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?!

Even reading this thread has brought me happiness. It's a lovely thing to do and also to receive them. Hope the date went well! @SaraOnSaturday

Yes. And my mum always did this, and made so many people happy. She made really good friends sometimes, from strangers she'd chat to.

Thank you! Yes it went well.

It's good to read this stuff! I might even make it a goal to compliment someone next week!

I complimented a lady on her dress today.

She was really happy and then smiled... she had lipstick on her teeth! Only a bit but I felt like I couldn't break the nice bubble by going oh nice dress but btw you have lipstick on your teeth... I feel awful for not telling her 😫

I do, it makes their day and mine when done to me. It’s such an easy way of being nice

Don’t forget to tell men too if they look fabulous.

Crikey! I've never encountered those sorts of reactions! What charmless tossers.

Yes, I do too. More likely to be a friend or a work colleague than a stranger but have occasionally given a compliment to a stranger.

Obviously it's the article of clothing compliment not the "what you are wearing looks amazing on you/really suits you" type because that would be a pretty weird thing to say to a stranger and completely inappropriate to a work colleague.

Once someone at the hospital complimented me on my glasses and my t-shirt I was wearing. It was a very old t-shirt but I still love that t-shirt and can't bring myself to get rid of it. It made my day.

I do absolutely need to do it more to other people

I try to compliment people with whatever passing positive thoughts have. I especially do it to parents of young children, because I remember those days of being in the trenches. But yes, also people's clothes, their hair, glasses, smile, kindness...

On a train today two young women got chatting in my set of six seats. They got round to books and when one was getting off, the other woman reached into her bag and gave her a hardback book and just said "here, you'll like this, I've just finished it". It really made me smile, so I told her "seeing your kindness has really made my day".

Once you start complimenting people it becomes second nature.

We have a barbershop on our road, I don't really take any notice, but I saw a guy come out once and his new haircut really suited him. I just said "nice haircut, suits you" but I felt really weird afterwards, like I almost wanted to follow up with clarification that I wasn't hitting on him. (Hopefully he knew, I'm nearly 50 and he was about 25!).

I do it regularly. It has always been met with a smile. 😊

Always as I love it when it’s done to me

I did it yesterday...a woman who was probably in her early 70s wearing a fab black/ white shift and red ankle boots. Really well styled silver pixie cut and bright red lips . She looked stunning.

I wouldn’t do it as not everyone is comfortable with it. When random people have complimented me, I have been polite and smiled so they probably think I was pleased, but I’d rather they didn’t.

My mum did it a lot and I’ve known a couple of other people who do it a lot too. They actively looked for people to get chatting to and liked to be seen to be nice. Behind closed doors, my mum was a monster and the others weren’t nice people either. It wasn’t sincere, they just wanted to look kind when they were anything but. They couldn’t have good long friendships or relationships with anyone, but they could handle quick conversations which puffed up their ego as they used these interactions to prove they were nice. My mum proudly told people how nice she was and how she could get talking to anyone.

I’m sure some people are genuine and nice who do it, but I’d rather they didn’t do it to me. 😬

Yes, I had a compliment on my dress yesterday and it was lovely. I also compliment other women on their clothes / shoes / bag if I like them. I think it’s a nice thing to do!

I told a lady serving me in a jewellery shop yesterday - omg I love your make up - as I did. She broke into the biggest smile and said thank you so much. It was so beautiful, it must’ve taken her ages! Her eyes were a myriad of rainbow colours - it was stunning.

I compliment men and women on their nails and if someone has their hair dyed rainbow colours I’ll compliment that too

I must be honest, with dresses I tend to stick to people I know as until recent years I was very plus size so avoided anything that drew attention to that. Been an average size for three years but that insecurity still lives in my head and may always do

I give compliments all the time.
And it’s lovely to receive a compliment. Someone told me once that I “always looked so put-together.”
That really made my day.

I live in a very friendly northern city. I always give strangers compliments and visa versa. It’s quite common here. It never seems always. Usually brightness everyone’s day

A lady complemented me on a dress I was wearing on holiday last year, actually made my day

Absolutely do it! I try to do it even if I feel anxious or worried, but 9 times out of 10 it's very much appreciated and people love it.

I complimented a gorgeous lady on the school run a while back as I went past on my bike, she was wearing a top where the back was just like small straps, I said "you look so good girl! If I wore that I'd look like a joint of ham strung up!" 🤣 Made me laugh if nothing else!

I've had someone compliment me a few times and whilst I don't believe them, it's so lovely just for someone to take the time out to mention it. We should all be a bit more like that! 😁

I want to but I always get the timing wrong so I end up going “I like your tights!!” or “That’s a nice dress!!!” either as they’re walking away or at a random point in the conversation. Or when someone’s making me a coffee and I suddenly go “Your hair is AMAZING!!” as they’re trying to make it.

I do it all the time

Oh I definitely do it, a lot! I love doing it and I’ve never been shut down by someone that can’t take a compliment. If I did encounter à squashing type response I’d not let it stop me, we can’t let the few spoil it for the majority!

I do it. I figure if a woman cares enough about her appearance to take time and trouble with it she’ll be up for it to be recognised. I’ve never been wrong yet and I love it when a stranger compliments me.