In some ways I feel like I do set myself up for some strange compliments. In other ways, people are just rude. Actually, most of it is people are just rude. Anyway, I frequently get weird compliments. Not just internet stranger weird either! It’s not that I have the most stand-out fashion or take a lot of risks, but I typically am dressed up. Even when the occasion is to dress up. My friends frequently ask me to define what I am wearing when I say “casual” because they need to know if it’s legit casual or Alissa-casual. My best friend has even pleaded with me to not dress up for brunch because she wasn’t about to put in the energy to match “casual.”
Dress: C/O Modcloth (wearing a large) / Lipstick: Exact / Shoes: Almost Exact
Photos by Madison Photography
Blogging hasn’t helped. Being overdressed is a requirement for putting your thoughts on the internet. I think it started with Carrie Bradshaw.
Anyway, enter me wearing this dress at work. Just trying to mind my own business, advancing my career one day at a time. Innocently wearing things that make me happy. Also picture that I am on a video conference call for seven hours. A very, very important video conference call. All day long I was cut into a terrible thumbnail, I now know. At the end of it, everyone goes around and the leader of the call says thank you to everyone. We hang up. I run to the bathroom because, well, video conference calls limit that, and come back. The incredibly well-meaning manager of the meeting came to me and said, “You look like a Russian mobster on the call today.”
Dress: C/O Modcloth (wearing a large) / Lipstick: Exact / Shoes: Almost Exact
I looked at him, under the influence of just seeing Atomic Blonde and said, “I’ll take a Stoli on ice, two cubes.”
However, the entire office heard that comment and decided to weigh in on what I looked like. Of course, all of them said they were said in love. Naturally. But it was then that I was told I looked like a Russian mobster, confirmed x 2. Next was a Russian nesting doll. Now that one I actually could see. I took all of these as compliments because what else are you supposed to do? Clearly everyone felt the freedom to comment on what I was wearing.
Dress: C/O Modcloth (wearing a large) / Lipstick: Exact / Shoes: Almost Exact
This whole thing got me thinking about compliments. What is the weirdest backhanded or general compliment you have gotten? And those, “You look good but would look better if you….” do not count. Those are just insults and we need to stop pretending they have any intention of meaning well. They do not. If they meant well, they would just say you look good. I’m fascinated by the freedom people feel to comment on someones attire. Oh and read this while you’re thinking about compliments.
But whatever, I embraced it. I do look a little Russian here. AND THAT IS TOTALLY FINE WITH ME! They have like all those line dances and other stuff I can’t think of but I’m sure are good. So for now, me and my Russian mobster self are going to continue to be over-dressed and take all the compliments we get.
Rachelle
I don’t let this upset me but I usually make it clear that comment about my appearance and outfits are not welcome. People are so weird and tactless, also dressing up is something i enjoy and I won’t let anyone guilt me into dressing down if I don’t want to. You look gorgeous in that dress period!
xo
Pinksole
Ute
I absolutely feel you. I also like to dress up and I often get comments on that. The gardener at our company once said, he would be waiting for me every morning because he ‘d like to see, which beautiful dress I would wear. Another colleague said, I would often look like a flower bouquet. And many of my female colleagues are wonderung whether I also own a pair of jeans (I do but never wear them to the office…). I rather dress up than be a mousy person. And I love xour stunning dress :-)!
Closet Fashionista
Haha, oh people at the office! I know I’ve had some doozies but I can’t really remember them. My brother told me I looked like an old lady once but that’s just an insult :p
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/
Brooke
I’ve never understood when people comment on what other people are wearing. Unless it’s a positive thing, there just isn’t really a need. The person obviously liked what they put on! I love the dress personally and totally appreciate when people get “dressed up”.
Brooke
pumps and push-ups
Karly
If being overdressed is a blogging requirement then I definitely should get out of this world – ha! I had a hairdresser once tell me that I looked like Taylor Swift with softer features … so I’m a plus size version? People baffle me and make me laugh all the same.
Rachel
Love this dress! I just bought a couple of shirts from Modcloth myself!
jessica
I’ve never gotten anything other than wow you are way shorter in person!! (cue eye roll) you look fabulous and my compliment would always be looking fabulous lady!!
xo, Jessica || The Petite Diaries
Valery
Oh man, as someone with a weird sense of style I get backhanded compliments all the tiiiiiime. It’s super awkward. Depending on the nature of the comment, sometimes I say something snarky back which probably isn’t the best method but also I think sometimes people need to learn.
Beautygirl24
People always comment on my nationality. You don’t even look Mexican they say! To which I think, what the fuck does that mean???
Laura
That is a strange compliment! Currently 9 months pregnant I get odd compliments all the time like, “That belly is really growing!” and “You aren’t even that swollen. ” Oh well. What can you do?
Jeanne
Everyone definitely defines “casual” differently and it’s always fun thinking about if your girlfriends actually mean casual dress down or casual dress up. Lol. And also so hard to tell if compliments are genuine.
http://www.jeannieinabottleblog.com
GG
I don’t get complements that often but when I do they’re the nice kind like, “I like your necklace”, “That lipstick looks really nice on you” etc. But once there was this one woman, maybe in her 60’s, kind of a hippy flower child type, who told me “Your face should be painted in ivory”. I have no idea what that means. She said my sister was beautiful and then she told me my face should be painted in ivory. I thanked her, assuming it was a complement and moved on. Not as cool as a Russian nesting doll but still interesting. 😉
Alissa
OMG! Hah, that is pretty precious though!
Girl & Closet
Ugh. Not sure why people feel it’s okay to make comments on other peoples appearances/or clothes. I definitely find it in poor taste. But in any case, keep dressing up and enjoy being you. Your outfit is fabulous and I LOVE those shoes too!! xo
Angela
haha oh man, some people say the strangest things! I really love this dress on you!!
xo,
Angela
Priya
Omgggg! I get the harshest feedback from my sisters (always! Maybe this happens to you too?) but they say it’s because they want the best for me! Ha. This dress is so interesting and unique- you look beautiful! And I hate video conference calls.
Priya the Blog
Alissa
I get the harshest feedback from my mom but not so much my sisters because they leave it up to her LOL
Courtney
A woman came up to me at work one day and said “my mother had meaty calves like yours” and then just…walked away. I had no idea who she was since she worked in a completely different department from mine. The weirdest part was that she was carrying a trashy paperback romance novel into the bathroom with her. I was way more confused then offended haha
Lyddiegal
I think we’ve all received a host of weird comments over the years. Most said by people who probably mean well enough, but just don’t know how to articulate themselves.
And dressing up is just one of those things. In society, you used to always dress up. it was expected that when you went into the world, you were supposed to look nice. Then over the years something changed and now we’ve arrived at athlesure. AKA I don’t have to try anymore.
Never let your friends talk you out of dressing up. If they feel uncomfortable being casual, how is that your problem? Frankly, it would be better if they took a cue from you!
(and by all means, I accept that sometimes we all need athlesure days, but that shouldn’t be the baseline.)
http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com/