Does 'i like your shoes/dress/whatever' mean 'where did you get said item'?

[Perplexing]

Occasionally someone will say this to me - and I always say ' oh thanks, it's old' or just 'thanks!'

The other day, when I complimented someone on their top, the reply simply shot back '£8 - Asda'...

This left me slightly flummoxed.

Help de-code dear MNers.

If someone said to me that they liked something I had on, I would say "cheers, I got in ??".
If I said I liked something I would probably ask where it was from.

Yes I would usually say where it's from, if it's a woman asking anyway.

An 8 year old boy in my class today told me he liked my dress, along with the line 'you look different- but good different!' I didn't bother telling him it was from New Look

i usually respond "thank you - it's an ebay special"

I don't beat around the bush. I say "Lovely dress - where's it from?" so I can file the answer away under "shops which aren't shit".

I always tell people where it's from as I figure they may well be fishing.

The person saying it was £8 from Asda was simply telling you the nice thing was a bargain.

So no, saying smething is nice doesn't necessarily mean where is it from,it can just be a compliment. It might mean where is it from, but not necessarily. If people desperately want to now where it's from, they will prob say that's nice where's itfrom all in one go.

So are people really asking where it's from then?

I must have been sounding really unhelpful / tight lipped all these years not to say! I had no idea. How dumb I am!

OK - so next (dumb) question.... What if the item cost a lot and you know the person asking doesn't have a large budget (because they have told you..?)

I'd feel a mean show-off saying it's from [insert name of expensive shop] but patronising if I didn't. I mean - it's one thing sharing a great bargain - but a bit unhelpful otherwise...?

Or am I just thinking too much into all this?!

Oh. Erm, count me as socially inept! I just say "thank you" and assume it's cos it's pretty unusual for people to see me in a dress.

Mind you if tis a male colleague saying that I don't think I can be blamed for not assuming they want to know where it's from.

I think it depends who is asking.....
My mil would want to know chapter and verse and if it js a current item from a bricks and mortar store then she will probably go and have look.

I usually say where the thing is from, although I do remember a thread here where it was pointed out that sometimes it's a bit - not rude quite - but potentially embarrassing, when you tell your admirer that the thing they like so much only cost £ and came from < insert bin-end shop of choice >. It's a bit like dismissing their opinion. Or something. Have had wine.

Not my view, but I do try to be aware of possibly coming across as Bargain Lil and zip my lip if I think there's even the slightest possibility of an inward smirk.

Hmm. I see what you mean Shotgun - so it could be more insulting if item was bargain...? Gosh, getting a bit complicated!

Not sure my poor frazzled (and also have had wine) brain can untangle this very well.

Yes depends who is asking. Someone of similar age etc who sounds genuinely interested etc I will add where it's from. If it sounds like a vague insincere compliment I will just say thanks. You know what I mean!

Mewkins - what about the budget thing? See my post 21.51.26.

I tell people where it's from if it's a bargain but if it's expensive I'm vague - very vague!

In my world you boast about a bargain but never talk about an expensive item - except with someone who you know can be as potentially excessive as yourself.

Well again depends who is asking. If a friend/ aquaintence who I know loves a bargain asuch as me then I will definitely tell them! If it's a random person who looks snooty or has previous form for being a bit snirky then no. I do agree with the bit upthread - I think it's important to accept compliments gracefully too.. so just saying "8 quid " is a bit rude - whereas saying "oh thanks! It was actually a real bargain etc" is still accepting the compliment but also offering extra info.

I'd interpret her response as being a proud boast about how clever she'd been. If I'm complimented on an item of clothing I will occasionally say "Thanks! TK MAXX's finest" or "Thanks, it's from Help The Aged!". It's a blatant boast about my cunning. The correct response would be "Ooh, how clever/lucky of you!". It's just small talk.

Re. receiving a compliment on something v expensive by someone who couldn't afford it. Play down and be vague. Return a compliment to distract.

If someone really want's to know where you bought something from surely they will ask? I would guess that the Asda proud person had just bought the top and was feeling very pleased about her bargain. I really wouldn't worry too much!

I'm with snow.

Someone complimented me on my shoes yesterday and I did the 'ooh only m&s in the sale'.

I like getting bargains and very rarely pay full price for anything. In fact someone else liked my jacket yesterday, she knew where it was from but I told her it was in the sale.

But I do think its fine to just say 'thank you' if someone pays you a compliment.

I just say thank you and perhaps you look nice too today or that colour suits you. I would never venture the shop or how much something cost. Although MIL whenever she saw me used to cross examine "hmm, that top's new, where did you get that, how much was it". It really used to annoy me and I found it incredibly rude. When I went back to work I think I said I spent my own money on it and what I spent was between me and the shop - I think her jaw dropped.

To ask how much something cost is rude, definitely.

But I love to hear of bargains so I can shamelessly copy

It's def much harder if it's a pricey item. I had a designer bag on in my local charity shop and the woman behind the counter complimented it, I said thanks and she asked where I'd got it - I felt really awkward and said Ebay! Also I thought she might think I shouldn't shop in charity shops if I could afford a designer bag. Silly

If it's said to me I usually do the "ooh, such and such, in the sale" or if it's expensive - ebay usually. I do love a bargain and assume that most people who are interested in clothes like to know where it's from.

I think you are thinking too much into all of this OP

I'd judge each situation as it comes, people are different. Sometimes a compliment on your clothes will naturally morph into a 'oh this? It was a bargain in X' so not meant as an insult to the complimenter's taste at all.

If someone you know without too much money compliments you on an expensive piece of clothing it doesn't necessarily mean you're rubbing their nose in it by telling them said name of shop. You can be honest without seeming to boast, after all they asked you first.

If someone compliments your clothes but is doing so because they are fishing for where its from...then I'm sure they'll come right out and ask you if an answer isn't forthcoming!

I have a friend who asks where I buy things and how much they cost, I do get quite embarrassed and squirm when it's a pricey item because I know she has very little money to spend on clothes - think I'm going to say eBay from now on.