THE CITIZEN INDEX

Saturday, October 9, 2010

outfit post: Blooming Madly

The day was bright and sunny, with just a whisper of cooling weather here in Sacramento. Cool enough to want to layer my newest Target sundress, the one with the amazing lace insert in the back. Underneath a lovely Banana Republic top I bought at a neighbors yard sale for $2 dollars this summer. It has a lovely watercolor floral print, but haven't worn it yet. Going for floral overkill, I attached my Copious Couture fabric floral broach, and topped it off with a thrift store hat, purchased  mainly for display in my house, not to wear. I liked the violet spray of flowers attached to the back. Perfectly coordinating in color were the thrifted argyle ankle socks, again a thrift store purchase not yet worn. And the shoes: they are a unique looking pair Clark's, from their Artisan collection.

While I was out and about, I got a funny little compliment. I was unlocking my bike at a bike rack, when a nice looking older gentleman stopped me and said:" I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but you have the best pair of BIG legs I've seen in a long while.You have beautiful BIG legs."

Yes. I have big legs. So I said to the man: "Well, I DO have big legs, so thank-you.". He seemed to keep starting up a conversation, but I really wasn't sure how to keep the convo going. I mean, I'd LOVE to talk about MY BIG LEGS all day long, but I really sir, I've got to run. As we were both on bicycles, I wondered if he imagined riding off with me. But thank goodness, my big legs are strong, and I quickly pedaled past him. LOL. 

This almost tops the compliment a neighbor recently said to me-

NEIGHBOR: You know, you really have a beautiful smile. You have such white teeth.

ME: Hey, thank you!

NEIGHBOR: Yes, that is a bright smile. Your teeth are like porcelain. When I look at your mouth, it's like looking at a toilet. 

ME: no response. For once in my life, I was left speechless. Quiet as toilet water.
And the thing is, I think he was sincerely paying me a compliment. It just came out odd. My teeth are porcelain white. Toilets are made from porcelain that is most often white. Yessiree. That is bright.

I'm going to go floss now. Gotta keep my porcelain chops tip-top.
And maybe go for a walk. With my BIG legs. 

What's the strangest compliment you've ever received?

Now Wearing
  • Thrifted (Thrift Town), yellow straw hat w/ violets
  • Prevues, Heart-shaped sunnies
  • Yard sale, Banana Republic blue/white print cotton shirt
  • Target, Rayon floral "grunge" dress with lace insert and hem
  • Gifted, Fabric Floral pin
  • Thrifted, silk scarf on wrist
  • Thrifted (The Thrift Store) argyle ankle socks
  • Thrifted (Thrift Town), Clarks "artisan" oxford heels

32 comments:

Comtesse de ferveur said...

Ha ha great post - there's nothing funnier than well-meaning but completely misplaced comments/compliments! You look fantastic, that dress is really great.
My husband recently said to me that I just wasn't photogenic, when what he was trying to express, it seems, was that our camera couldn't capture my beauty at all! Much mirth!

mispapelicos said...

I am still laughing, what a funny, witty and relax post he, he, he.
I am a woman with even bigger, and adore the way you love yours my lady in blue.
The ensemble mix and match of blues, red, purple is just mind blowing to me...Such an inspiration. I wish we lived closer to have a good " chinwag" ( very English expresion for chatter)over a cup of whatever.
Un abrazo y mil besos.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

luciana said...

Thanks dear, really nice to hear! I'm absolutely in love with your dress, looks great on you! kisses

Marta said...

what a guy!!!! i am still laughing!!! one guy told me thank i am small like a suitcase lol. sill don't know what he meant, considering i am very tall, but it must have been a compliment... lol

you look fabulous, bella! love your dress, and i heart your sunnies! so adorable!

the Citizen Rosebud said...

Thank you my lovlies, and international friends.

Comtesse: I am glad you got what your hubby meant; my bestfriend used to say the same about herself, and in a way she is right! She is much prettier in person than any photograph can convey. I am guessing you are too!

Sacramento: wouldn't that be nice? One of these days I've got to get myself to Spain and meet you.

GRIT AND GLAMOUR said...

GAH, you kill me! This post is classic. I love it. And this is my favorite outfit on you. And I totally heart those glasses!

♥ V
http://www.gritandglamour.com
twitter: @gritandglamour

the Citizen Rosebud said...

Thanks Vahni. That means so much to me.

Unknown said...

I just found your post from Vahni's site. I literally laughed out loud when I read the toilet comment. WHO SAYS THAT?!!!

Courtney

SaffronHaze said...

Haha I don't know how I haven't stumbled across you blog before! This post is so funny!

Thanks for visiting mine, I should really check my comments more often! =)

xo

Anonymous said...

That was my belly laugh for the day! Bless him for trying...

Leia said...

That is absolutely hilarious!!

Leia

Anika http://www.byanika.com said...

OMG don`t know what to say at this point, other than that you look smashing!! I love everything about you, big legs and porcelain teeth and all! this dress is fab hon, love the colours on you.

my strangest compliment was that I looked thinner in the fACE! thanks.

spreading love for your streetstyle blog by linking to it today :) <3
Anika

Meg said...

Hi I just popped over after seeing you were a MUST READ from Grit & Glamour!
I find these backhanded/accidental backhanded compliments hilarious! Once at a Christmas gathering my nan turned and said to me (after not seeing me for over a year) "Your skin is not as spotty as it used to be". She's not that great at complimenting people so that's as good as it gets haha
xoxo
Meg

http://thejerseygem.blogspot.com

kristy said...

LOL. great freakin post. and your outfit is adorable.

i can't really think of a strange compliment i've gotten. the closest was when i was walking down the street in new york. i turned the corner and nearly walked right smack into this guy who looked up at me and said, "NICE EYEBROWS!" like really enthusiastically. and i couldn't tell if he was being serious, but he didn't sound sarcastic, he just sounded way too excited about it. =P people are weird...

hugs to you!

Vogue Gone Rogue

jemina said...

HA HA HA HA HA
Oh Bella, this is just so funny :))
I usually just ignore weird compliments or just take the not so weird ones with a pinch of salt, if u know what i mean :)) btw, happy 10 10 10 dearest one. LOVE alwaays, Jemina, xoxo

the Citizen Rosebud said...

I see that I've got some new readers thanks to V of Grit & Glamour! Hello new lovelies, and thanks, V!

Weirrd complments are better than insults, especially when they are well meaning...and I am positive the BIG legs was supposed to convey the idea that he found me attractive, and seriously, he was a handsome older man, so compliment taken.

And my neighbor, D, who I know is my good buddy says weird shit like this ALL the time...not sure why, as I am sure he sincerely means to boost my self esteem, as he holds me in high esteem.

And it makes me wonder: what have I said to someone intending a compliment that came out as odd or rude? I'm sure there's a string of my strange praise out there some where.

By the way, you're beautiful when you laugh at me. xo. -Bella Q

Unknown said...

Wow, that's so funny! I'm loving the floral overkill. It's so bold and fun.
You do have great teeth and legs!

the Citizen Rosebud said...

BIG teeth, and BIG legs! Thanks, Melody!

WendyB said...

"Quiet as toilet water" -- I need to use that line.

stylenuggets said...

Really funny post. Clicked on this from Vahni's link. I get backhanded compliments sometimes and never know what to say till much later when I think of the perfect comeback but it's too late. The glasses add the perfect extra touch to the dress.

Marissa said...

Wow - that really is the strangest compliment I've ever heard! My great aunt once told me I had quite a cute figure now... because for a few years, it was looking like I'd turn out to be a bit of a porker. Umm... thanks, Aunt Sayde?

the Citizen Rosebud said...

Sometimes I wonder what people would think if they could see themselves say these things.

Hello March Musings! Long time no hear. Nice to "see" you.

Heather Fonseca said...

The toilet thing is just weird. I mean think of all the nice things you can say about white - white as snow, white as fine china, white as the clouds - but white as a toilet? And I think weird old guy on a bike just liked you.

the Citizen Rosebud said...

I know! And I'm pals with the dude, and sometimes I just wanna ask....do you really mean that as a compliment? He has also referred to my legs as being tree trunks, several times, which brings me to gent of bike: I think he was a BIG LEG man.

HANA said...

What a hilarious post! Loved this, because sometimes compliments really DO come out the wrong way :) But...a toilet???

The only weird compliment I`ve received that I can think of off the top of my head is:

You`re really cute! I mean, you look like and dress like a Japanese girl...but you`re white!

(I live in Japan and dress in Japanese fashion...but am clearly not Japanese...and it was a fellow foreigner who said it to me!)

Great post!

the Citizen Rosebud said...

Thanks, Hana! And thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Much appreciated.

devilishlypleasurable said...

I loved reading this. . I guess even though the compliments came out wrong you do know that they are compliments all the same :)

Nubiasnonsense said...

lol you look so cute no wonder you got complimented! i think my strangest compliment which I've actually gotten more then once is Nice Nose lol it's strange

P.S you should enter my international giveaway. Win a 4GB Mimobot USB! They're adorable http://tinyurl.com/2vyxcp2

Chantele Cross-Jones said...

Love the dress, the colours are so pretty! Great post!

Daisy Dayz Home
Cross-Jones-Photography Home

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Fabienne Jach said...

That is such a great story! Last summer, I got "you DO have really big eyes" and left me hanging. I'm thinking, like big/Bambi/good? or big/Young Dr. Frankestein?

The best one was a friend of mine grabbed my thigh once when I was wearing a mini-skirt sitting next to her (very tall and slender) frame in a club. She said "your legs are so THICK!" Fortunately, I knew she meant that they were strong from running, coming from anyone else, it might have been questionable.

My answer to her? I KNOW! :)

Unknown said...

i was just paroozing your "posts you might like" and came across this one!
LMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha!
So friggin funny :)
xXx
Reva