Composition
"Dress You Up" is a characteristic drum machine driven dance track and consists of a two-chord verse. The chorus is supported by vocals from a choir, a four-chord progression and a single guitar note, played by Rodgers. A rock guitar solo plays during the bridge. Towards the end of the song, the sound of the drums are decreased, while the treble is increased. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is set in the time signature of common time, with a moderate tempo of 100 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of C minor, with Madonna's vocals ranging from a low-note of B♭3 to a high-note of F♯5. The song has a basic sequence of Cm–B♭–G7 in the verses and A♭–B♭–Cm–Cm/G in the chorus, as its chord progression.
The lyrics of the song are a metaphor for fashion and sex. Madonna sings about clothes she would like to drape over her man, so that she can caress his body with her hands. According to Rikky Rooksby, author of Madonna: The Complete Guide To Her Music, the line "I'll create a look that's made for you", later became synonymous with Madonna's re-invention of her image throughout her career.
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