Compliments depend so much on context and who the parties are in an office pecking order. I remember a well-liked old guy where I worked, years ago, and we're in the elevator. Picture Roger on Mad Men. Someone looking like Margot Robbie enters, dressed to the nines. The old guy sighed, looked at me, and said, "oh to be young again! " Everyone in the elevator laughed including the young woman, and she gave the old guy a kind of thank-you nod.
Someone else could have made it leering or creepy. Somehow, from him, it was sweet and nonthreatening and he made himself the butt of the joke. The recipient of his sigh and remark took it as a compliment, and a funny one.
It's my belief that we could have a society where that can still happen, and most people can feel secure with gentle and respectful appreciation when they're looking good. If men were taught how to do that when they are young, and when not to say anything (like with someone in a subordinate job position), we might get back to a place where people don't feel their every utterance will be fine-tooth combed over for offense.
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