One day, while sitting in queue minding my own business, a flash of bright yellow caught my eye and made me look up from the book I was reading. There, not 2 feet away from me was someone wearing the prettiest, brightest yellow satchel I’d ever seen in a sombre working environment and for some reason, it made me smile.
In a sea of black and grey bags (mine included), a bright yellow leather one was like a breath of sunshine in a stuffy room. It made sitting in a neverending queue just that little bit more bearable. It tugged at my wallet reminding me not so gently that hey, I don’t have a bag in a colour that bright or that cheery. (I have to remedy it!)
At the same time, I wanted to tell the lady that I liked her bag, it looked absolutely gorgeous and that she had excellent taste. But I didn’t and I sort of regretted it. Have you complimented a stranger on their bag or accessories before?
I haven’t gone up to a stranger to tell them that their bag looks lovely, or that their accessories caught my eye. I would usually admire from afar but that’s about that. Sometimes, if its just someone walking past, I could hardly reach out, grab them by their arm and say “Hey, nice bag!”
Although, if I come to think of it, why shouldn’t I? Granted, they could turn out to have a black belt in taekwondo and throw me over their shoulder thinking I was trying to rob or pickpocket them, but on the other hand, it might just make a stranger’s day, knowing that someone noticed their bag 🙂
Have you ever complimented a stranger on their bag or accessories? Have you been complimented by a stranger?
While I haven’t done so, I will the next time. The next time I see a stranger with a bag that makes me smile and fills my dreary day with sunlight and brightness, I will stop them and tell them that I love their choice and taste. I haven’t been at the receiving end, but who’s to say it won’t spark a chain reaction? 🙂 So, lady with the lovely yellow satchel, if you are reading this and noticed someone eyeing your bag covetously, rest assured that it was purely in lust and admiration at your excellent choice and some day, I’ll tell you that! 😉 Now please excuse me while I go drool over a bright yellow satchel and check my funds 😉
Paris B
I have done so before! Usually doing it locally will garner me ‘the eye’ from whoever I’m complimenting but when I do so abroad people are usually friendlier and even let me in on where they bought their accessories! I’m thick-skinned that way :p
Haha I think we’re a naturally suspicious lot 😉 I will try giving a compliment or two and see how it goes down here. I suspect half the time its just that unexpected surprised thrill that someone actually noticed what they were wearing/using. I know that’s how I’d feel 😀
I haven’t done that in Malaysia, I think, but have done it many times here in Australia. I didn’t think of doing so (didn’t know it’s “allowed”) until a stranger complimented me on what I was wearing once. Felt really good 🙂 Slowly I started to compliment other strangers too, on their hair, and clothes, bags and shoes (I compliment shoes quite often :-P). It’s nice to know other people appreciate pretty things too 🙂
What goes around comes around, right? 😀 I think I’m going to start doing it and see how people react. It’ll be an interesting social experiment 😉
I very often think ‘omg she has amazing bag’ but I never said anything. Im very shy person and I always think I might bother them or they will think I want to steal it/distract them. Personally I caught many ladies staring at my bags but these werent ‘oh so pretty, you r so lucky’ kind of stares, these are ‘who does she think she is’.
Even when looking at someones else bag I try to do it discreetly even if it was alligator Birkin with diamonds… Sigh… Such a beauty!
I do exactly what you do, Catherine. Admire from afar as I don’t normally go up to strangers. Must be all that drilling from young about not talking to strangers LOL! 😀 Also, I know what you mean about people thinking we want to steal/distract them because its such a common tactic isn’t it? I might do it in a social setting but not e.g. on a train or walking along the road where it would look more suspicious.
I have not done so, but I had a few encounters, one of them was – a bunch of girls approached me in Orchard (Singapore) asking me where did I get my nice shoes from?
The feeling was not bad. Maybe I should try doing this…
I’m sure it feels lovely to know that others noticed the pretty things you were wearing! Now its time to pass it on and make someone else happy 😀
Oh yes! have done so in the past and still would do so whenever my eye catches something really wonderful be it on bags, shoes , accessories or the make up they wear , and most of the time people are somewhat elated by the compliments , but except for one instance when i was sitting beside a guy who was smelling so heavenly , and i was like sniffing him discreetly. How i wish i have the guts to ask him what perfume he was wearing that time.
Haha! Thanks for sharing your experience! I know what you mean about perfumes. Sometimes, its what strikes me first and its always a little awkward asking a stranger what perfume they’re wearing, as opposed to an accessory. I’ve only asked a stranger once what blush she was wearing and she seemed quite happy about it 😀
“…Now please excuse me while I go drool over a bright yellow satchel and check my funds” Oh, you made me smile, girl! 🙂
I do think it is a good idea to freely tell anybody what you think about their bags, shoes or clothes. It will certainly flatter the other person and you will also feel good about yourself for.. well, telling what you feel and making the other person special.
Stay beautiful everyone! 😉
That’s how I feel too, so I will be doling out the compliments next time 🙂
I always do! I think it makes the other person feel good and it’s always nice to be appreciated, we don’t do it enough in our society!
You, Sam are absolutely correct! A change starts with us yes? Maybe it’ll make our world a better place if everyone says something nice about another 🙂
I’m super kepohchi and would always compliment strangers especially wait staff. They really do thankless jobs and I try to find something genuinely nice about them to compliment them. I know if I was in their shoes, it would definitely make my day 🙂
You know, you’re right. I don’t think I’d be complimenting any of the waiters at the local mamak or hawker stall soon, but I’d definitely bear it in mind to try to make their day 😉
This post is so funny because I always receive tons of compliments when I use my neon green satchel, I’ve even been stopped more than once to have my picture taken 😀
I like complimenting strangers about their accessories if I like them, nobody really expects it and I think that, in most cases, they’re going to be happy about it.
Woohoo, S you are a superstar! Or maybe your satchel is hehe… I love the idea of a neon green satchel. Maybe I should look for one too!
Definitely my satchel hahahaha
Hi Paris! In the middle of a cold wave (which we are going through another one now, its freezing) some young ladies have stopped me and complimented me on my UGGS boots.. now they’re not exactly the most elegant boots in the world, so I didn’t know if it was a compliment or ironic! When I do wear gorgeous shoes, when I walk along the street I do notice lots of women eyeing them 🙂 Later when you do stop a stranger to compliment them, please tell us!
Hi Sofia! I bet they were jealous that your feet were lovely and warm! 😀 I’ve always had an irrational want for ugg boots. I know, I must be mad in our weather. Doesn’t stop me wanting though heh. I will most certainly try to compliment someone the next time and maybe I’ll blog about it then too!
Psst Paris! Bright colored satchels! Seller’s based in Singapore if I’m not mistaken.
http://www.foppishinc.com/cambridge-satchel.html
A friend ordered one (leather version, not PU) from the site above in oxblood and it is simply gorgeous! Looks like yours but with a handle on top, and I can’t get my hands off it whenever I see said friend hehe. They have traditional buckles though…but I know that you love them! Seems sturdy as well? Am currently lusting over the classic brown one!
Hi Yee, thanks for the link! Gosh! They really do look like the Cambridge Satchel bags! :O nice to know that they’re pretty affordable too 🙂
I sent them an email earlier this week…they said preorders are temporarily on hold due to factories closing for CNY and should resume in early March. And I asked if they were sourced from China. She said their designs are stocked from all over but some designs do come from China.
Here’s what it looks like from the side if anyone’s interested 🙂
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1250/photo3lj.jpg
I had before. And I have also got compliments from random strangers many times before, on all things from T-shirt, to bag, to just overall look.
But honestly, I think it’s really awkward. I appreciate, I really do, haha, who doesn’t like hearing good things. But I realise the people approach will give me the shocked look. And I also tend to give people the shocked look when approach from nowhere.
So I have held back my compliments many times, just to avoid shocking someone. haha, yeah, maybe next time, I should pluck up the courage again!
Haha I think most of us would be shocked too. It’s just society these days. We don’t talk much anymore. Even standing in queue, we’d rather play with our phones so a compliment out of nowhere can be a bit unnerving. But of genuine, does make you happy right? Maybe do as some others have suggested and compliment them if they are sitting next to you but not grab them on the street and tell them they have nice shoes. They may think you’re out to get them! Lol
Hi Paris ^^ I’ve done it before but maybe just 2 or 3 times. Sometimes I really like what they are wearing but don’t have that much guts to compliment them thinking they might feel I have a motive or something. I’ve received a few compliments before on my perfume. I’ve noticed that all those compliments (from ladies) were made whenever I’m wearing Burberry perfume. I own a few from Burberry & some others (guilty as charged :p) because I love Burberry on me. At that moment, I felt good~ Thanks to those who complimented me 🙂
I know what you mean, Rin! If someone were to compliment me, I’d wonder what their motive was too! Guess were so jaded these days lol! Which Burberry scent do you get complimented on most? I used to like Burberry Brit 🙂
The most~ Burberry Brit 🙂
A few years ago, a girl complimented me on my (what I thought were) very cool shoes. Totally rocked my day. Still makes me smile. So I’ve decided to just tell strangers I love their stuff and it makes (most of) them happy 😀 And if they seem friendly you can ask them where they got their stuff too hehee!
Actually I just complimented a lady I didn’t know on the train yesterday – I told her I loved her dress and her hair! I also asked her where she got her dress from and she told me. So now I have a new place to shop 😀 (I’m from “next door” SG btw ^_^)
A lot of women do enjoy receiving compliments from other women so don’t be shy!
Hi neighbor! 😉 that’s such a nice story! A compliment can totally make our day can’t it? I’m going to pay someone a compliment the next time I see them wear something I like. As you said, I might even learn of a new shopping place! 😀
I have done it before. Lol. Usually while waiting for my turn at the fitting room where the mirror is strategically placed outside the room. Sometimes some people try on their clothes and walk out to take a peek. Other times would be shoes stores where some ladies looked stunning with heels too high for my own good. Once I was at Clarks trying on a pair of heels. Coincidentally another lady was also waiting to try for her pair similar to mine. She complimented me. It does bright up one’s shopping outing since I’m a lone shopper. Of course sometimes you get shy or awkward stare for complimenting. But compliments and good thought are always free of charge. Lol.
Aww you’re so sweet (and brave) to compliment others! I like shopping alone too. I get more done than if I were shopping with someone else 🙂 and you’re right, a good word is free. We shouldn’t be so stingy! 😉
unless, unless, unless the person is ‘next’ to me else it’s unlikely i will walk up to compliment. I had before a lady who walked up to me to compliment my top i was wearing and it sort of gave me an initial shock but i appreciated her compliments later. Another time i was standing next to a stranger for a while and she complimented on my bag and i found it less “threatening” and was happy to share with her where i got it etc…
I think you’re right. If someone came up to me on purpose to tell me they liked my dress, I’d be very wary and think they were out to scam me for something. If its someone in the queue or sitting next to me, I would be less apprehensive but probably just as worried it was a scam! Lol
There have been many times where I have seen strangers with lovely bags, clothes, accessories, perfume, etc and have not had the guts to compliment them for fear of sounding offensive or just plain kepoh. I guess its an Asian thing to be reserve on this matter? Maybe the next time I am in this situation, I will try to be more daring and compliment the stranger. LOL.
I think its an Asian thing and also a societal thing. We would tend to be wary if someone were to approach us out of the blue. That said, there’s nothing wrong with taking the first step and making someone else’s day 😀
I have stalked a couple PB! lol here and abroad! With regard to complimenting, maybe once! but the reason why I can’t compliment the others is because we were either going up or down the escalator (which isn’t the right time for short talk) or the person was walking in front of me! I do give compliments if the chances are there! (what a snob!) lol! 😀
Lol!! Can you imagine shouting up or down the escalator that you like their dress? Hehe
I haven’t done that before. BUT, I think I should, with the hope that it would bring a smile to the other person’s face. =) I know I would be super duper happy if some stranger compliments my accessories.
What goes around, comes around Sze Ling so its time to take the first step! 😉
Funnily enough, I feel more comfortable doing it in the UK/ Australia compared to in Spore or Msia – I’ve given and gotten a few compliments at random over in this part of the world, but somehow it just doesn’t feel the same. Not sure why…maybe I should make it more of a habit! 😛
Maybe because over here, you just never know if they speak the same language lol! It would be awkward and I know I’d be a bit wary if a stranger suddenly spoke to me out of the blue, even if its a compliment 🙂