I'll be the first to admit that, every now and then — whether for a date night [1], a special occasion such as Valentine's Day or an anniversary, or simply because I need a little boost in confidence — I want to feel and look sexy. Like, Ashley Graham [2] and Emily Ratajkowski levels of sexy [3]. But on those particular days, slipping into my fanciest lingerie [4] just isn't enough. What generally happens next is that I end up stuck in front of my closet, desperately trying on everything I own before chucking it all on my bed, sighing in desperation. Who knew putting a sexy outfit together could be so difficult?

While I am partial to a plunging neckline [5] every now and then, my day-to-day style is more on the conservative side, and I practically live in jeans, button-down shirts, and loafers. So, when it comes to dressing up, I'm not always sure where to start — and while it definitely isn't all about the clothes, they certainly do help. Luckily, after a few hours of research, I have come across 16 outfit ideas that are all sexy in their own way, from slick pantsuits to modern takes on the LBD and backless tops [6].