34. How to phrase compliments

So in my course of giving compliments to others I have been asking how to do it....I ask because I keep getting the wrong reaction and overall wrong response from other when I do it. They either look at me weird, question why i'm asking or think that i'm trying to sell them something. Am I to believe that we live in a society where we can't give compliments to one another? Where people are to an extant distrusting to others? But more...I find that giving compliments to guys more accepting...as in, they will take the compliment much better than women that tend to think that you're just trying to get in their pants...I think. I 've asked women and men and this is the information I have gathered (see examples below). Note that these responses were told to me from 4 different women and 2 different guys.this is what has come up..what do you guys think out there?Imagine a girl wearing a "fancy purple cardigan sweater with an intricate design on one side of it" I mean I realize you have to see it...but it was very nicehow would a girl like to be complimented?If a girl were to say to this girl, "hey I like your sweater"I was told that this means the girl is interested in buying it and that's how it is takenIf a guy were to say to this girl, "hey I like your sweater"I was told that the girl that gets this compliment may freak out and wonder, "what the hell do you know about it?" or would think "uh...so that means you want to buy it?" (sarcastic tone)If a girl were to say to this girl, "hey I think your sweater is cute"I was told that this means the girl is interested in buying it and that's how it is takenIf a guy were to say to this girl, "hey I think your sweater is cute"I was told that this means he's gayIf a girl were to say to this girl, "hey I like that sweater" (that instead of your)I was told it de-personalizes the sweater so the girl wearing the sweater may think the compliment giver is just trying to be nice and being a bitchIf a guy were to say to this girl, "hey I like that sweater"I was told that she would think...what do you want?SOOOOOOOO in light of all please...please please please tell me how to give a compliment