Yes! I do try to give sincere compliments. I know it makes my day when I receive one. I've also noticed that giving compliments have the added benefit of making me feel good. Something so simple can be so powerful, especially in today's world where face to face human contact is often limited due to technology.

Yes I do! And as others have mentioned, the older I get the more I do it. I think it's because I feel less self-conscious about myself and more comfortable with others. I also love getting complimented. One time the check-out lady at the grocery store complimented my shoes (wedge sandals with straps.) She asked me what they were, I couldn't remember, so I took them off in line so I could tell her. Then it took some time to get them back on. OK, maybe too much! At least I'm sure the others in line behind me thought so! haha

Cute story, MorethanBeige! I often will compliment the grocery store checkout girls on their manicures. I know that has to be a tough job dealing with the public and hope that it gives them a little lift.

I do compliment strangers--never on their style generally, but on specific items of clothing they are wearing. People are always really receptive, regardless of age.

I also receive compliments from strangers and it totally makes my day. I think I am good about receiving the compliments and am always willing to give information about the items of clothing.
(Sometimes I fear I give them more info than they really want: for example, they may ask where I got it and I will tell them, then also tell them the designer, how long ago I got it, and if it is out-of-season, where they might look to find it now. I can get overenthusiastic!)

I do this sometimes; other times I'd like to but I'm too shy.

I am starting to compliment more often.

I do compliment others if I see something really fab. Sometimes I have a feeling of sisterhood with women I see who are well groomed and fashionably dressed. I have wondered of others feel that too.
OTOH, I don't particularly like compliments on my outfits from people I work with regularly. I have a large wardrobe and do spend a lot of time pulling outfits together and I don't really like people to know or acknowledge how obsessed I am.

This is a fun thread to read; I'm taking mental notes for the future!

I have to psych myself up to give a compliment to a total stranger but I have and will continue to do it.

I've also gotten better at responding to style-related compliments (they rarely came in the past, so I do appreciate them now!). I find a good default is, "Thanks, it's a favorite of mine/I love it too." Unoriginal on my part, but acknowledges the person's effort.

I used to never get complements on what I was wearing, so I never gave them, since it just seemed like a weird thing to do. I tend to love it when someone complements me, though, and I started giving complements as well.

I only occasionally have the nerve to say anything to total strangers, but I've started making more comments to friends and acquaintances, with great results. At each of the last two weddings I've been to I've commented on the dresses that acquaintances were wearing, and was immediately taken into a conversation about where they got the dresses, how long ago, how much they love them, etc.

The only uncomfortable part of the whole complementing business for me is that sometimes when someone complements me, I feel like I have to say something nice about what they're wearing in return, and that often feels fake (like I didn't think to comment about it until they complemented me). I guess I should just be better about saying thanks without feeling that pressure!

If I see someone wearing something I adore and there is enough of a moment where our paths cross each other (ie, in a lift or in a supermarket queue), I love to give a short, sweet and sincere compliment to a stranger. Why not take the opportunity to give out a little bit of sunshine and possibly brighten their day, I say!

Absolutely! It's nice to give feedback where it's due. Khris, you were right to get out of there....sounds a bit creepy. One of the nicest compliments I ever recieved was from someone who distinguished me from my (very attractive) colleague by describing me as "the attractive one" .....that was years ago and it still makes me sit up and smile.

Oh, wow--I'm just circling back to this post and reading all the responses. How interesting that most of us can sometimes work up the nerve to compliment a total stranger, but become flummoxed, suspicious or embarrassed when the compliment is paid to us! I think I still harbor some youthful suspicions about compliments because I grew up in a family where the occasional compliment was usually followed by an immediate put-down. And even as an adult, I've been burned many times when giving out a compliment. Just a couple weeks ago, I complimented an imperious colleague on her shoes as we walked into a meeting. I couldn't help it--I just blurted it out because the shoes were beautiful, and I got an icy, curt and less than sincere "thank you" in response as she haughtily sailed off with her nose in the air. She didn't even look at me.

But at the end of the day, I do believe that a compliment is a gift, as Kristen put it, and as adults, we shouldn't allow past negative experiences to inhibit us. We don't snub people who give us birthday or holiday gifts, and to behave with anything less than gratitude is just plain bad manners. We SHOULD give out compliments where they are due and brighten people's days, and we should learn to humbly accept compliments in turn with a simple sincere "Thank you!" at the very least.

All the time I never met a stranger. But when I receive a compliment I always say something like thank you but i am so big or it would look better if I could walk straight etc.. A lady told me the other day to just say thank you. I did not realize that I responded like that. So I am going to try to just say thank you.

Reneeb, when I was younger, I never thought about how my self-deprecation in response to a compliment impacted the giver of that compliment. Then I read somewhere that when you respond in a self-deprecating manner, it's tantamount to rejecting the compliment giver. And that's so true. Now that I'm older, it seems so obvious, but when I was young, cynical and entirely self-focused, it never even occurred to me.

I have complimented strangers occasionally in the past, but since finding YLF I notice people's outfits more, and feel more ready to offer a compliment if I notice a great outfit or item.

I've done the self-deprecating thing on being complimented too, but am working on trying to be more gracious with a simple "thank you".