A friend of mine has been struggling with the concept of dressing up as a French maid this Halloween. She is in conflict over sexuality and the bondage that the costume represents. You have the desire to look good but not to project a bad image of women. I’ve written my response to your concerns in one sentence: Get over it!

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Americans like Halloween. Of course we love it! People of all ages, races, economic backgrounds, creeds, and temperaments enjoy celebrating Halloween in one form or another. Decorating the house, throwing a Halloween party, trick-or-treating, and carving lanterns are proof of this. What most adults enjoy is the excuse to dress up as something other than ourselves. We have the opportunity to show a side of ourselves that we don’t normally show to the world and to be accepted by everyone for doing so.

In recent years, many Halloween costumes for women have become decidedly sexier and more revealing. The traditional French maid outfit falls into this category. This is proven by the fact that many women’s costumes have the word “sexy” in the name and description of the costume. Is it a statement about the erosion of our morals or is it a rebellion of women against the image of modern society of what a professional and successful woman should be? I tend to lean towards the latter and here are the reasons.

Our society has continually told women that being sexy and desirable is a bad thing. You have to dress professionally to be taken seriously in the workplace, and any hint of femininity in this setting can be seen by other co-workers as a weakness or the reason a particular woman is successful. So today’s women try to hide their sexuality behind professional and business attire. Is it unreasonable to think that the total suppression of feelings of sexuality and being desirable is going to have some kind of backlash? I think not, and that’s where sexy Halloween costumes come in.

On Halloween, you are allowed or even encouraged to assume an alternate identity for one night. This allows people to express something about themselves, which they normally keep hidden. People can show all their hidden fantasies and dreams without the danger of harsh social judgment. This is where the French maid costume comes into play.

The French Maid may not be the ideal choice for every woman, but some women looking to show off their sexuality in a cheeky, sexy, and fun way might just be perfect. The great thing about this particular wardrobe choice is that you have a wide variety of styles to choose from. If you are a little more modest, you can find an adult French maid costume that will show your femininity without revealing everything to everyone. However, if your desire is to show off a little skin and show your sexy side for all to see, you can find a costume that will accomplish that as well.

No matter what costume you decide to wear this Halloween, I encourage you to let your hair down a bit and release some of that pent-up frustration in a healthy and socially acceptable way. Dress how you really want to show the not-so-apparent side of your personality. It will be good for you and your self-esteem. Don’t let society tell you what is acceptable on Halloween, you decide! By getting your own French Maid Costume this year, you will show that you are comfortable being a woman who can show the sexy side and yet be powerful and formidable in the office. So for my friend and for all women, be a French maid this Halloween, it might be the healthiest thing you do all year!