Style Compliments : Update Please - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Style Compliments : Update Please

LACeleste

Veteran

Hi,
All this talk about invisibility and ogling has made me think about compliments. After giving presents, one of my favorite thing is to give compliments. I am enthusiastic, genuine, and specific and hope I don't scare anyone with my compliment giving intensity!

That being said, I love getting them too. I don't get many. (boo hoo) Little kids are great compliment givers but then they grow up and become fashion critics.

We all know the inside is what counts. That being said, what is the best thing someone said about your style? It could come from a friend, a stranger, a forum member, etc. Women are notoriously reticent about saying good things about themselves. We consider it bad manners to toot our own horn. It will be a pity if no one besides the fearless Rachylou replies.

I know this thread topic has been done before by Aziraphale and other Veterans. Thank you.

I will start by giving all of you a compliment. A fellow Mom at school was always pitching her personal stylist services to me. I live in LA after all. I found this blog and when I saw her after the summer she stammered incredulously "I don't know what happened to you...You are looking really cute lately.....I don't think you need me." Toot toot!

Not really.

I gave Angie and YLF the credit.

Thank you!!!

General

35 replies

Latest reply was from

rachylou

Veteran

Lol. That's funny, Celeste.

I suppose the thing that I like best that people say to me is that I've "got style."

Lol. Of course, I realise, this is a nice, fond way of saying I'm weird.

Jewell

Veteran

I've had a few coworkers say they look to me for inspiration, which had the effect of making me feel great but also making me aware that people were paying more attention to how I looked than I realized...oh the pressure. But the best compliment ever came from DH when (after years of my unsolicited fashion advice) he said he liked the looks I was putting together for myself so much that he wanted me to help him shop and put some things together for him.

FlorenceFearne

A friend told me I looked like Morticia today. Not the first time I've heard it from someone, but it's my favorite compliment by far.

LACeleste

Veteran

Morticia is amazing. Carolyn Jones was one of the great beauties and combined with that Morticia style, really gorgeous!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I get a surprising number of compliments when I wear hats (every day in the sun) from both men and women. The men never feel compelled to add "I can't wear hats" like the women do. I say thank you and yes you can!

MsMary

Veteran

I wore my new leopard print ankle-strap pumps to a luncheon last week and one of the ladies at my table said they were "drop dead gorgeous" and insisted that all the other ladies ooh and aah over them, too! That was fun!

One of my favorite compliments ever was when somebody in the elevator said I looked like I had fun with fashion!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

These responses (and your story, LaCeleste) are all making me smile. I am going to have to give this one some thought. I think the approbation of this group is about the nicest compliment I have had...apart from Mr. Suz's smile -- oh - and my daughter's all in good fun teasing. "My fashion-obsessed mom," she says.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Actually my biggest most recent compliment was when Jenava asked me to help generate outfits from her existing clothes. And then she posted a few of the results, and the onset of positive feedback was amazing.
Last week I was on the bus, there was a woman with a really cool hat. I made the effort to take out my earbuds and compliment on her on the hat. I hope I made her day a bit brighter.
As far as my own style, one of shoe people at Barneys wanted to know my blog.

AJ

Veteran

On occasion, when we go out to eat, we've been approached by grandparent types who tell us how wonderfully behaved our kids are. Well one day while we were eating out, an older woman approached our table and while looking at me said, "I just had to come over and tell you how gorgeous you are. I noticed your hat and from the other side of the room, I thought you were a painting until you moved!" She was so sweet and I thanked her. I could feel my face flush hot red. I felt sorry for the kids as I thought the compliment was going to be for them, LOL!

Of course my best style compliments come from all the lovely YLF members!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Whether that would come with the age or not I don't know, but YLF had taught me to accept the compliments graciously, acknowledge them by saying Thank you and truly enjoy them.

YLF had also taught me the power of the compliment one woman gives to another woman. I love complimenting women, known and unknown. It's like spreading the magic. I also like to be specific, so the person knows I am saying something to her and about her style (or attitude), rather than sounding too general and like it's a phrase I could say to anyone.

The best compliment for me? Apart from the Christmas team event at the old workplace when I got the little trophee at the best dressed one (my first year of posting WIWs, coincidence or not?), it's when my husband gives me compliments. He has a very discerning eye and for me his taste is impeccable. He knows what he likes, it's quite instinctive for him and he can't explain why he likes some things, which is unusual for a very analytical person he is. "I just like it, it looks good to me", so when he likes what I wear it's happiness factor x 2 for me.

And it's always so cute when my son tells me "That's so pretty mum".

LACeleste

Veteran

I love reading your responses! Thank you!

Greyscale

Veteran

When I go shopping these days at the sort of chic upscale places that used to scare me to death, it's pretty common for a salesperson to ask where I got something I'm wearing. I spent so much of my life feeling totally awkward about clothing that I still can't believe that I'm at a point where I can walk into such stores, let alone be complimented. It makes my day every time.

(But usually the answer is "consignment store" though I usually answer with the designer name, not "thrift store"! And my budget and lifestyle mean I'm not really planning to buy things at the upscale store. At least I fit in even if I'm just there for inspiration.)

I love giving sincere compliments. I try to do it as much as I can. I've also worked at being better at receiving compliments.

E

Veteran

I enjoy complimenting strangers too (assuming they seem open to it), and I've never been scared off by a stranger complimenting me (and I just reply thank you). That said, I think my few days of YLF participation have seen the nicest style compliments I've ever received: everyone is so sweet and enthusiastic and loves clothes as much as I do! lol

The last time I was checking out at my regular thrift store the clerk (who's often there and always chatty so we always spend a couple of minutes talking) told me that I have an excellent eye and that she looks forward to ringing me up so she can see what I've found. That made me smile.

lyn67

Veteran

One of my latest complimet came from a teenager:-). DD had some friends coming over to us for her 16th Birthday Party. After we (DH and me) left the house for some other business we had that evening one of the girls complimented her about having a beautiful mom...I was wearing some black trousers and a nice sweater but nothing different-so I was really surprised. But, OMG! It felt soo good seeing proudness in DD's look, when she told me!

cciele

Veteran

I also enjoy giving out compliments to random people! And chocolate. Although I always worry that they'll think I'm trying to poison them or something.

Anyhow, for me what gets the most compliments are my shoes! I often have strangers running after me, asking about my shoes. Good to know that I have a well-curated shoe collection -- even after slowly shedding my heels

Peri

Veteran

I don't get many...sad now! When I do it is usually about jewelry...a compliment on the item, not me. Still sad.

But I did get one compliment a few years ago that stuck with me...someone said I reminded her of a cameo. I was dressed for a dance show, so maybe it was that, but I liked it because it was about me, not my dress. Now when I feel pale I think, no...I look like a cameo.

Laurie

Veteran

Great thread. I was reading it this morning on the train to NYC and loving the responses. As I was checking into the hotel, one of the clerks who was helping someone else said, "I love your coat! Love that!" and on she went about my BR striped trench. (I have only worn this coat twice, both times to NYC, funny....)

She talked about how perfect the width of the stripes were, how she liked it with the dress I'm wearing. At least 3 times she said, "I just really like that coat", shaking her head.

One of the very best things about YLF has been learning to give and take compliments.

Kim

Veteran

My best compliment came from my sister and one of our best friends. (30+ years of friendship). They were always much better dressed and more tuned into fashion than me and until about 5 years ago, after a 40lb weight loss I couldn't have cared less about fashion.

They said "We thought when we got to our 50's that we could cool it a little with the fashion stuff, and maybe coast a little more now than we used to, but NOOOOOO. Now when we get together the question is always, " I wonder what Kim will be wearing? Better put together a nice outfit before she gets here! " LOL

And one other time I was in a Target in the U.S and a little girl (about 7) pointed to me in the aisle and whispered to her mommy "She looks nice."

Best. compliment. ever.

LACeleste

Veteran

I love these compliment stories! So great! Compliments to and from strangers are wonderful. Risk/reward comes in to play here. Sometimes you have to take risks!

I would be thrilled to be told I resembled a cameo. I have pale skin too and being called "milkface" when young took its toll.

I just remembered a long forgotten compliment. I was walking in NYC in a black maxi dress (go easy--it was the 90s) with my hair pulled back severely in a bun. A man came up to me and said "I just have to tell you. You look so puritanically alluring." haha

bj1111

Veteran

Our organization runs many workshops for early career people to interest them in staying in STEM research. One of the students whispered to her table, "i would do research too if i could wear shoes like those to work."

Retold to me by my student.

Gracie

Veteran

Several friends have told me, "Oh, I Have To go shopping with you, you always know what is current and flattering!" I do notice people checking out my outfits, say, while grocery shopping – if it's men, it's ok, if it's women I consider it really good, specially if they smile back at me, because I think they relate to me and not feel that I'm "competing" with them. I enjoy complimenting strangers all the time.

It makes my heart sink when I give a woman a compliment on something that is flattering, like, "the color of that top really brings out your eyes" and they immediately say "oh, this? I got it for $2 at Ross" or "It was on clearance." I've never understood why they feel compeled to mention prices or deals. It's happened many times with friends and strangers.

Anonymous

My two bosses, both of whom are significantly older than me, often say I "know how to dress" and wish the other people in my age bracket would emulate my style. Honestly, I don't know if it's a style thing as much as I know how to present myself and several of my peers dress sloppily (IMO) even though they're technically meeting the dress code. Still, it makes my day. I've always been so awkward with clothing/style/beauty that it cracks me up that anyone would look to me as an example!

shedev

Veteran

My favorite compliment was when someone on the forum said I was dressed for their fantasy life.

LACeleste

Veteran

That is an awesome compliment shedev! It's a lot of fun to think we may be inspiring others without even knowing it. You have ALL influenced me in positive ways and I am very grateful!

Windchime

Veteran

Fun thread!

I've received a lot of compliments lately, since following the wonderful advice I find in YLF. Here's a rundown of this past week:

Sunday-- an elegant older woman whose style I admire said, "it's great watching your new style emerge. You are bringing good energy to it and it's working well for you."

Tuesday-- my (older, male) boss said about a sweater, " you look warm and cozy and fashionable."

Thursday--a friend told me my new jeans are cool and make my (bum) look fantastic.

See what I mean?

LACeleste

Veteran

Thanks Windchime! Awesome response. So glad it wasn't your boss who commented about your fantastic bum! I was nervous for a second! Great going on your new style!

eds

A funny one I got a couple of years ago...I usually go straight home from the gym as I am NOT comfortable tootling around town in my spandex. I needed to stop at Walmart one day and made a very quick stop. On the way out a man stopped me, about my age, and said, "You rock those pants like the young girls can't!". Now I was probably 55 at the time and, while I do exercise, don't have any kind of perfect body! I still chuckle about that and wonder if, in fact, it was a compliment...

LACeleste

Veteran

Take the compliment eds! Such a great one!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is such a great thread -- I am really enjoying all the responses.

Love that "puritanically alluring," LaC!!

12