There’s a battle brewing in the Fashionista office – is it normal, as in do you, receive compliments differently based on who’s dished them?
For example, if it’s Fashion Week and I’m surrounded by ridiculously well-dressed editors and buyers and one of them takes a moment to acknowledge something I’m wearing, it means a lot.
But someone else in our office was recently regaled with a shower of compliments in regard to his style by someone who makes Mary-Kate circa 2004 look polished. While he wanted to mean his “Thank you” with all his heart, he couldn’t help but take a second, rather confused look at his J.Crew meets Trovata outfit.
So, is a compliment a compliment no matter what? Or does its relevance change based on who’s doing the complimenting?
And before you jump to say this is ridiculous or snobby, think about something particular to you (if you don’t work in fashion). If you’re a writer, you’d take comments from your favorite author or journalist to heart more than one from the guy you’re dating who can’t take the time to spell out “your” over g-chat; If you’re an artist, you’re going to pay a lot more attention to what a curator or gallery owner says than your little sister, right?
And if someone whom you don’t necessarily want to love your style does, will you actually go so far as to change it?
Tags: Fashion Week, J. Crew, Mary Kate Olsen, Trovata
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I have always said that!-Compliments about being well dressed mean more coming from another put togerther person! Like wise I roll my eyes when ppl don’t get my style, like I care what they think,when they couldn’t they have no concept of fashion.
a compliment is a compliment give me a break it is snobbish
What the people who are defending this post aren’t getting is that the post didn’t simply state that a compliment from a more important person is more meaningful, but that they feel practically OFFENDED when the person complimenting them is not up to their standards, which is completely retarded and ridiculous. God forbid a commoner from Ohio “gets” your oh-so complicated and sophisticated style that you spent hours on and only want other pretentious assholes to appreciate.
In my world, a compliment is a compliment regardless of who it’s coming from. Of course if someone with excellent style compliments me, I beam. But if someone with style different than mine, compliments me, I also beam. . . because that is what’s so awesome about fashion. . . it inspires!
I look at it this way. I have always had an eye for fashion but in high school, on my babysitting dollar and the money my parents rarely threw into my wardrobe. . .I usually looked a hot mess. (Let’s face it. . . sometimes you can only do so much with Old Navy, TJ Maxx and the UO sales rack). But that didn’t mean I loved fashion any less. . . it just meant I still needed to find my own style, own it (and make the cash to buy the things that are amazing). Now I buy what I like, I love my style and if someone who’s younger than me, or doesn’t have the same style as me, compliments me, I take it as the ultimate compliment. I wanted to grow up and be the girl I am now, but I had much inspiration on the way. Maybe I’ll inspire someone else in the same way :)
One of my newyears resolutions was to compliment people’s outfits more because I would be honored to get a compliment from myself. Haha.
I totally agree that this is a valid topic. But i think natalie and Britt are totally pathetic for replying to #15, at least in the manner that they did.
I think it totally depends on how fragile the compliment receiver’s ego is.
Umm- I definitely thinks the compliment has a LOT more weight when someone that actually has taste says it. ie- I’m surrounded by polyester pants and tennis shoes at work. When I receive a compliment, I take it in stride. Just because I actually take a second to assess myself, doesn’t mean that I’m perpetually ‘wowing’ everyone. But if KATE said something to me, I’d die- then I’d tell everyone I know.
definitely, compliments’ truth/importance depend on the complimenter. im in high school, n like the only person into fashion at an all-girl school, so i get complimented on everything i wear everyday of my life. its not like i dont know that my stuff is cool, its called self-awareness. so no, none of my classmates compliment matter to me. ik i look great.
fashion and taste are totally related. chances are, if you have good taste, you’ll dress well, even if you dont keep up with the”trends”, in and out or whatever, you’ll have style.
this is almost as bad as reading the comments on youtube.com
Britt and Natalie: You’re supposed to be at least SORT OF professionals. Why on Earth would you respond to #15 in such a catty way?
I don’t think there is anything snobby about appreciating compliments more from certain people than others.
If you wrote a novel and one of your favorite authors complimented you on it, you’d be estatic.
If an artist that you respect told you they liked your work, you would have a huge burst of confidence.
There’s nothing wrong with getting more excited about a compliment from someone you respect( whether it be style-wise, or anything else), than someone random.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t graciously accept the compliment, but, really, you can’t help the way you feel!
I love all compliments, but sure, some mean more than others.
keep making posts like these Fashionista, honestly- the comments are hilarous to read!
Getting a compliment from anyone is always nice but I agree that if it comes from a woman (a compliment from certain men is just creepy) whose style I find to be very fashionable, it means a lot more to me. Hope you don’t mind but I added a link to your fantastic blog on my blog! Your blog is very inspiring!
LOL @ comment # 60… yes, yes it is. :P
I believe some people seem to have forgotten to read the last two paragraphs of this entry… she specifically said “before you jump to say this is ridiculously or snobby.” Writer – you need to put the disclaimer in the FIRST paragraph. They jump fast!
Anyhow, yes, complements from different people impress all of us differently, and that is normal; but being aware of it, and double-checking our motives in response to these things, is always a good idea. Not one everyone here should be so quick to self-righteously attack.
There are legit reasons to value a complement of a certain sort above another in any particular area where expertise can be roughly “ranked” – whether it be a field of academia, a style of writing (say, sonnets) or, in some ways, creative expression.
A complement on a research paper from a professor/academic expert makes me feel accomplished; one from my amused little brother may worry me. On the other hand, a comment on my personal character from my brother may mean more than that from the professor.
I think this is the point here…