I’ve had this zebra print midi-dress in my closet for years, but rarely wear it. The print is a bit too loud for evening and the fabric is a bit too fine to be totally casual. The dress had become a benchwarmer, wedging itself into a tricky spot in my wardrobe.

Inspired to give it some fresh air without looking like I am heading to the ballet at noon on a Tuesday, I decided to dress it down with ankle boots from Rag and Bone  and a cropped denim jacket. I love how the look came together!

I wore this look on a breezy day, making the skirt of the dress dance and whip around my legs; a thing that would have had me nervously clutching it closed in a more formal setting. But instead of making me nervous, it energized me, making me more aware of the chill in the wind and the warm sun on my face. Not bad for a bench warmer dress!

Shop the look below (after the photos) or try resurrecting an old bench warmer dress from your own closet.

On a side note, for weeks, I’ve been hunting for long-sleeved midi dresses online and in stores all over Los Angeles, only to be disappointed! There are some in the high three- and four-figure price ranges, but that’s not the range I’m shooting in. I’ll keep you posted if/when I finally find some.

Thanks for reading,