To want to start complimenting women more? (Strangers)

Nothing weird in it.
I compliment other women when I genuinely think they wear something that looks amazing on them. But I wouldn't comment on hairstyles or makeup or any physical details.
I often get compliments and I never thought it was unusual or weird. I enjoy it. I don't wear any 'out there' outfits but I tend to wear well fitted clothes (not as in tight fitting but as in the right cut for my size) so maybe they stand out more?

It’s happened to me a couple of times and I must admit I beamed ! There’s something about it coming from a complete stranger that makes it feel great , there’s no reason for them to compliment you so it feels more genuine somehow. The older I get the more I think we all just need to be nice to one another.

Hi OP! this was basically my new year's resolution for 2023, and I think it's made me a much nicer less judgemental person! I

@KatBurglar
What perfume is it, if I may ask? 😁

I do it all the time now I've reached the age of "I don't give a shit what anyone thinks". It's usually I love your coat and
your hair colour is fab, type stuff

'publicly critiqued...street harassment...unwanted sexual attention'...oh give OVER.

Are you saying that another woman saying they like your coat is the same as some bloke groping your tits on the tube? Because both have happened to me and I can assure you they are not the same fucking thing at all.

I do it quite frequently - up to and including randoms on the street! I think we could all do with a lift, to be honest, and I've never had anyone respond negatively.

I was wearing a yellow coat recently and someone at the bus stop complimented me on it: it came at just the right time for me as I was feeling down in the dumps.

I do it sometimes, it depends on the situation though
A friend of mine who was having a terrible day the other day, dressed to try and cheer herself up and got a compliment and she was positively still glowing from it when she met me the next day.
I complimented a lady in the loos at an event of Friday, she looked amazing, perfect dress, extremely understated but stunning and she felt familiar so thought I should say hello in case we had met before (didn't want to seem rude but it was DHs work event and there were loads of people who I have met maybe once in the past 15yrs) - I got back to the table and asked DH who she was and it turns out I probably knew where off the news as her family own something very famous 🤦‍♀️

I do this too - mainly because I'm mildly obsessed with perfume! It's a bit more intimate than 'great shoes' I guess but like you I've never had a poor reception. Actually, I have once and that was from someone I knew, not a stranger, go figure...

I often tell random women in the street that I like their hair, or bag, or coat or whatever. I asked a stranger at a yoga class the other day where she got her jumper from as it was gorgeous...turns out she'd made it herself so she was doubly pleased with the compliment!

I don't think it's weird or creepy or intrusive at all, and I'm always chuffed to bits when it happens to me.

I do this to strangers quite often, and only once did I get a negative response!

It was a school mum whom I don’t know well at all, but she was in tartan trousers, high boots and a pink fake fur jacket. It wasn’t so much that the items themselves were gorgeous, but she just looked so fabulous and really well groomed. The conversation went like this, and bear in mind it was about 8.20am.

me: wow, I love your look
her: <death stare> what do you mean?
me: <floundering and waving> your look, you just look, like, your look is great
her: it’s not a LOOK
me: sorry

i later found out that she’s not a particularly nice person, and that she is a bit nonchalant ‘what, this old thing, I just threw it in’ about her very expensive designer wardrobe, so it seems I embarrassed her by drawing attention. The lesson for me is keep the comments for strangers you’ll never see again, or people you know well.

I wouldn't stop someone in the street to do it, but I often compliment other women in situations such as being served in a shop, waiting in line, washing our hands next to each other in public toilets. I regularly tell people their nails, hair, necklace, outfit looks great. Without fail people have always reacted well and have appreciated an unexpected compliment.

I think my new years resolution might be to try and compliment someone at least once a week

I think it’s weird to plan to do it.

But there have been a couple of occasions where I’ve asked a woman where she got her outfit from. Equally I have been asked where I got a coat from and what perfume I was wearing by women.

If it naturally happens, it’s nice, but to plan to try to do it is weird. A bit like Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice.

‘And though I do sometimes amuse myself with arranging such little elegant compliments, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.‘

I don't think anyone is a weirdo here but just wanted to point out to everyone on this thread who pays these compliments - women might smile and say thank you but you don't actually know that they're happy and pleased. I certainly wasn't in the anecdote I related upthread.

I'm not saying you should all stop giving compliments - I could well be very much in the minority of not liking personal remarks - but you just can't boldly assert that women enjoy your compliments, you can't know that for sure

I think you are the weirdo. I do this all the time and never had anyone be anything but genuinely happy and pleased to be complimented.

And also, so many women look BLOODY GREAT

Normal for London in my opinion

I do it a lot and it happens to me too - I have loads of nice coats so it's often that which people compliment me on

I've been to big cities in America 4 or 5 times in my life (mid-40s now) and every time at least once on the trip (sometimes multiple) someone has come up in the street and complemented hair or clothes etc (even just like a £40 next dress, nothing outrageous) then just wandered off.

Seems to be quite normal there, but definitely would be seen as weird here.

I do it all the time too. I can't help it, I say it before I even think about it. I've had it said to me by strangers as well, it always makes my day.

@WitcheryDivine @Celticliving yes absolutely my colleague meant it well... also the context is she is childless not by choice (not infertile, husband didn't want kids, and then they divorced in her 40s) so I do understand she might see pregnancy in a certain way. I just thanked her and didn't act like it was weird or anything! But I'd never dream of saying anything like that to a pregnant woman myself!

I think it's a bit like the way some people try to touch your bump. I know compliments aren't the same as touching but still it's intrusive in a similar way.

Clothes is a safe one because people choose/buy their clothes. But you don't choose your body iyswim - even things like weight loss might not be by choice (eg illness, eating disorder etc) so imo best not to comment on that.

I can see I'm in the minority on this thread tho!

Last Thursday night someone said the dress I was wearing was nice. It's a very old dress I used to wear to the office. It made me happy😀

I get this from female students quite often, they will compliment my dress or shoes etc or ask me where I got something from. I don’t mind it, it’s always quite a nice confidence boost.

I do and the women seem to just beam 😊. Never had a negative reaction.

I also lob hearing it, so why not 😊.

@Mummymummy89 I think pregnant women are beautiful, so she probably meant well.

That's such a sad view - why can't people just say something nice without having it micro-analysed?

It's sad that you think this way, but thankfully it's not the norm.

BTW I do compliment men too but usually only men I know e.g. telling a colleague that I like their new haircut/coat. I wouldn't talk to a strange man about their personal appearance but that's because men can be scary.