Complimenting strangers on their dress

[MakemineaGandT]

Do you ever do this?! I usually feel too awkward to do this and don’t want to accidentally offend someone somehow, so mostly just keep the thought in my head, which seems a shame really. But occasionally I’ve given a random stranger a compliment and it’s brightened my day as well as theirs. The best time ever was admiring a woman’s incredible jacket while waiting to pay for a car parking session. She was so delighted - it turned out she’d made it herself and it was her first time wearing it.

Once or twice it has happened to me and it really has made my day.

So my question is - do you do this or has it ever happened to you? Should we do it more?!

Always.

Im always complimenting women on how they are looking, what they are wearing, their hair styles, hair colour etc

Ive even asked a stranger if I could photo her hair style as it was so flattering and id love to show my hairdresser

A couple of years ago when I was waitressing , a wee girl said to me " I really love your glasses, they make you look so pretty " - I nearly cried

It takes nothing of your time to compliment someone , you might not even remember doing it, but the person you complimented will treasure it

I asked someone in the supermarket what their perfume was,because it smelled wonderful I said to a woman passing me in the steeet that i loved her shoes. And just last week, I told a man I loved the red hat he was wearing. It's not something I do often, though. Maybe once every two or three years.

I have had more than one person be appreciative of my sheep earrings.

I think if you say it and move on, it's fine.

I do it all the time. My mother used to get compliments all the time (still does at 90!) and she always would tell people how good they looked or ask where they got their jacket etc. And still does 😁
It's a little bit of warmth in a cold world and costs nothing.

I really like it when strangers compliment me, even if I receive it a bit awkwardly. I don’t like it when people who know me compliment me because the voice in my head adds in “because you usually look like shit”

I always give compliments like this! It’s a lovely thing to give and receive compliments.

I do it often. I live in the US Deep South where it is a very culturally accepted thing to do.

I have,I love complimenting a hat, not enough people wear them these days.

It happened to me about a year ago.

A younger woman (I'm in my 70s) whose dress sense was absolutely nothing like mine, came up to me in a coffee shop and told me that she really liked what I was wearing and thought I looked great. This has never happened to me before

I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the day.

What a sweet moment - sorry to hear you’re having a rough time of it, but tuck that little girl’s comment away in your mind and bring it out whenever you need it ♥️

Oh I’m so enjoying reading all these comments and I’m feeling inspired to be braver about saying out loud the compliments that form in my head!

I do it regularly. Often just “great shoes” or “I love your dress” as I’m walking by. I’ve had similar back and it’s always made me happy.

My daughter (18) makes a point of doing this ever since someone random complimented her top so she knew how nice it was.

I often comment on nails and tattoos and if I see glasses I like I’ll ask where they got them.

I’ve done it loads. The most embarrassing was to Fiona Bruce in Westfield Waitrose, at her lovely white jeans. I had no idea who she was until half way through her explanation of where the store was!!

I've had this done to me and done it too (after the first time it happened to me and I thought "Wow! that's so nice", hadn't occurred to me before that.).

I should it more, though. Thanks for the prompt, OP.

I remember waddling, on a hot day, heavily pregnant with twins, down a London street - on my way for yet another midwife appointment. A lovely woman stopped in her tracks, with a massive smile on her face and said to me, "You're BEAUTIFUL!" It made my day and was such a lovely moment. I really hadn't been feeling very beautiful up until then.

All the time and it happens back all the time but I'm very careful to say "I love your dress/skirt /coat hat" and not "you look great"
The compliments back are mostly from women but sometimes men, and are always of the "great dress etc" variety. I occasionally give compliments to men too.

I don't because it feels awkward. I don't like when it happens, I just feel so 'perceived' which feels uncomfortable to me but I know some people love it.

That’s such a shame that someone made you doubt yourself. I love to give random compliments and to receive them. I don’t do it too often but it can lead to some really lovely chats with people.

I’ve been cheered up by someone of a much younger generation yelling ‘Love your hair!’ at me on a train (I’m mid fifties and wear it in plaits on top of my head), and hope I did the same for someone I saw in town when I complimented her on her absolutely beautiful dress and wrap. She’d made both herself and as I also make stuff we had a natter about sewing while waiting in a queue to get into a restaurant.

I’ve always found these little human exchanges where we appreciate the effort and creativity people put into their presentation so interesting and life affirming.

Yes, all the time. I like to do it in store changing rooms if someone seems to be on the fence about an outfit that looks great.

I get comments quite often. My 84 year old mother all the time, as she looks great for her age and dresses very stylishly.

My mother, sister and I went to lunch for Mother’s Day a few weeks ago and a young waitress came to our table and told us how lovely we all looked.

Funnily enough I’ve just commented on another thread saying that I do this!

I often compliment other women about their hair colour, outfit, nails, perfume. I’ve had it said to me too - my perfume especially always seems to draw nice comments. And it’s lovely to hear, I think.

I do take a moment to appraise the situation before saying something though - if I’m getting strong “leave me the fuck alone” vibes I won’t say anything because I appreciate not e drying wants to hear it.

For me, the key is to give a genuine and heartfelt compliment and quickly move on - if you linger, that’s when it can feel awkward OP. I also make sure comments don’t sound weirdly personal - as a PP said, I’d never say “you look great” of “you’re beautiful” because I think that could be received badly. But objective compliments are fine, generally I believe.

I have to say though I never compliment men. The potential for it to get weird or be misinterpreted is too high, imo.

I do this often. If someone smells nice as well. I think it’s a lovely compliment and you can see people get happier when you do.

Yes, I do. Life can be hard sometimes. It’s nice to spread a little joy. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy a honest compliment.

I do it all the time. I hope i dont upset people