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?!

I do.

I still remember a lovely green check shirt dress a woman was wearing, at Victoria station, but I’ve do done it other times as well.

I had nice comment about a dress I was wearing from an actress who I actually really like, so that made my day.

And once I was wearing a mad combination of pink and red and a girl who had a similar outfit smiled at me and we exchanged compliments.

I often do too, and am delighted when other women praise something I’ve chosen. It spreads a little warmth and friendliness.

I do it whenever I see something lovely. Whether it’s a dress, bag, glasses, anything. No one has ever appeared to be offended or embarrassed.

I was feeling particularly frumpy one day and someone told me I looked lovely. It absolutely made my day and every time I look at that dress I’m reminded of the lovely compliment.

Someone stopped me this week and said they loved my outfit- it made lovely to receive a compliment!

Occasionally I do it and it's always gone well, but there's something a bit nerve-wracking about it for me still, I wish I felt able to do it more! I once queued behind someone in a shop who was wearing gorgeous earrings (she was chatting to the guy with her so wasn't facing completely away from me), eventually I plucked up the courage to comment and she beamed at me and said "Aren't they fab?" She told me where they were from and that they were in the sale and then said "but you should go today because they didn't have many left!" This must be 25 years ago now but it still makes me smile thinking about her smiley face and her enthusiasm (I did go - they were sold out - but I managed to get some quite similar ones which I wear to this day)

I do it a lot. It gives me a little confidence boost when someone compliments me so I like to pay that forwards. I really hope I don't offend or embarrass someone by complimenting them. I think it's nice and it might help if someone is not feeling great about themselves. I only feel awkward if someone asks me where I got something and I have to tell them it's not available for sale. I have a gorgeous shopping bag that people always ask me about but it's one of a kind, my MiL made it for me.

Yes, especially if I want the thing they are wearing. I’m in my 50’s and a very young shop assistant in Hollister said she loved my coat, that was a good moment. Another woman on Preston train station complimented another coat (I’m obviously ok at coats).

Ive had one awkward reaction where I told a woman in a queue I loved her boots and she looked at me like I was mental. But it was true I did love her boots!

My husband pointed out (to me) a woman in a pair of leopard print adidas shoes this morning so I said loudly yes they are fabulous- I hope she heard.

if you watch Troy hawke on instagram he does compliments. People are usually very happy to hear them.

Ye I think that’s important, to comment on the thing not the person.

Just yesterday walking home from the Post Office. I saw a young woman striding towards me in a jumper that was an amazing shade of bright red. So as she got closer I gave her a big smile and said "I love the colour of your top." She looked a wary when she realised the old lady was going to say something to her, then relaxed with a big smile and a quick "Thanks, I like it too" as she continued on her way.

Yes, I had two women come up to me in John Lewis to say how much they loved my dress and to ask where I got it from. I was delighted to tell them I paid £5 for it on Vinted and had dyed it a different colour myself. I was chuffed 😊

I love to recount the story of when my OH and I were in Canada and one morning I put on a brownish hobo style dress with a brown slouch jumper over the top and a pair of brown brogue style ankle boots. My OH, who almost never comments on what I'm wearing, had a bit of a laugh (not in a cruel way) and asked me if I was sure I wanted to wear that outfit. Since I never take any fashion advice from him I just treated his remark with the contempt it deserved.

A couple of hours later we were walking along the streets of Jasper when a couple walked past us and the woman stopped me and said 'I hope you don't mind but I just have to tell you how much I love your outfit'
Oh, how we laughed ...😂

What a weird take.

If someone said to me “I love your dress” I take it as they love the actual dress AND how I look in it so it is a REAL compliment! And no they are not usually “fishing” to find out where it’s from.

I give, and am happy to receive, compliments. Sometimes you can just see how you’ve made someone’s day as they light up, and why would you not want to spread a bit of positivity?

My young adult daughter has a particular dress vibe and whenever she encounters another young woman with a similar look there's always an exchange of compliments, and it's lovely. I've started doing the same to older women who dress colourfully, and who have great grey haircuts (like me...!!).

Me too. Lovely both ways.

Why? I’ve yet to meet someone who is upset by being told they look great. I understand on here some people don’t like that but in real,life I’ve never encountered such a thing.

I've had total strangers come up to me and compliment me on my hair several times, when I've just come out of the salon! Makes my day, and my amazing hairdresser's, when I tell her! 😄

I do it all the time!

I do it all the time and only once did I ever get a bad reaction. I was like 18 and I told this older lady her outfit was really cool… idk if it’s because I said “cool” or what but she rolled her eyes and said thanks. Not the worst reaction but a bit weird. Every other time it’s been a positive reaction. I have a coat that whenever I go out in people always compliment it. Complimenting peoples outfits makes the world a better place.

A compliment should not be seennas embarrising or possibly.
So english!

I do it
and last night 3 different women commented how much they loved my shoes
after a dreadful week at work it really lifted my spirits

All the time!

Great dress.
What a fabulous coat.
I love your jacket.
Your hair looks great.

I don’t stop them, I do it as I’m passing. Sometimes they hear, sometimes they don’t. I don’t mind either way, but they always look pleased when they do hear!

I saw a woman in Waitrose wearing a Rain Sisters coat. It was gorgeous. I asked her if it was one and she was made up that I’d asked, said no one appreciated it as much as her. Well I did, it was beautiful!

I do it, I hope I don’t embarrass anyone but I think it’s nice to tell someone they look great.
My DC think it’s cringey though!