I don't think I do it often, at least not consciously. I don't make the effort, but I know that I do look at other women, and my boyfriend and I comment on some fashion atrocities ... he's pretty metro.

lol injustica! My husband and I comment too, although I'm trying to be less judgmental... it's really tough. I think I do this stealthily, but not at every woman!!

Me and my boy do the same thing. We'll be at the mall sitting on the bench eating Ice Cream and we'll "People watch" and comment on what people are wearing. But, I'm not trying to be mean I'll just say something like those pants are not doing anything for her. We're not harsh about it.

No, looking someone up and down when they walk into a room is rude and uncouth. And nasty little girls are bad about doing it but I guess if you are that insecure with yourself you have to look at everyone else that way.

People watching is different because you aren't checking out what that person is wearing or looks like, you are watching their actions in day to day life.

Ugh, the up and down. No, I don't do this and I'm not a fan of those that do, at least when it's in a judgmental way. I do people watching with my girlfriends in that we have a good time sitting and making up stories about the people that pass but in silly, not malicious ways. The only bad thing I do is seeing someone and asking the people I'm with if they think it's a man or a woman, which is mean but darnit I'm curious!

I love people watching, so I totally do this. Sure, sometimes I'm doing it in disbelief that anyone would walk out in public wearing that outfit, but just as often I'm thinking "wow, she looks super cute."

I'm not trying to make me saint-like..but I really don't do this. I find it very tacky and high-schoolish.

Of course sometimes I see someone who has great clothes or someone with not so flattering, but those pass by with me only guickly glancing. I don't do "people watching" on purpose, I guess I don't just care that much what other people wear..

My mother taught me not to stare or talk about strangers and their looks.

Greetings from Miss Manners. LOL.

phatE has the best quote on her profile page...

"let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others."

I try not to up/down in a mean way but I can get catty with my husband when we are being silly out in public. We do talk a lot about positive things about people too... hair, clothes, etc.

Yep, fave past-time for the boyfriend and me as well. Although I think I can take in someone's look completely without having to move my eyes and head - the true 'up down' Dear is referring to.

If I like something on a girl or guy, the shoes, the skirt, the top, the hair, etc. I'll check her/him out with much subtlety.

If I do the up and down thing, it's usually cause a girl is ridiculously pretty and I'm jealous

I people watch but I don't really do this.

If I catch someone giving me the once over, I'll return the favor.

I think it's natural to be aware of your surroundings. And the best way to pick upon fashion trends is at the mall looking at what and how other people wear things.

unless its extremely eye catching... like an amazingly hot girl or if someones wearing something absolutely atrocious!
otherwise not at all

I'm with Sun_Sun on this one, the chick had to be hot for me to up/down her. I usually don't care otherwise.

Im with aimeeb.

i like to admire someone that has really good style and confidence. some people just have that charisma that its hard not to look =)

please, everyone does this. of course you notice people and what they're wearing and what they look like. it doesn't mean you're doing it to be critical or judgemental. more often then not, i do it because the chick is super hot. but yeah, me and my boy do the people watching too. it's very entertaining.

There was this girl who did this (give me the up/down) every time I walked in the door... it made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but I think it was mostly out of admiration not criticism because she was always asking me where I bought my clothes (although that can be rude as well, to a degree!) It's kinda funny because since I knew she was always going to scrutinize my appearance, I felt like I had to be consistent and not just walk in looking lousy one day.

I only do this when a girl is out of the ordinary pretty or stylish, has great hair, etc.

I love people watching.
I love to see how women put their looks together.
If I look someone up and down it's not in a rude way.
Just a quick glance at how they look.
And never when they are looking at me.
I'm not obvious about it.
Women are beautiful.
No harm in admiring someones outfit.

I like looking at what people are wearing ... I can't help it. I even tend to linger longer on how someone has done their hair. I'm fascinated by these things on my otherwise mundane morning commute.

This is an odd question.

I feel like there is something very negative about the up/down. And yet, I do notice people when I'm out and about. How can you avoid it? I'm not consciously checking people out, but if they have a great outfit on or something particularly funny on, I'll notice.

Is that different than the up/down?

Why do people assume the up/down is negative? I do it all the time but like others mentioned, it's just to see what people are wearing. The more extreme the outfit or look is (either extremely attractive or extremely unattractive), the more I want to look. I don't roll my eyes or give a dirty look. It's just curiosity.

I look at women but I try not to do the up/downing thing too much (or at least I don't do it obviously) b/c I think it's totally obnoxious when it is done to me.

I NEVER do this...I think it's so obnoxious and I HATE when women do this to me. If you want to check out what someone is wearing, there's a way to do it discreetly.

I get this ALL the time.. my first reaction is to give the girl a dirty look because 9 times out of 10 I'm thinking they are judging me in a bad way but I could see how it would be 'up' in this case.. makes sense..

I don't, but it happens to me ALL the time. I also get dirty looks sometimes. Seriously, I feel people who do this are just showing their insecurity. What could someone you've never even met or talked to already have done that wrong? I myself like to check out what other girls are wearing and how they look, but SUBTLY people, subtly.

anyone who says they dont do this is lying. you might not be conciously doing it but you do. i didnt notice once and this guy said to me.. why do girls always do that. and i said do what. and he told me that my friend & i both just looked up/down at this girl walking by. wether it be to see if you like anything their wearing or to judge them or wahtever you do it.

I tend to look people full-on in the face -- but I might be slightly oblivious, in general. ((shrugs))

Not in a harsh way. I'm pretty sure no one knows I'm doing it. I like to see what people are wearing and how they do their hair and makeup. It's more curiosity than judgment.

I do it sometimes, but if I bother to get a good look it means I think she looks great! I still do it as steathily as possible though, so as not to make the poor gal uncomfortable. Thank god for dark sunglasses.

Oh dear - I sound like a pervert! I'm only interested in the clothes, hair and makeup on a girl, I swear.

I hate girls who are obvious about it when looking at me. It makes me feel self-conscious and like they are 'eying up' the competition. I find that girls who do this are often not very good at dealing with other girls, because they think they have to compete for mens attention. They often have a lot of guy friends but not too many girlfriends. I don't understand girls like that. So petty!

^^I feel the same way too.I get this all the time.

I do it when I see a really attractive girl, or a really fabulous outfit. I think I'm pretty discreet about it though. I have been caught starting at a couple gorgeous ladies though, I hope they don't think I was being nasty. Some people are just soooo attractive it's hard not to look!

Like some posters here, I get this regularly from women (and men). It makes me uncomfortable and self-conscious. I feel like I'm being "sized-up." With women, when I glance back, they tend to quickly look away. With men, they usually accost me.

Because I'm uncomfortable receiving it, I NEVER do this to other women. I may admire another woman, and if she happens to notice, I would compliment her, and say something like,"You have pretty hair," or "That's a cute outfit," etc. That's different from up/downing.

Janine22, I agree with you completely!

YESSSSSSSSSS!!! Janine22 and Glowingmoon...lol Rosey.

I get extremely annoyed when girls/women do this...cattiness is really tacky...

OMG THE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL!! SO FUNNY
perfect example. the girls in the picture look OBVIOUSLY insecure about themselves, that they have to do "THE SCAN"
I hate the damn scan, but I am guilty of doing it when I see another girl with gorgeous hair/face/outfit and omg, SHOES.

I always get caught every time though, and feel AWFUL because I'm admiring them but they're probably what I'M THINKing when other girls stare at me like that.

Sometimes I get so mad when I get the PERMANENT SCAN (lasts so long and don't care to look away that it's more of a b*tchy glare than a scan) that I wanna punch the rude girl's face

i think i have it best. my bff is a lesbian - she's the "man" one but she's still super femme, so we're all hair and makeup and cocktails, but she also comes with absolutely no baggage and girly cat-iness, so i've grown up looking at women to fawn over, not to get judge. and i think it puts out good energy cause i can get along with the craziest, most neurotic girls. i think girls can feel genuine vs. judgmental stares.

ALL the time! And sometimes I am kinda mean too lol

Ugh.. I hate this too, so I try not to do it, but when I do want look closely at another girl it's because I think she's really pretty or has great style, and I want a better look, but I try to be discreet and not obviously stare because I hate it when other people do it to me. I'm not even sure how to react when it happens to me... I usually pretend I don't see them, but it makes me uncomfortable.. One girl did it very obviously to me, and I found it very offensive.