Do you ever comment positively on a woman's appearance?

[Destinysdaughter]

Reading the thread about negative comments pp have had made about how they look, I was thinking about the opposite and is it ok to do so. I often look at a woman and think, I like what you're wearing, or you've got lovely hair etc, but I very rarely say it. I was in the pub on Saturday and a woman said to me, you look gorgeous, which was so nice, and a bit of a shock! It did make me feel good about myself and its rare to get that from another woman, if it's from a guy, I just think he's coming on to me and discount it.

So, how do we feel about this, ok or not?

I told a complete stranger how great she looked just the other day, because I realised I was staring at her. She had a beautiful dress on which just looked amazing on her - colour, cut, fit, style.

So I stopped her and said she looked really lovely. She looked a bit surprised but then was beaming as she walked off with her OH. I will do it more often I think.

All the time to friends and acquaintances, not so often to strangers.

I once walked past a woman who was wearing the same dress as me. We both smiled and complimented each other on our amazing fashion choices!
She was wearing it quite formally and was with a few colleagues and I was wearing it very casually and was with a friend and our children, felling slightly harassed and it really did brighten my day!
I offer compliments quite regularly to friends or strangers, but only if they're true.
My friends know I will never say something just because I think it's what they want to hear.

With friends, family and colleagues, I do it all the time - usually I will say that I like their hair, clothes, makeup, accessories, perfume etc., but sometimes I will just say they look great/beautiful/stylish etc. I'd only ever say it if I meant it, but I think the women I know generally do look nice.

With strangers, it's usually just in changing rooms, if they're trying on something that suits them, or on Facebook style and beauty boards, where people are asking for strangers' opinions on what they're wearing, or which makeup colours suit them. I'm not confident enough to go up to someone in the street and tell them they look wonderful. However, on the few occasions a stranger has come up to me and complimented me on my clothes, I've been really happy and flattered.

I was in a meeting last week with a new business contact who was wearing an incredibly beautiful perfume. I kept wondering whether it would be okay to ask him what it was, but bottled out in the end.

I do to friends, family and colleagues all the time - male or female.

I often want to compliment people on the tube or ask them where they got their shoes/dress/bag etc from, but I'm too chicken.

I never know what to say when I get a (rare) clothing compliment though. 'Thanks' seems a bit weird when it's not actually a personal attribute - but 'thanks, yes it's nice isn't it?' seems a bit smug. I tend to do the terribly British thing of 'oh this old thing, my great Aunt died wearing it, it's so uncomfortable, I've already spilt half my breakfast down it and it smells like cat piss, the zip is really dodgy and it gives me a rash, I probably won't ever wear it again I hate wearing it so much' and then slink off thinking 'WTF was just coming out my mouth?'

I do but I steer clear of weight. Even if someone has lost a lot I'll only talk about it if they do first.

I don't go up to complete strangers and compliment them, but I work with the public and might compliment someone during our conversation.

I started a thread recently about hair though and do think the next time I see a woman with great hair I might pluck up the courage to ask where she has it done. Mainly because I find hairdressers so hit and miss.

I'm terrible at receiving compliments. Although I appreciate it when I've put the effort in. I'm more of admire from afar kind of person then tell a stranger I like their top, shoes etc but I think it's mainly down to shyness.

Someone once thought I had HD eyebrows I had no idea what they meant at the time until I looked it up. They were saying it as a compliment but I wasn't sure how to take it. I just looked at them like they we're nuts

Absolutely!

And I accept compliments with grace.

Yes I do!!
I also have no problem with complimenting someone one I don't know in a shop/street or ask where they got their item of clothing from.

To my friends I do, yes :)

I'd never compliment a stranger, although I often notice that people look good, nice hair etc.

If anyone compliments me on my clothes I have an annoying habit of saying 'Oh, this old thing? It was only a fiver from Primark' or whatever.

I try to compliment friends though.

This probably sounds a bit weird but this year I've been trying to give at least a couple of compliments a day
I know I don't look my best at the moment but Im trying to brighten someone else's day but pointing out that they look nice/how good they look in their outfit.

Yes to people I know; colleagues, friends, associates. I immediately notice a new hairstyle, weight loss or change of image.

Very rarely to strangers.

Doctorboo, I've also tried to make more of an effort to give compliments and don't care whether they are friends, colleagues or random strangers. I think as women we get so much flak from the media and society about appearance that telling someone they look nice in some way can be such a boost to your confidence, so I think we should all be more positive about doing it.

I'm also learning to accept compliments when someone says something nice to me.

Inspired by this thread, I complimented a stranger on her trainers at lunchtime

1moreglassplease I really agree with you. The women Icompliment always sound so pleased and walk it's got nothing to do with dress size or body shape.
Several have said they felt self conscious and unsure of their outfit, obviously I liked it enough to comment. So far no one has said "of course I look great you pleb"

Oops I meant: The women I compliment always sound so pleased and walk away with a spring in their step.

How lovely to see pp spreading the love !! 😀

I do!
After not one person said I looked beautiful on my wedding day, I always make a point of telling the bride they look beautiful (it's always true). I've carried on from there really (although I am sure I complimented people before that). If I think a person doesn't look okay I don't say anything (and mentally tell myself off for being so judgy).

I think you've touched on something important 1more - lots of us are so bad at accepting compliments and maybe that's because of an innate lack of self confidence. I think we should compliment each other more and be more open to accepting compliments from others; a simple heartfelt thank you is enough.

I do, I will compliment anyone friend, family, colleagues or stranger. I saw an older gentleman at a petrol station and the colours he was wearing were fabulous, so when he passed me I told him, he told me I'd made his day. I also tuck in labels if people have them sticking out at their neck so maybe I'm a big odd in general.

Yes, daily. I was brought up to think it was gushy but then I realised that the people who said that were a touch catsbum about life, more than a touch dodgy about other women, and often comedy rude, so I ignored them and now spread the love.

Yes I comment to women I know, never strangers.
I also NEVER comment to a child on how they look (unless they've had a new haircut and look older, say) because I think that encourages the wrong values. I compliment them more on their ability or behaviour. That's what I prefer for my own DC.