why do women size each other up?

I think perhaps, to a certain extent, it's an evolutionary imperative, the urge to compete for the best mates. We size each other up because subconsciously, we're evaluating other women as threats. Personally, I look at other women for inspiration. If I see something they've done with their hair I like and I feel would look good on me, I try to imitate it. Likewise with clothes - because if it looks good on them, it could enhance my looks too. Comes back to the evolutionary principle, I suppose.

I have to admit I am also guilty of this. I would say that 90% of the time it is positive though, either looking at their outfit, bag or shoes or something like that. Thinking, "I wonder where she got that from" "How does she get her make up like that" or "I wish my hair was that colour I wonder who does it for her" Very rarely am I thinking "Oh God she looks awful". I would definately look more at someone who looked nice or had an amazing bag or something than one who didn't look particularly good that day. It's usually an envy or curiousity thing I'd say.

I do that too. For me it is because I usually like the outfit or the hairstyle and If the woman is in my size range ....I get ideas. I am certainly not checking them out and not the jealous type. If I have the chance to speak to her, I may even coment on her hair and ask where she had it done. I don't know how other women are but thats pretty much it for me.

Well I don't really size other women up. But I am not a competitive person and am not really a materialistic person. I might notice how they look or act in respect or admiration or in disgust depending on the situation.

Yes, I don't know why I do it I guess it's just a way of being curious and looking at the style of another lady. I usually look at everything. I look at the shoes, the bag, the clothes, and the like.

I don't do it, just for the fact I am not into that stuff and I never have cared to fit in or compete with people! But I know lots of woman that do and its just silly. I would never buy something just to impress someone else, I buy stuff to make me happy

It is in our nature, but you want to know something? Men secretly do this as well, only they do not come out with it like woman do. Ever notice the man who gets all of the women and he is charming and handsome, and everyone loves him, well, that man is the envy of most all men. Deep down, nearly every man wants to get all of the women and get everything that he wants. Before our world became modernized, guess what men did? They most certainly sized each other up. You know why? They wanted to win the affection of that woman. In fact, many men still do it today. If two men see a beautiful woman that they both want, I think that both are going to fight over her, and they will start staring at the other to see who is better for that woman. We women all do this at some point in our lives and we do it because we have it in our nature to want to get the man that we feel so deserving of.

My husband recently commented on this to me. I find myself doing it. I do not have much in the way of shoes and nice clothing, so I look at other women with admiration. Deep down inside I am saying to myself how I wish I had some nice things. It is not envy, just admiration. I will even compliment a stranger on something that I find attractive. I have said to other women I do not know, that their hair looked nice, or nice shoes, bag, dress etc. I have no problem giving credit where credit is due.

am not really sure my friend, but what i have noticed is that it has been a trait of women of sizing somebody new that they see. or somebody they feel that they are insecure with or just mainly curiousity of the physical traits of the person has.

I think it is a general tendency in the woman that she may look better than others. That is the reasons they stare like that. When ever one looks they usually have from head to toe and they see every thing extraordinary.

I think that in a situation like the one you mentioned it's first impression,how you look,dress,etc,then sizing you up to see if you are some-one they would like to get to know,or if you are worth knowing.lol

when i was on college. I and my classmates we always sized up each other.Looks like we having a competition of who is the most expensive bags,nice shoes, what brand of perfume and clothes you wear.But we do that with a glimpses. But when i caught them sized up me, they just smile and said "ohh madam your bag is nice, how much?" lolz. And everytime who have a new hair relax we going to asked where and how much.We didn't mean to do that it's just nature for the girls to be like that.

I think that we all do it without really thinking about it. I know I do. I will catch myself doing it and thinking to myself things like: I wish I had clothes that looked that nice, or I wish I was thinner, or at least I don't have big ears or a big nose like that person. I think it's human nature to compare ourselves to others. Probably much to our detriment. I think women definitely do it more so than men.