Latest news with #compliments
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
There's nothing chicer than a black dress - 7 outfits I'll be wearing on repeat this summer
Three summers ago, I bought a black linen dress from Australian label Dissh for my friend's wedding. There was a moment, during the checkout process, when I hesitated – the shade used to be off-limits for guests – but after deciding that rule felt outdated, I hit 'pay now'. And I'm so glad I did. The black dress in question is now the hardest-working item in my summer wardrobe – it's also the piece that earns me the most compliments, thanks to its square neckline, fitted bodice and full skirt. I've worn it to another friend's wedding with heels and a raffia clutch; regularly show it off in the office with flat strappy sandals and a woven tote; and, after three summers, it's still the one dress that's guaranteed to make it onto my holiday packing list. The colour black is often overlooked when the weather gets warmer, but if you ask me, a black dress is one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your collection. The trick is to focus on relaxed silhouettes in breezy linens and cottons to stay cool in the summer months. It's also one of the easiest shades to style. A black dress acts as a blank canvas for chunky jewellery or colourful accessories to sit against. Or, you can lean into the minimalism of an all-black look with a pair of barely-there sandals and sleek sunglasses. Ready to meet your new favourite warm-weather wardrobe staple? Scroll for my pick of the seven best black dresses on the high street right now – and tips on how I'd style each of them. Mango £49.99 Shop The ruffled neckline lends itself to a statement necklace – I'd opt for something playful, like this charm necklace from Sézane, and keep the rest of the outfit simple with some black sandals from Zara. Sézane £125 Shop COS £95 Shop The simplicity of this linen maxi calls for a pop of colour. These hoops from Mejuri are interchangeable and a perfect match for these strappy sandals from Arket. George at Asda £18 Shop A kitten heel and bangle or two will instantly dress up this sober number from George at Asda. I'd go with this organically-shaped bracelet from Pandora and these thin-strapped heels from Mango. £350 Shop Mango £45.99 Shop Gap x DÔEN £165 Shop The all-over eyelet detailing of this maxi should be the focus, so keep your accessories simple. I'd opt for tan accessories, like this tote from Dragon Diffusion and these slides from & Other Stories. Next £46 Shop Nobody's Child £85 Shop £298 Shop This midi from Reformation is actually a two-piece that you'll want to reach for over and over again. I'd wear it to the office with these two-tone studs from Orelia and these braided flats from H&M.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers stocking up early on Sainsbury's autumn dress that looks expensive, flatters figure and you can size down
SUMMER hasn't even officially started yet, but fashion fans are already racing to bag the perfect AUTUMN dress for this year. Tu Clothing, the in-house fashion label for Sainsbury's, is renowned for its stylish buys at affordable prices. And if you like to look expensive on a budget as well as feeling effortlessly fashionable, this supermarket frock is for you. Shoppers have insisted the new Sainsbury's midaxi dress is perfect for all shapes and "gets so many compliments". The "beautiful" Black Embroidered Sleeve Boho Midi Dress is priced at £28 and comes in sizes six to 24. Describing it online, the Sainsbury's team say: "For a boho-inspired look, reach for our black midi dress. "Designed with floral embroidered sleeves which come in a flattering volume shape, this dress features a notch neckline finished with a tie-waist belt. "An elegant option for summer outings and sun-soaked holidays." Although it's being advertised as a summer frock, organised fashion fans are actually stashing it away for autumn - insisting the luxurious thick material is perfect for the colder months. It has already racked up a five-star reviews and is almost completely sold out online. So if you're looking to get your hands on it, you may need to leg it to your nearest store. One shopper said: "I don't tend to wear black dresses as I find they can drain my colour but I'm so pleased I got this. It's beautiful. Shoppers run to bag on-trend spring dress with 'boho vibes' in Sainsbury's "Gives me lovely shape, has pockets, material is slightly thick so probs a bit hot for summer but spring and autumn it'll be perfect." A second wrote: "This dress looks and feels much more expensive than it is. "Good length. The embroidered sleeve are voluminous and make a statement. Love the detailing on the sash belt that ties it all together. "Heavy cotton - looking forward to wearing it in the autumn. Tu sizing doesn't skimp. Bought it in two sizes and the smaller one fitted." 3 "Great dress - looks a lot more expensive", echoed a third. "The sleeves are fab, someone commentated on the fabric being thick but tbh think it makes it look more expensive." A fourth gushed: "I am so impressed with this dress, the quality is superb, it is very flattering and I have received many compliments on wearing it." "Great dress, a little too heavy weight for summer but keeping for autumn", chimed in a fifth. Meanwhile, a sixth wrote: "I initially ordered this dress in a size 14 but returned and bought a size 12 instead… there is still plenty of room in the size 12! "Generous sizing (I'm usually a size 16 in TU's tops). Very flattering, comfortable and looks lovely!" Is supermarket fashion the new high street? DEPUTY Fashion Editor Abby McHale weighs in: The supermarkets have really upped their game when it comes to their fashion lines. These days, as you head in to do your weekly food shop you can also pick up a selection of purse-friendly, stylish pieces for all the family. Tesco has just announced a 0.7 per cent increase in the quarter thanks to a 'strong growth in clothing' and M&S has earnt the title of the number one destination for womenswear on the high street. Asda's clothing line George has made £1.5 million for the supermarket in 2023, 80 per cent of Sainsbury's clothes sold at full price rather than discounted and Nutmeg at Morrisons sales are also up 2 per cent in the past year. So what is it about supermarket fashion that is becoming so successful? Apart from the clothing actually being affordable, it's good quality too - with many being part of schemes such as the Better Cotton Initiative. A lot of the time they keep to classic pieces that they know will last the customer year after year. Plus because they buy so much stock they can turn around pieces quickly and buy for cheaper because of the volumes.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: No congratulations for young adults' new tattoos
Dear Miss Manners: It seems more and more of my friends' young adult children are getting tattoos. Often my friends share the news like the tattoo is some sort of accomplishment and, if the young adult is present, will summon them over to show off the new ink to (presumably) collect compliments.
Forbes
16-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
2 Compliments That Are Conditions In Disguise — By A Psychologist
Not all compliments are what they seem. Some are genuine reflections of who you are. Others are ... More subtle contracts offered with a smile, but laced with expectation. Compliments can be disarming. They make us feel chosen and understood in ways words rarely do. But sometimes, the praise that feels the most flattering is also the praise that teaches us to edit ourselves. In certain relationships, compliments don't just affirm, they also secretly instruct. They reward the parts of you that are most convenient, most regulated or least disruptive. And without realizing it, you begin to shape yourself around someone else's comfort. Over time, what felt like love starts to feel like performance. This isn't always intentional or malicious, in fact, these compliments are usually subtle and subconscious. But repeated reinforcement of selective traits such as composure, availability or selflessness, can lead to a gradual erosion of authenticity. Here are two compliments that seem generous on the surface, but may carry unspoken terms that could be conditioning you to stay small in order to stay loved. This is praise that can be used to reward emotional silence, not emotional strength. At first, it may sound like a genuine compliment, painting you as emotionally mature, unshakeable and the kind of person who rises above conflict. For those who've spent years being the peacekeeper — especially in families marked by volatility — this can feel like long-awaited recognition. However, there are moments where someone praising your calmness is less about your inner resilience and more about their own comfort. They may not be celebrating your emotional health. Instead, they might just have been relieved you didn't have an emotional reaction, even if it was warranted in the scenario. Your stillness doesn't challenge, confront or disrupt anything, and you were rewarded for it. And so, consciously or not, you may feel implicitly incentivized to perform that calmness even when you're hurting. Because now, being 'the calm one' feels like your relational value. This kind of compliment may reinforce a deeper pattern rooted in childhood or adolescent socialization, especially for women and girls. A 2008 qualitative research project by Cheryl van Daalen-Smith illustrates this phenomenon by offering a window into young girls' lives through the eyes of a school nurse. The findings confirm what we might already know about the female journey when it comes to authentic emotional expression: 'Experiences of disrespect, dismissal, denied agency, and a denial of the right to verbalize anger eventually led to self-silencing and an eventual disconnect from this important emotion.' Rather than learning to regulate their emotions, many girls learn to erase them — developing a sort of ultra-adaptive strategy, much like a chameleon adapting to its environment, in Daalen-Smith's own words. Their calmness is not necessarily a reflection of peace, but of their survival instinct. When such emotional suppression is later praised in adult relationships, it reinforces the message that your worth lies in being agreeable and low maintenance. You may begin to perform calmness, even in moments of deep hurt, because that role has been rewarded. But when calmness is no longer a choice, it can become a form of self-abandonment. So ask yourself: 'Is my calmness authentic, or is it a mask I've learned to wear to keep others regulated and myself accepted?' Remember, true emotional strength doesn't mean the absence of emotion. It means the freedom to feel and express your full emotional range, without fear of losing connection. This is a compliment that pedestalizes your empathy while quietly making you responsible for someone else's emotional regulation. At first, this may feel like the highest form of trust. You're the chosen one — the person they finally feel safe enough to open up to. But beneath the surface, this statement may be less about connection and more about emotional dependency. A 2014 study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, conducted on 'emotionships,' characterized by emotion-specific support relationships, reveals that people experience better mental health when they turn to different individuals for different emotional needs. One friend may be the person you vent to when you're angry. Another may know just how to calm your anxiety. This diversity in emotional support leads to greater well-being, because no single relationship is overloaded with the task of holding it all. When someone declares that you are the only person they can talk to, it disrupts that healthy balance. It places you at the center of their emotional regulation system, creating an unspoken pressure to be endlessly available, attuned and responsive. What starts as flattery can quickly turn into emotional obligation. This kind of dynamic might be used to target individuals with people-pleasing tendencies or a history of caretaking. You feel needed, perhaps even indispensable. But over time, that sense of being essential can erode your boundaries and drain your emotional reserves. You stop asking yourself what you need — because someone else's feelings always seem more urgent. Instead of creating true intimacy, this type of compliment can breed emotional enmeshment; a blurring of responsibility where your support becomes their lifeline. So before you absorb the praise, pause and ask: 'Am I being appreciated for who I am, or are they just making sure that I'm perennially available for their emotional needs?' Real closeness doesn't mean being someone's only safe space. It means being one part of a healthy, interdependent emotional landscape. When someone praises you, it's natural to feel good. But not all compliments come without strings. Sometimes, praise isn't about seeing you, it's about shaping you. Here's how to tell when a compliment is quietly conditioning you rather than celebrating your wholeness: 1. Pay attention to what part of you is being celebrated. Are you praised for being 'so calm,' 'always there' or 'never complaining'? Those might sound positive, but they often highlight traits that make life easier for others, not necessarily fuller for you. If you're rarely praised for your honesty or your boundaries, you might be getting approval, not acceptance. You can also try making a list of the compliments you get most often. Then next to each, write down what it costs you to keep being that way. If you are constantly giving more than you receive, then the praise coming your way might be bait, disguised as a gift. 2. Look for the invisible rule. Some praise comes with hidden expectations: If it feels like you have to keep showing up in that exact way to stay loved, it's not a compliment — it's a contract. So, ask yourself: What if you stopped being this way? Would their affection still be the same or would something significant shift? 3. Notice how you feel after the praise. Do you feel seen, or do you feel boxed in? If you find yourself constantly editing what you say, hiding your needs or performing a personality trait to keep someone comfortable, the compliment has become a cage. Check in with yourself after a compliment: 'Do I feel freer or more restricted?', 'Can I be myself without having to be someone's full time emotional manager?' 4. Investigate which parts of you don't feel safe to bring up. In healthy dynamics, the praise doesn't just land on your productivity, patience or perfection. It makes space for your fatigue, your limits, your changes — your humanness. Try to complete the sentence for yourself: 'Around this person, I don't feel like I can ___.' The answer will tell you whether you're being celebrated or simply tolerated. Remember, the most dangerous red flags aren't always loud or aggressive. Sometimes, they're wrapped in kindness. They sound like admiration but teach you to stay small. You deserve relationships where your growth isn't threatening and where your changing needs don't cost you your value or desirability — where being yourself doesn't feel like a performance review. Because the right people won't just compliment you for being good at disappearing. They'll respect you for showing up fully, messily and honestly. Can you bring your authentic self to your relationships? Take the science-backed Authenticity In Relationships Scale to find out.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
HANNAH BETTS: I'm a 54-year-old beauty expert. This is the £11 NYX anti-ageing must-have that will tighten your jawline and sharpen your cheekbones
The second heatwave of the year is upon us. One of the beauties of these late spring scorchers is that they provide an excellent opportunity to switch up our slap for summer, and get our cosmetic ducks in a row for the next four months. During the last bout of spring sun, I received lots of compliments on how amazingly well I was looking. I wasn't: it was my sultry summer slap. The aim is to appear effortlessly low-key. However, as ever with a 'natural' look, the devil is very much in the detail in terms of product and application. Here are my eight steps to transforming into a summer stunner.
