What does it mean to be a "classic" beauty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think young Elizabeth Taylor, Natalie Wood types. I think that it has a bit of Italian look quality, like Sophia Loren, Vivien Leigh too. Kind of high cheek bones, not cute. definitely not blond. I could see Amal falling into this, as she has that Mediterranean look, but I know a lot of women from that region, and they do not age well, it is like one minute good looking, next a grandma. Definitely Gal Gadot. That is what it means to me.

No.

Sophia Loren was always considered exotic, not classic.

She is voluptuous and sensual.

A classic beauty is virginal, more waify or tall, even and symmetrical balanced features. Almost ice princess like. Grace Kelly. Audrey Hepburn. Iman. Halle Berry. Classic.

Christy Brinkley is not a classic beauty. She is a girl next door beauty.

I can see your point, but I am from the Mediterranean and to me classic beauty is very different than to you. To me it is definitely not virginal, and definitely not princess like. Iman, Halle Berry yes, Grace Kelly, totally not. To me there is a distinct difference between classical beauty and pretty. I don't know which princesses you have in mind, none come to me as classical beauties. Agree on Brinkely. But, hey, classic or otherwise, it is subjective. To me it is high cheek bones, sharper features. I was once in Venice, as a teen, and past me went on one of those smaller bridges these four women, dressed in pelerines like coats, immaculate everything, and I thought that is timeless and these women are just perfection. They looked like a dream to me. But again, subjective.

yeah yeah we get the type you like but in fact these things are not so subjective. there are many studies done on geometry of beautiful faces. your examples just don't fit. there is some disagreement about particular cases, sure, when you say that grace kelly and halle berry are "totally not" classical beauties then you simply don't understand the term. i mean, i can call my dog a 'classical beauty' but that's just ridiculous. nobody is saying that women you like are not attractive - they just don't being to this category.

I think you misunderstood, I said Grace Kelly not, Halle Berry yes. Isn't beautiful face much different than classical beauty? It is to me. Beauty and classical beauty are not the same.

please stop. grace kelly is pretty much a wikipedia illustration next to the term "classical beauty". you might not find her attractive but you don't get to redefine the term.

I agree that Grace Kelly is the epitome of a classic beauty. I’m black and I find her very beautiful. However classic beauty to date has been a White/European standard. Even the black women who have found their way here are mixed and/or have European features. As people’s ideas of beauty start to incorporate other ethnicities there is this tension, as on this thread, for many to hold on to the historical standard and reject anything that suggests that classic beauty is starting to incorporate the “sensual” features of middle eastern women, the “smooth rounder” Indian ideal referred to above, etc.
As society progresses from White/European features being the ideal, the definition of classic beauty will also change. Right now we are in transition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly: White, pale to fair, tallish and thin, delicate with no truly distinctive features... like don't have a nose that too large or thick lips.

I'm a short Asian-American.

This. It is shorthand for a certain type of white woman: the Greco-Roman ideal rather than a Slavic or Gallic look. A woman of color with “white” features and build would be included.

I was always squicked when white guys in college described me as exotic. Give or take a shade of skin tone, I thought I looked like every other AA girl I knew on campus freshman year. We all had the same relaxed hair, same Avon makeup in the wrong shades (Fenty is such a blessing), etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think young Elizabeth Taylor, Natalie Wood types. I think that it has a bit of Italian look quality, like Sophia Loren, Vivien Leigh too. Kind of high cheek bones, not cute. definitely not blond. I could see Amal falling into this, as she has that Mediterranean look, but I know a lot of women from that region, and they do not age well, it is like one minute good looking, next a grandma. Definitely Gal Gadot. That is what it means to me.

No.

Sophia Loren was always considered exotic, not classic.

She is voluptuous and sensual.

A classic beauty is virginal, more waify or tall, even and symmetrical balanced features. Almost ice princess like. Grace Kelly. Audrey Hepburn. Iman. Halle Berry. Classic.

Christy Brinkley is not a classic beauty. She is a girl next door beauty.

I can see your point, but I am from the Mediterranean and to me classic beauty is very different than to you. To me it is definitely not virginal, and definitely not princess like. Iman, Halle Berry yes, Grace Kelly, totally not. To me there is a distinct difference between classical beauty and pretty. I don't know which princesses you have in mind, none come to me as classical beauties. Agree on Brinkely. But, hey, classic or otherwise, it is subjective. To me it is high cheek bones, sharper features. I was once in Venice, as a teen, and past me went on one of those smaller bridges these four women, dressed in pelerines like coats, immaculate everything, and I thought that is timeless and these women are just perfection. They looked like a dream to me. But again, subjective.

yeah yeah we get the type you like but in fact these things are not so subjective. there are many studies done on geometry of beautiful faces. your examples just don't fit. there is some disagreement about particular cases, sure, when you say that grace kelly and halle berry are "totally not" classical beauties then you simply don't understand the term. i mean, i can call my dog a 'classical beauty' but that's just ridiculous. nobody is saying that women you like are not attractive - they just don't being to this category.

I think you misunderstood, I said Grace Kelly not, Halle Berry yes. Isn't beautiful face much different than classical beauty? It is to me. Beauty and classical beauty are not the same.

please stop. grace kelly is pretty much a wikipedia illustration next to the term "classical beauty". you might not find her attractive but you don't get to redefine the term.

I agree that Grace Kelly is the epitome of a classic beauty. I’m black and I find her very beautiful. However classic beauty to date has been a White/European standard. Even the black women who have found their way here are mixed and/or have European features. As people’s ideas of beauty start to incorporate other ethnicities there is this tension, as on this thread, for many to hold on to the historical standard and reject anything that suggests that classic beauty is starting to incorporate the “sensual” features of middle eastern women, the “smooth rounder” Indian ideal referred to above, etc.
As society progresses from White/European features being the ideal, the definition of classic beauty will also change. Right now we are in transition.

+1. The idea of classic beauty isn’t determined by one group of people or Wikipedia. It can be extremely varying for different ethnicities, and it’s definitely changing here, as the US becomes less white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear this term thrown around a lot. People say, for example, that Kate Middleton is a "classic" beauty. How so? She just looks like an average white woman to me.

Yup her and Amy Adams from a guy's standpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Amal Clooney is the best representation of a modern-day classic beauty.

Her make-up is complementary and understated. She isn't trendy or trying to look younger than she is. She also has class, compassion and carries herself with integrity. It's no all about how you look.

She's horsy looking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This Chinese model Du Juan is an Asian example that falls into the category of classic beauty.

Wow she is stunning.

Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang are also beautiful.

All of them are beautiful. I think Ziyi Zhang is the best example of an East Asian classic beauty

The one on the bottom is prettier. The girl on top - there is something weird about her nose. She kind of looks like an alien.

The one on the top has had a very obvious nose job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I think classic beauty:











Unfortunately in the western world, it refers to the usually white looking features of large doe eyes, small thin nose that is not a button nose, full well shaped lips that aren't too big, high cheek bones, angular face.

Sometimes ethnic women can also meet the criteria and fit the definition:

Love the pics but first one is cute not classic.

[Anonymous]

Christy Turlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ amal should not be there.

I agree. She is obviously good looking, but her features are way too strong to be considered a classic beauty.

She is classic for her ethnic background.

[Anonymous]

Amal does not have the facial proportions of a classic beauty--face too long, mouth too big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ amal should not be there.

I agree. She is obviously good looking, but her features are way too strong to be considered a classic beauty.

She is classic for her ethnic background.

No she is not at all. Nadine Njeim is more of a classic lebanese beauty.

[Anonymous]

Halle Berry is more cute than classic. And calling Kate Middleton classic beauty is just being nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This Chinese model Du Juan is an Asian example that falls into the category of classic beauty.

Wow she is stunning.

She is so beautiful that she crosses all cultural lines. That is a classic beauty Chinese style.

[Anonymous]

That “alt” group with Michelle Obama is the wanna be list.

[Anonymous]

Aishwarya Rai is the most classic of all because she combines so many characteristics at once.