Shannon, I have to add that from what I've seen of your wardrobe, you are certainly not outlandish in your choices for work and I didn't mean to imply that your style is inappropriate in any way. And it IS good to be noticed; it's not good for our careers to blend in to the woodwork.

After a career spend in front of people who are constantly making comments about my appearance and what I wear, I regard these comments as just observations, nothing more.

Trying to interpret underlying messages just leads to my feeling self-conscious about my choices and suspicious of others' intentions. And feeling suspicious and self-conscious is a deadly cocktail that makes me want to retaliate by throwing a negative evaluation back along the lines of "well, look at how you've chosen to dress" and spend my time ascribing motives and intentions to others that may or, more likely may not, be accurate.

We all make observations about what others are wearing all the time. And, mostly, our intention is neither to hurt nor to compliment; we are just verbalizing our observations about how we are alike, or different, in our choices. And, even if the commenter is trying to bolster herself by a negative evaluation of my outfit, the comment usually has more to do with her need to validate her choices by putting down mine. Random criticisms and compliments usually say more about the person making the comment than the target.

You can't have a career that puts you in the spotlight everyday without developing a bit of a thick skin. If my husband, my friends, and my mirror tells me I look good, that is enough for me..

Love what Rachylou said. What a brilliant observation. How little difference it takes to make some people uncomfortable -- like pattern on our shoes instead of our blouse. Fascinating.

I agree it was a compliment and you shine among the rest... If it wasn't and "different" is the worse thing someone says about you, it still doesn't matter because from your own perspective that is a good thing!!!!!

Susie expressed my reaction better than I could have, and then I was floored by Vicki's observation of what seems pretty blatant: your boss is picking out clothes for you subconsciously during her lunch shopping! What a hoot! You've obviously made an impression, and I'd say it's a positive one.
What a fascinating discussion here. If I were in your position, I think I would try very hard (and it would be hard for me, as I will admit I'm pretty thin-skinned when it comes to comments from my boss and coworkers) to interpret the comments as observations and expression of some envy with a good measure of admiration. It's like, "Oh, Shannon, she's the creative one." Not a bad thing at all.

You've gotten a lot of good advice here, Shannon. "Different" sounds more like a compliment than anything, so I wouldn't worry overly much.

I think sometimes people lack the vocabulary to describe fashion/style...so *different* serves as a catch-all description for anything outstanding or fashion forward.

If it makes you feel any better my mother uses the word "funky" to describe my style, even though there is very little funk going on! I think it's just her way to say fashion forward....or different.

I definitely think it's a compliment, and since I know your workplace a little bit, I definitely think it's a compliment! HAHAHA. I also think that there people all dress alike, including the residents. They all have the same kind of top. The same lack of pants (tights are not pants) and the same Lululemon hoodie.

People always tell me I dress "different" - I say it's part of psychiatry. They think I mean that we're crazy. No, it's because we dress well. :p

Also! This means people are paying attention to what you wear!

I'd take it as a compliment. I don't want to look like everyone else!

Claire - yes, you're right. I do want to be different. I didn't used to - I used to want to look like everyone else. That way you don't get noticed. But something happened when I got a bit older and gained confidence through YLF and now I prefer to be different.

Susie - oh goodness no...no implication made

Rachy/Suz - I too find the comment about how little a difference something can be and still made people comfortable totally interesting. In fact I have the perfect example - the first time I came to work and my handbag didn't match my outfit or my shoes, I actually received a comment about that. Who even notices something that small but it was out of the norm for my office and was clearly bothering some people.

Nancy - excellent point. I didn't think about the simple limitations of language. And FWIW, I love the word "funky"!

lyn - you do indeed know what folks in this building dress like and describe the current fashion to a tee - lol! We do have one female attending who dresses very similar to you and I always smile when I see her. Hey...I wonder if we saw each other? Hmmm....probably in the Brodie Tim's line...

Thanks for the fascinating discussion. It is indeed amazing how one word can be both expressed and interpreted in two completely different ways.

Great discussion nothing much to add except vive la différence.

I would take it as a compliment and assume they meant "different" as a synonym for "stylish." "That wouldn't happen to Shannon because she dresses so stylishly." "I knew you would like it because it's so stylish."

OR, perhaps, like me, your outfits have improved dramatically. "Shannon's outfits were 'just OK' a few years ago, today her outfits are so different" - translation - "She found YLF and now puts together fabulous outfits that everyone wants to copy!"

So interesting. I am thinking firmly different is good just often people lack the vocabulary to be precise esp. in an area they dont often discuss. I think i wanted to fit in in my dressing for many years... funny how that changes

I think it was a compliment and in my book different is good!

Don't think I have much to add to the very wise and interesting comments here. I think the overall context makes it sound more like a compliment than a simple observation - as mentioned above if she is noticing clothes for you while shopping I would take that as a bit of wistful envy.

And Rachylou's comment about the difference between the pattern on a shirt and a shoe is profound!

What Firecracker said pretty much sums up what I believe is going on. In my office of a dozen, more than half the women wear a uniform of black synthetic pants with an elastic waistband, and a patterned synthetic top that is usually a tone on tone thing. Some days 3 or 4 will have the same colour ( teal, or purple, or wine). Might as well wear a uniform! Ugh!

Reminds me of this Zumba tee shirt.

Love it Ali!