This I know as a universal truth: We have all played dress-up at one point or another in our lives.

For most of us, it started at a pretty young age. For me, it was around age 3, skipping around in my mom’s Creamsicle-colored prom dress with my dad’s printed Hawaiian shirt buttoned down over the gown in a most unfortunate manner. I would generally top the look off with either a graduation cap or a sailor’s hat, both making me appear equally high fashion. I knew I was stylish, and you better believe I would coerce you into telling me so before heading off to change into a sombrero and gauchos.

But for some, playing dress-up starts a little later. Maybe it’s for a school dance, where you have to wear a tie for the first time or figure out what type of dress is both sparkly enough and short enough for you to still look foxy while avoiding giving your father an aneurysm. Or maybe it’s even later on, going on a date with that cute guy from down the hall, when you’re trying on every piece of clothing in your closet before settling on that first outfit you originally tried on.

Whatever the case may be, this I know as a universal truth: When we dress up, we feel better.

There’s something about putting on that just-snug-enough dress and slipping into a pair of heels that instantly gives a gal the ultimate confidence of Beyoncé mixed with the sultry sass of Victoria Beckham (aka the ideal embodiment of womanhood). Fancying ourselves up is the gateway to an instant confidence boost. When we look good, we feel good. It’s as straightforward as that.

Yet, this I also know as a universal truth: We simply do not do it enough. And that saddens my heart into a weepy mess of ventricles, capillaries and other scientific terms I can’t remember at this point in time.

For some reason or another, the concept of dressing up has been ridiculously confined. It’s set aside for either special occasions or for lavish evenings out. There doesn’t appear to be any sort of happy middle. And for those who do choose to dress up on a regular basis, we face being negatively coined with phrases such as “trying too hard” or unfavorable titles such as “vain.”

But alas, I come bearing truth in that both accounts are just plain old silly. Dressing up should never be frowned upon when utilized “out of context.” Frankly, it should be a concept so much more widely embraced.

Dressing up gives us significantly more self-assurance. In fact, a close friend of mine always dresses up on test days because he says it gives him more confidence in doing well on the exam. When we dress ourselves in a way that represents us in our best light, sans sweatpants and two-day-old hair, we inevitably feel better. When we feel better, we inevitably go about our days in a much more positive manner. My, the wonders of modern logic!

Now wait a fat minute. Why is it that something that gives us such confidence and that makes us feel genuinely good about ourselves is something that we so rarely do?

A lot of people perceive dressing up as being more work, as something that requires a lot of time and effort in order to be executed properly. But taking an outfit from fine to fabulous is far easier than one might assume. The key is in simple staple pieces and heavy accessorizing. For something classic, pair a simple black dress with a statement necklace and bright blazer with black combat boots for a look that translates from school-approved to party-ready.

So embrace your inner little kid and don’t be afraid to play dress-up even when you might think it’s unconventional. Because this I know as a universal truth: Playing dress-up only gets more fun with age.