Beautiful Woman

When I see people of any age who are unusually striking I almost always tell them so. Some people are so beautiful you just want to stare at them for a while. No, I don't think it would be weird.

I would've complimented her! How great that you noticed!!! That would make my day if someone I didn't know complimented me on the way i looked!!

How great!!!

I wouldn't comment on anyone 'being' beautiful any more than I would comment on anyone 'being' ugly. In neither case did that person have control over his/her genetic gifts. It might be a little different if you were to say something like,"That color is so becoming on you," or "I love what you've done with your hair." At least those are things that person might have some control over reproducing in the future.

But even that isn't appropriate in all circumstances; it could be awkward or embarrassing for the receiver. And I know a number of older women who once had beauty, which age took away, and they wonder whether they have anything else the world cares about.

My grandson has extraordinary eyelashes, lush and dark, and he gets complimented for his beautiful eyes all the time. This makes him uncomfortable – he does not want to be seen as pretty, or recognized for his looks. There's so much more to him than that. So I make a point of telling him he looks good only for things he can control – "I like your haircut; you look so nice today." And that only occasionally.

I think it's fine to appreciate beauty, as long as we're not too forward, pushy, or gawking about it. Who doesn't like a little eye candy?

I'm sure she would have been very grateful! I could write a page on why I think this is-hope you run into her again-she probably needs someone like you!

I compliment other women all the time--on cute shoes, pretty jewelry, new hair cut....not their beauty. If someone was REALLY stunning, I'd probably say something like "You have such great skin! What's your secret?" or something like that.

Oh...that must have been me you saw. How nice of you to mention.

JUST KIDDING!

I am one to compliment women all the time. Not gushy, but "what a beautiful scarf, that sweater looks so pretty with your skin tone, those earrings are lovely..."
I think it makes women feel nice.
On the other hand, I am very weird about receiving compliments. I'm not very good at it at all. I always seem like, "Me? You're talking to me?"
I really want to work on just saying thank you, but for some reason it feels like such a surprise.
When my daughter was 8, we went to an event. Well, it was a huge antique and rummage sale. I just threw on some leggings and a sweater, put my hair in a pony tail. As we were headed to the door to leave, a man came up to me and said, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be forward, but you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." Before it had time to sink in, my daughter told him, "Oh yeah? Well...she's also married to the biggest lug in this town so you just better watch it!"
At that point, I was doubly embarrassed and thanked him then we left promptly.

I don't have a problem at all complimenting other people, but it's weird for me to be on the other end of it.
I have seen males and females that are so stunning it's almost like you can't help but look.
Beauty is something to behold, for sure.
I'm the type that finds beauty in the personality of a person first.
I've known too many beautiful people who weren't even close to being pretty on the inside.
Beauty is a relative thing and it's true...beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Compliment if you feel compelled.

Just my opinion.

I like it when people compliment, makes me feel like I'm doing something right with my look! Lol:) I'm sure the lady took it this way as well!

I wouldn't, but that's because I HATE when people compliment me. I just don't know what to say. I mean, I'm very appreciative, and it's wonderful. It's just...awkward.

Hmmm...that's a tough one.
I have been complimented on my lips more times than I can count. It makes me so self conscious!! I must say....they really are quite fantastic (lol) but then the whole time I am talking to them I am super conscious of my lips and how they are moving.
It's nice to hear since I got made fun of horrendously in jr. high...but at the same time it's super creepy when a guy says it.
I don't know if I would go out of my way to say to someone how beautiful they were. But, if they were standing next to me I might....if I wasn't feeling fat and frumpy!
L.

I would only say something if I was asking about a specific item. Such as, "I love your hair color, may I ask what stylist you use? I'm in need of a new stylist." Or, "I love your perfume/lipstick color, can you tell me what brand it is? I have a hard time picking those things out!"

If it's just a general, "Wow, you are so gorgeous."... that would be awkward. I am a hairstylist, so I am around a lot of these types of women :)

With all the negativity we have in life ---we need all the compliments we can get.
Anything from how cute our shoes are to how pretty we are to hey nice car. Good thoughts lift our spirits.

I think I fall close to OneAndDone's perspective. If someone was truely THAT amazing to behold, then I would probably assume that they hear about it all the time, and therefore might find it annoying. Anything that people constantly notice about someone can become annoying, even if it is a "good" thing. But I tend to not draw a lot of attention to things that might diminish them as a "person", i.e., JUST their looks. Now, if they were cheery or smiling or laughing or something... then I might compliment on how hearing them laugh made ME feel good/happy/cheery, how it brightened my day or whatever. But to just say, "You are beautiful" would seem kinda uncomfortable for me. "I love how the eye makeup you have on brings out the green in your eyes" or "Your hair looks so soft and touchable, what products do you use?" or "The color in your shirt really brings out the highlights in your hair, looks nice together!" or "I love the way you are wearing that ____, I wouldn't have thought to do it that way" or something that ties in them as a person, as an artist; not AS the art, with no brain or thoughts or emotions.
The gesture is very nice in theory, but it could have made for some awkward moments afterward as you continued standing in line waiting to conduct your business.
I also tend to try to say something nice to someone who looks like they are having a rough day. A kind word or two never hurts then. Even if someone is just frustrated to be waiting in line--it can change the mood to commiserate sometimes. But someone that has no obvious need of a pick-me-up, it might seem a bit odd to bring anything up regarding her shocking beauty. If it is that shocking, then others have been shocked before you were, and she is well aware of it. ;)

It depends on what people say. People will regularly comment on my DD's curls or smile. We call her our little smile generator. I don't want her to think looks are everything, but she IS cute! I forget the last time someone outside the house complimented me for something - anything. I don't go into an office anymore so I don't even have coworkers commenting on my haircut.

If she was right next to you, you could have come up with something about how she looked or acted - just a quick comment.

I take back my earlier statement. The cashier at Payless asked me if I wanted the box and I said Christmas was coming. She said, "Thank you for having some Christmas spirit!" and we wished each other a merry one and it put a smile on my face.

It might have been weird or awkward for her (I personally wonder WHY a stranger is complimenting me when they do and do NOT like it at all, though I don't mind compliments from family and friends) so I think you did the right thing.

It's interesting to me that there is such a debate below as to if you should have complimented the woman or not and how that woman might feel if you did so... when did life become so difficult that something so simple turned into something so hard.. Most people would prefer a compliment and if you have something nice to say, then definitely speak up... who knows, it could really make someone's day a lot better... keep being positive, regardless of what others might think..

I always compliment people when it strikes me. Once in a blue moon I get a compliment and it is a wonderful feeling. Just passing it along.

I found out last week one of my coworkers is 69. I was, noooo, what!!! My god I thought you were in your 50s somewhere, nooooo!! Holy!!! By the time I was done the whole area had joined in and she had turned a lovely shade of red. She thanked me later. :)

I always think that if you have something nice to say, you should! However, I was in a restaurant not too long ago and the manager had these really pretty light green eyes. I told that her eyes were a lovely color. She looked at me like I complimented her cleavage or her tushie!! So I would probably take that one back, but it won't stop me from saying the same thing to a different person. I can live with a couple weird looks to make other people smile just because :)

Aww you should have! I bet that would have made her day. I wouldn't have said it so loudly that everyone could hear but I would have said something.

I can't tell you how many times people have either complimented my kid's cute factor in front of other mothers, or vice versa, where other kids are complimented right in front of me w/no ackowledgement of my own kid. So I get it that it would have been awkward. But still...that would have been a nice gesture.

I think that if that is who you are and you don't have to think about doing it, then do it. Both of my girls are often embarassed by how outgoing I am and the conversations I strike up w/people but as I often tell them, that "hello" you give that older gentleman or the door you hold for that elderly woman may be the only nice thing about their day. If I see someone who deserves a compliment, I give it.....without worrying about what will be thought or said. My youngest has my curly/wavy hair & the three of us have the same hazel eyes(that change colors) which we are always given compliments on, it can be the one thing that picks me up that whole day. Does it get annoying being told how lucky I am to have such beautiful curls, yes and would I love to shave it off, yes at times just as I love it at others. But I just smile and say thank you. I'm sure you made her day! And as far as how well you will age, by being the way you are, it sounds like you are aging very well :)

Yes! I imagine hearing you look lovely would always be welcome at any age!

I believe that it is human nature to appreciate beautiful things, and the world is filled with beautiful people. But I think society has progressed to the point where if a stranger commented out of the blue with a well-intentioned "I think you a natural beauty", awkwardness would ensue. It is a very bold compliment and the person may question your intentions. The compliment can be still be given, but wrapped in leading context. For example, it would not be awkward to say "nice earrings", or "I like your hair done that way". Now you have warmed up the conversation with the stranger to be able to segway into something bolder like "you are such a natural beauty".

I couldn't give a personal compliment to a stranger in public with people between us and still then you have to be carteful because I complimented a woman at the beauty salon and she told someone else that I was gay. She thought I was making a play for her. The world is upside down so be careful.