So many compliments after the Christmas do, it's starting to freak me out

[Checkedtowel]

I like a party. I usually avoid the work one because I have a fairly senior position and I think the staff prefer a party without management and I find at work dos I'm in a weird limbo where I'm expected to let my hair down and participate, but also behave professionally. I usually keep work and social very separate and that's the way I like it. I'm quite a different person socially, much less staid.

Anyway, this year, boss made it clear managers were expected to attend and I decided if I was going, I'd throw myself into it 😆

I had a nice dress, but nothing really special, short, tight or revealing. I wore it with chunky flat boots because I'm not doing uncomfortable shoes for anyone.

I had a bit to drink, but by no means as much as many others. I circulated, chatted and danced. The party was a success and I enjoyed myself.

When I arrived at the party, people (women) audibly gasped at how "amazing" I looked. People kept mentioning it all evening and some mentioned it at work next day. One even emailed me to tell me.

I am a very ordinary looking middle aged woman, with no curves and a cropped haircut. WTF is this all about? I'm starting to think they're taking the piss.

I mean, if it's all genuine, then this is stealth boast 😆 but it's weird, isn't it?

Just enjoy it

it was probably a combination of you being more relaxed and smiling than usual, and you probably dressed really well and were confident and comfortable

just take the compliments with a smile

I quite like my glasses too and they certainly hide signs of tiredness quite well.
But when I don't have them on, it's a bit like my face alters shape slightly as there's no sort of frame around my face (if you get what I mean) so people don't have that reference

I had similar when I took off my glasses and added sparkly brown eyeshadow, lots of comments re did I have coloured contacts in. I did not.

I never wear dresses, but on one of those hot days this year, I put my hair up, stuck on a dress and dangly earrings. A colleague literally gasped and told me I looked like an angel, I was laughing so hard!

It must be the contacts and eye make up then! Some people look like day and night without glasses. If you need them, you need them but it is truthful that some people really do look better with them and sadly some look better without. Of course there are people who are simply wearing the wrong pair, as well so!
I think enjoy it and don't overthink it... I'm betting it's how different your face looked without glasses and with more make up.

This is such a horrible post

OP, I can completely imagine this happening & for good, rather than any malign, reason.

As other posters have said, the contacts & eye makeup will have made a big difference, particularly if your colleagues haven't seen you like this before.

I have a lovely colleague who looks quite like your description. She's always well-presented but wears the same 'uniform' for work & minimal (usually no) make up. She wore a lovely cosy cream jumper the other day & everyone kept remarking how well she looked. She looks lovely other days too, but the same, basically & this day she looked different & people remarked on it.

I think it's really nice that people said it to you, and I think it's well-meant & a sign of you being popular too.

I love this post how were the other women at the party dressed? Your outfit sounds really stylish.

Maybe it's less about how you looked and more about the energy you gave off when in socialising mode.

Ooo can we have a piccie? Even a partial?

stealth boast

Wow, a lesser person would have been tempted to gloat.
We are in awe of you.