"It would have been better coming from a guy"

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

Chatting with a friend tonight, telling me about going out recently and a woman at the concert remarking on how she liked her dress and how good she looked. My friend said the compliment would have meant more coming from a man. "Well you think what you like" was what she said when I told her I thought that was a crazy idea.

She couldn't explain why either. Anyone else had this?

Oh I way prefer a compliment from a woman, particularly if they're dressed in a style I admire because it makes me think I might be in the same style region as them!
Compliments from straight-presenting male strangers make me nervous, but I think I'd be less nervous if it's a man I know where I don't need to worry about what's coming next (and more importantly, how he's going to react if he makes overtures and I reject them.)

I guess what I'm saying is that she wants to feel 'attractive' as opposed to just being well turned out.

She worded it clunkily but I'd have taken that to mean that she wished a man said that sort of thing to her because she'd like to be attractive in the eyes of a man. Your female friends complimenting your dress sense has an entirely different vibe from a man complimenting you if you are heterosexual and hoping to attract someone.

I think a compliment from anyone is nice, but it's particularly nice when you know there is no ulterior motive.

@TrishM80 Your mindreading skills are grossly exaggerated.
Perhaps the lady in question prefers compliments from men because when
complimented by women she can't be sure she isn't being "hit on" by a lesbian.

Yeah, well it's not very likely is it? How many women have you known complain they're constantly hit on by lesbians? There's a difference between professing to be a mind reader and reaching for a vanishingly unlikely explanation for behaviour.