If someone is described as glamorous..

[MrsSeanBean]

What are the connotations, what springs to mind?

I know what you meant Oldest, I guess all things are relative.

I always think of big hair - or maybe just styled hair (not fallen out of bed hair), nails done and clothes that are always just a teensy bit better/nicer than the occasion requires. e.g., wearing a silk scarf when out walking the dog, or calling on someone unannounced at home and they're wearing 'good' clothes - not trackies & a t-shirt and they've made up and looking put together. Always.

I'm not glam. I fail on many counts.

To me it would be a very complimentary term. I would think of someone who always takes great care with their appearance - nails/hair/makeup/clothing/shoes/handbags, everything always immaculate.

Glamour to me is the tom ford for Gucci era, , all those incredibly sexy clothes,beautiful hair and makeup,

Also the 90s supermodels like Stephanie Seymour,Karen mulder and all those glamazons of that time, with perfect body measurements, so I think its a nice compliment mrsseanbean,

Interesting post.

For me, glamorous can man 'Doreen Green' style glam, or it can mean very well put together, but in a dressy kind of way.

So, I guess it could mean trashy but also chic, depending on your fashion school of thought I hope its chic because someone called me glam once

Definitely glam

It's a bit dated imo. And only considered a compliment if you think heavy makeup and impractical hair and nails is the way to be.

My ex used to gaze at me in wonder and tell me how glamorous I was.

Granted he wore a Planet of the Apes t-shirt most of the time, so his glam bar wasn't that high.

I once went to a job interview and the interviewer told me that the agency that had put me forward for the job had described me as glamorous. I didn't know what to make of that. It made me feel like I'd overdressed for it. Perhaps it was meant as a compliment but I thought it was an odd comment to make in those particular circumstances.

Since the advent of 'glamour models' i.e topless, I didn't think people used the word so much.
Someone said a similar thing to me OP, along the lines of 'oh you look glam' and I thought maybe I had too much makeup on or something.

I don't see glamorous as a compliment if used during daylight hours. I don't know why. It's considerably more pleasant than the adjectives one could use to describe me. A bit more glamour wouldn't hurt. Glamour during the day is over-done, to my mind.

But then it depends on who is using it. It doesn't sound like you are over-done. I'd take the compliment and run...

I think of it as a compliment.

My boss's wife is how I would describe glam, she is a mum of 3 with a demanding job but she always has perfect hair and nice make up. She wears heels all the time. I saw a picture of her in hospital having just had her 3rd child by csection, wearing a very nice top with a sparkly trim.

It's a bit dated imo. And only considered a compliment if you think heavy makeup and impractical hair and nails is the way to be

Catty. I'm picturing Les Dawson in his sketch dressed as an old woman, bitching over the fence with the neighbour about how "that floozy down the road is no better than she should be".

I always think of these when glamour is mentioned

First word of a Morrissey song.

Glamorous Glue

Hi!
I definitely agree with the post of Joan Collins in the 70's. I love the dressy styles from the 30's and 70's (The 70's is basically an exaggerated reworking of the 30's). I think of the inspiration for the Mumsnet logo 'Charlies Angels', Diana Ross, Lauren Hutton, Donna Summer. Lush styled hair with body and shine and LIPGLOSS! Lol! Also glamorous is ANY woman who can wear and carry off Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress!

I wouldn't take it as a compliment, I'm very far from glamorous, more of a bluestocking TBH (People who don't know me well generally say 'she's very clever' about me rather than commenting on my appearance). I think it describes women (Always women) who spend a lot of time altering their appearance using makeup and clothes. I am aware that in the 1930s 'glamour' was seen as liberating because it was the first time poorer women could afford to copy the fashions of the rich and putting on some red lippy was easier to achieve than the natural expensive gloss of the horsey set. But now it's something that is only desirable if you can't achieve in a more meaningful way.

Hahahaha that gave me a good giggle thegiddylimit!!! What a snide post. Being glamorous and clever are not (sorry to tell you) mutually exclusive. I don't think anyone here has suggested that being considered/described as 'glamorous' is an achievement, either! It clearly means something different to everyone.

Fortunately for me, I'm both enormously clever AND glamorous, yay!

Oldest Story has it spot on!

"You're very glamorous, aren't you?" (spoken through pursed lips) is a put down by women who make no effort with their appearance (which is fine, each to their own etc) but bitterly resent women who do (which isn't fine).

In those circumstances it means, "no way will I say that you look nice or lovely. I'll just imply that you have too much make up on and are overdressed. Then I'll feel better about myself."