, and more curios sourced from the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. On the menu: natural wines, charcuterie, cheese, and pâté boards. Turn up to Le Dive ready to be seen—this is about to be the spot for commingling and cocktails—but don’t try too hard. A perfectly understated white tee from COS looks French-girl cool with scarlet flared trousers from Tory Sport. Accessorize with Gianvito Rossi’s perfectly timeless black slingback flats and a ladylike bag from Cuyana.

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Cos regular fit T-shirt

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Tory Burch Retroknit flare track pants

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Gianvito Rossi leather ribbon slingback ballerina flats

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Cuyana mini bow bag

Photo: Courtesy of Antidote

Antidote, Atlanta

Open May 14

Antidote is what happens when three fashion people get together and open up shop. Founded by Lauren Amos, Eugene Rabkin, and Karlo Steel, the retail space injects a bit of edge into the Georgia city. You’ll notice it before you even step inside the brand-new store: From the outside, clean lines and an industrial finish tell you Antidote means avant-garde business. Inside, you’ll find Comme des Garçons, Craig Green, Guidi, Hyke, Jil Sander, Junya Watanabe, Mugler, Noir by Kei Ninomiya, Paco Rabanne, Undercover, and Y/Project—some of which aren’t sold elsewhere in the U.S., much less in Atlanta. To outfit your shopping trip, we like a clingy graphic dress from Marine Serre, a bike-chain-size necklace from Paco Rabanne, and accessories from Jil Sander: an Art Deco-esque bag and barely there black leather sandals.

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Marine Serre back drawstring fluid dress

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Jil Sander Echo bag

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Paco Rabanne XL link over necklace

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Jil Sander Tripon flat sandals

Photo: Getty Images

Frieze, Manhattan

Open May 18 through 22

After its grand tour from London to Los Angeles, Frieze is landing in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards at The Shed. Spend the final days of spring booth bouncing at the art fair, now in its 10th year. Populated by more than 65 major galleries—some of which are staging solo shows dedicated to artists like Liam Gillick, Nancy Grossman, Joan Snyder, Charles Gaines, and Mai-Thu Perret—the fair is an all-day thing, so dress practically. We’d recommend an ensemble that stresses artistry and handicrafts. Start with a shirtdress from Safiyaa—each garment from the label is handmade by a single artisan—and accessorize with a hand-knit lambskin-leather bag from Chloé. Marina Larroudé’s handmade-in-Brazil slides offer a bit of heel but nothing too tricky, and Persée’s chandelier earrings—which call back to Alexander Calder’s mobiles—will send a suitably artsy message to your fellow showgoers.

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Safiyaa Cezanne belted cotton-poplin midi shirt dress

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Chloé medium knit North-South tote bag

Persee Calder sapphire, amethyst, and 18-karat gold earrings

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Larroudé Brigitte mules in raw linen

Photographed by Jason Jean

MatchesFashion X Pop-up

Open through Sunday, May 22

Attention Upper East Siders! After you spend the day touring the goodies on view at Frieze, head on over to MatchesFashion's Manhattan Residency at 154 East 71st Street. There, the London-based etailer has set up shop with wares from Gabriela Hearst, Johanna Ortiz, Emilia Wickstead, Carolina Bucci, Etro, and more.  The theme? 45 exclusive vacation capsules to help you get prepped for your next holiday. Visit the space wearing a MatchesFashion head-to-toe: a white cotton blouse by Juliette, Christopher Kane's flowy skirt, braided sandals by Gabriela Hearst, and a single earring from Persée.

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Horrror Vacui Julietta ruffled cotton-poplin blouse

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Christopher Kane Neon Smudge printed-cady maxi skirt

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Gabriela Hearst Mika braided leather flatform sandals

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Persee octagon diamond, agate, and 18-karat gold earring

Photographed by Jaime Kowal Photography

Sparrows Lodge, Palm Springs, California

Open Now

Sparrows Lodge has long been a go-to place to stay in Palm Springs, but a recent redesign by DJ turned in-demand interior designer Claire-Marie Rutledge has breathed new life into the easygoing desert hotel, originally built as a retreat for Hollywood’s movers and shakers in 1952. There are 20 rooms on site, plus a pool offering reprieve from the heat and an eatery, the Barn Kitchen, offering rustic American fare. Check in wearing something easy breezy. A linen, natural-colored shirtdress by Zara can serve as the blank canvas for your accessories, and California-based eyewear label Raen’s red glasses are a nice throwback touch. Slip into Khaite’s black leather slides, and you’ll need a great bag to finish the look off: Consider CH Carolina Herrera’s Capazo, which is handwoven and embroidered with colorful yarns shaped into jasmine buds—a basket bag with a bit of personality.

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Zara linen tunic dress

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Raen pink Exile sunglasses

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Carolina Herrera Capazo medium shoulder bag

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Khaite Thompson sandals in black leather

Photo: Courtesy of Showroom

Jonathan Cohen at Showroom, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Open May 18

Showroom has been a South Carolina mainstay since opening (online) in 2020. Founded by Erica Hanks, the shop established its first brick-and-mortar location on the picturesque Kiawah Island last summer—and next weekend, Vogue-favorite designer Jonathan Cohen will host a trunk show featuring two dresses exclusive to Kiawah’s Showroom. Shop the frocks, which are splashed with an abstract hibiscus pattern, and pair them with some of the other goodies the store stocks. We like Marion Parke’s soft-as-butter leather sandals, Demarson’s artful hoops, and a rope-handled Rachel Comey bag to finish it off.

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Jonathan Cohen short-sleeve shirt dress

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Marion Parke Nicole 85 block heel sandals

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Demarson Icon earrings

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Rachel Comey Shishi bag

Photo: Kris Tamburello

Dirty French Steakhouse, Miami

Open Now

The Major Food Group has a hold on Miami; with its Carbone, Sadelle’s, and ZZ’s Club outposts, the group is carrying the city’s decadent dining scene practically single-handedly—and it shows no signs of stopping. Last month saw the arrival of Dirty French, reimagined in Miami as a steakhouse in the city’s burgeoning Design District. Come for a proper steak dinner, though there are also fish and vegetarian options on the menu, and enjoy the Ken Fulk–designed atmosphere: The more-is-more interior designer has swathed the space in zebra-striped upholstery, jungly wallpaper, gilt trellis-wall covers, and more—so don’t hold back when getting dressed. Feathers? Needed. Gold? Never enough. Start with Oséree’s shimmery pink ostrich-plumed dress. Accessorize with a Midas touch—Cult Gaia’s shell-like clutch, gladiator-style sandals by Mercedes Castillo, and Alighieri’s artifact-like pearl-drop earrings.

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Oséree Lumière feather-trimmed minidress

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Alighieri gold Streaming Pearl earrings

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Cult Gaia Nala mini clutch

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Mercedes Castillo Salma sandals

Photo: Eric Medsker

El Quijote, Manhattan

Open Now

Located at the bottom of the iconic Chelsea Hotel—itself partially open and due to fully reopen this summer—El Quijote is back after a multiyear closure. In the new space (the original opened in 1930), the dining area has shrunken, but the kitsch decor remains: With windmill murals inspired by Don Quixote and mosaic chandeliers that spray colored light across the restaurant, it’s as charming as ever. It’s also casual, so no need to get gussied up. We’d recommend an easygoing dress, and we just so happened to find one with an abstract windmill pattern. Castañer’s suede espadrilles will pair with it nicely, as will an asymmetrical Staud bag and silver pearl necklace from Missoma.

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State of Georgia triangle maxi dress

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Staud acute shoulder bag

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Castañer Carina 80 suede wedge espadrilles

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Missoma baroque pearl chain necklace

Photo: Courtesy of JW Marriott

The Gardens at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa, Orlando

Open Now

The JW Marriott has partnered with landscape designer Lily Kwong to bring new life to the gardens at hotels in Orlando, Manhattan, and Palm Springs. For each location, Kwong has planted herb gardens to be enjoyed by hotel guests and visitors alike. And like all things Kwong creates, the gardens are incredibly lovely to be in. Visit them wearing something idyllic: Oscar de la Renta’s magnolia-print slip dress is positively dreamy, as are Chefanie’s basket earrings (which could be filled with fresh flowers if you feel so inspired), Sarah Bray Bermuda’s darling ribbon hats, and a pair of slides from Ancient Greek Sandals.

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Oscar de la Renta silk magnolia degradé slip dress

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Chefanie big basket earrings

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Sarah Bray Bermuda Flower Girl hat

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Ancient Greek Sandals Desmos cutout leather slides