Last week a friend of mine donned a bright green dress suit and some red lipstick to her classes because she was a in a crappy mood and wanted to feel good about herself. Those lucky enough to witness her get-up were confused, especially when she explained why she wanted to look like a Foxy Margaret Thatcher. If she was trying to feel better, why would she wear what looked somewhat like a costume that aged her 20-some years?

Personally, I thought she looked hot. I’ll admit that when I first saw her, I thought she was probably dressed like that as a joke because she’s just that kind of gal. But as I slowly realized that she was, in fact, wearing an “80s power suit” because it gave her confidence, I found myself attracted to – and jealous of – that same confidence. And to be perfectly honest, I was even a little turned on.

We all wear clothes in public; it’s a basic necessity. Some of us dress business casual on a daily basis. Others “slum” it. There are those who just don’t give a damn and wear whatever they want whenever they want. Some make conscious decisions to wear a shirt that shows a good amount of cleavage – or none at all – and pants that make their derrieres look nice. Many want to just blend in and wear “normal” attire. Whatever your reasons, you wear clothes.

I hate to buy into the stereotype that what you wear matters because I don’t believe that’s necessarily always true. I do, however, believe there are instances where a certain outfit may be more appropriate than another. For example, it’s a societal necessity that we dress professionally for a job interview. But there are other times when what you choose to put on the outside of your body is a conscious reflection of who or what you are or are trying to become on the inside.

Like many women, I have certain clothing items that are my “go-to” whenever I want to look or feel sexy. It starts with the underwear. If I’m going out to the bars or to a party, I always make sure to wear a pair of seductive undies just in case I find myself in an intimate situation. If I’m actively trying to hook-up, I’ll go the extra mile to wear a matching bra and underwear set. This not only ensures that I won’t be caught in my granny panties, it boosts my confidence and makes me feel good, and, apparently, that’s a great way to attract a potential partner.

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think anyone truly needs a black lacy bra to be attractive, but the fact of the matter is that wearing something like this can have a noticeable effect on one’s confidence. And the same is true for other gender identities. It doesn’t matter what your gender is; chances are you own at least one outfit that makes you feel good, maybe even sexy.

And then there are those who have a special wardrobe collection dedicated entirely to role-playing and other erotic purposes. It’s one thing to own a few items that help you feel attractive; it’s another to own a collection of “for sex only” garments, and if you do, that’s your prerogative. You should be proud of your collection, never ashamed.

One friend has what I like to call a “pleasure chest,” where she keeps her various kinky costumes. It’s comprised of short pleather skirts, see-through tops and at least one red fishnet bodysuit. While I’ve never actually witnessed her in one of these garments, I have to imagine she probably looks like she could eat you for lunch and/or rock your world in the bedroom.

Many of us only get to experience the thrill of dressing like a real life Stripperella on Halloween. Last year, I dressed up as Snooki from “Jersey Shore” simply because I wanted an excuse to look like a floozy-sex-kitten. I wore a dress that barely covered my bottom and a push-up bra so I had an absurd amount of cleavage. To be honest, it was exhilarating because even though I looked like I belonged on a street corner, I felt bad in a totally good way.

So I guess my point is dressing in clothes that make you feel good and boosts your confidence can be a great way to stroke your ego – so to speak – among other benefits. Whether you’re wearing a pair of Daisy Dukes that leaves little to the imagination or bright green business suit, rock that confidence and own it because you never know whose eye you might catch.