To want to start complimenting women more? (Strangers)

I don't want to be publicly critiqued by anyone tbh. I buy clothes because I like them, I don't need or want strangers validating me. For it to be a reason to speak to a stranger takes it back to physical appearance being important for women. One advantage of aging is the street harrasment/unwanted sexual attention stops.

I met my best friend by complimenting her! If I feel really strongly about someone's looks or want to know where they bought something, I let them know. Not in a creepy way, not intensely, just as a passing comment. I've never had a bad reaction

On two separate occasions women have complemented me recently (one on my hair and the 2nd on my makeup).

What a lovely thing for someone to do. Made my absolute day and made me feel wonderful. It’s a shame people don’t do it more.

As for the person earlier saying it’s a ‘weirdo thing to do’. What a shame this grown up with this mentality. Nothing better than women supporting women 👊

@Mummymummy89 Hello from the Due Jan thread! Just saw your comment about your colleague's "compliment" - obviously I'm a similar level of round to you at the moment and I also have a colleague who likes to compliment me on my shape. It does feel a bit weird and I think it's uncommon but some women genuinely find the shape of pregnant women beautiful and kind of soothing. I also bear in mind that women all have a different relationship with pregnancy (done it/not done it, wish they were pregnant/hoping they aren't pregnant, wishing they could have a kid now but having to wait, absolutely never want to do it etc) so I guess it's not surprising that seeing someone v pregnant can trigger all sorts of feelings, it's nice that some are positive.

I started doing this a while ago, but always about things they deliberately picked like clothes or jewellery not something they naturally have like hair. Not sure why that makes a difference but I wouldn’t comment on a stranger’s hairstyle for some reason! I would if it was a friend who just got their hair done.

People have always seemed happy to hear it so far so I’m going to carry on!

I don't do this as role for the same reason you give .. but I saw a lady who looked so stylish and lovely on my road the other day. She then walked past as I was locking my car I had to say something. She was with a man who was her partner / husband. I stopped her and said ' can I just say - I saw you walking down the road a minute ago and I love your outfit. The combination of pink and green just look so good together. I love it.

She looked so pleased and said I had made her day. It was really lovely and glad that I said something. No one will ever think you are being odd if it's a genuine comment. They are delighted. I would also be delighted and it's a real confidence boost.. do it!

I do it when the situation allows but I wish I did it more. I have a thing about always having my nails done, get nice designs and keep them quite pretty. I LOVE when strangers compliment them, it happens in shops quite a lot or when I used to work in retail and always made my day.

I think in a world which is so horrible and negative a lot of the time it's great to spread a bit of genuine kindness where you can

I do it a lot but I also just love the way women interact with each other in general so I make a big effort to compliment others when I can.

Someone told me I smelt amazing before and it still stays with me now how good it made me feel.

Do it! As you say it will make them feel great but it will also make you feel good :)

I have some clothes and boots that every time I wear them someone stops me to tell me how great they are or where can they get them and every time it makes me feel happy.

I reckon that's not going to be everyone's reaction to it though, some people won't like feeling self conscious or observed

I'm fat and ugly but I am a singer and people always compliment me on my voice. That's the one thing that makes me feel good.

I can see why you may have felt weird about it but I think they were genuinely coming from a good place.

Pregnancy is beautiful and I think some women really do look stunning when they are heavily pregnant! They just 'shine' somehow!

I do it, don't care if it makes me look like a weirdo! I've also had plenty of people asking me west I get my clothes from and compliments so it's nice to give back.

@ManateeFair - which author? You really piqued mty interest!

I compliment other women but (as a pp said) more on the lines of "love your dress/shoes/bag where did you get it?" I'd also choose a suitable moment, like if I'm standing next to them in the supermarket for example. I wouldn't stop a stranger in the street but that's just me I guess.

I am a very introverted and also somewhat curmudgeonly individual, but even I wouldn't think someone was 'a weirdo or taking the piss' if they paid me a compliment and it doesn't make me feel 'odd' to receive one.

I've had compliments from strangers on my hair quite a few times, and also on my tattoos and most recently on my shoes.

I'm fairly shy so not always the best at talking to strangers, but I recently complimented a waitress on her tattoo (which was of a writer I admire) and she was absolutely thrilled that I knew who it was and also that I thought it was a beautifully-executed portrait. Her face honestly lit up when I mentioned it. Also I was shopping recently and there were three girls in the changing rooms showing each other dresses for a Christmas party and one of them looked so amazing in the dress she was trying on that I said 'You should totally get that, it looks absolutely great on you' and her mates both said 'See!! We TOLD you it looked great and now you KNOW we weren't just being polite because this lady said so as well!'

I've had people stop me in public to compliment me on something but there is usually some kind of interaction first. The lady on the till in Pets At Home the other day said she liked my piercings, I said thanks and that was that. I've done the same to others too although I haven't stopped anybody in the street, there has been an interaction. There is nothing odd about it, if I say I like something it's genuine, if I don't have an opinion or I hate it I say nothing.

I do it! Usually nails or shoes/boots, but back when I was commuting a woman got on the train, sat beside me and smelled so lovely I had to tell her! Turns out it was body lotion which I later Googled (and baulked at the price) but it made that day's slog into London Bridge much more bearable.

I do it quite often. Both to people I am already interacting with and (to a lesser extent) to people I'm not.

I had followed a couple with a toddler around Lidl (coincidence, not stalking!) yesterday, and it was obvious from the start that kiddos dad had been trying to let her have some fun and independence but also keep her from being a nuisance to other shoppers. I went my own random way through the store but kept on bumping into them, and went through the checkout behind the family. Said to the mum as I was passing them in the carpark "I hope you don't mind me saying but I really liked the way you were both parenting your child back there, I thought it was so lovely, you're doing a great job!" - she initially looked terrified that I, a stranger, was speaking to her then she burst into a huge grin when my words registered!

Normally if I compliment a stranger it's on their coat or nails or something.

Life can be hard, and a little heartfelt compliment gives people a little boost. I'm 100% pro compliment people more!

I do and if it comes from a genuine place I can't see anyone objecting?
I have a coat ( only from M&S) but get no end of people saying they like it, asking where it's from.
It's just pleasant conversation.

That’s the one compliment I get! I wear a pretty uncommon perfume and I have had other women ask after it a number of times. It always makes me feel happy.

A lady in Tesco told me that my hair and makeup looked lovely. I was having a shit day and the compliment cheered me up .
I think it is a lovely thing to do

I saw a woman on the tube once. She was really highly decorated with blue sculpted hair. I couldn't take my eyes off her, she was so beautiful. So I told her and she looked absolutely delighted. I felt a bit of a fool in my middle aged mum M&S padded coat telling this walking work of art that she'd made my day but she had. And she wasn't just graceful about it. She looked so happy.

Absolutely DO IT! And not just if you are already in a conversation, sometimes it leads to a conversation.

I buy a lot of my clothes in a quirky independent boutique in France while I'm visiting family - and often get complimented and asked about them. Makes my day.

Just last week I saw a woman who was wearing a fabulous bright orange dress with black denim jacket and biker boots - I passed her a couple of times and the combo just made me smile on a grey day. So the third time, standing in a queue, I told her. We had a lovely minute or two discussing colour and went our separate ways.