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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Huh? She is middle eastern version of SJP.

hahahaha
exactly

[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.

Classic beauties are symmetrical and not dramatic features. Like a Greek sculpture.

I never said dramatic, I said sharper features. Who did these studies on classical beauty for women? Would it have to be regional study? Who were judges? How can there be one standard classical beauty that fits the world? That doesn't make any sense to me. All beauty is subjective, regional, etc... Can somebody link these studies? And aren't I basically describing ancient Greek sculptures?

So you are basically saying that beauty is subjective and regional, which it definitely is. You are from.the Mediterranean and so your standard is different from what is considered a classic beauty in the US.

Halle Berry, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and as much as I hate to say it, Gwyneth Paltrow (kick me) are the definition of classic beauties here in the US. Thin, small symmetrical faces, big eyes, delicate features, clear skin, youthful, graceful and demure.

They are somewhat vanilla, but beautiful still.

Sophia Loren is gorgeous. But there is nothing classic about her. She is like a vibrant gem where the classic beauty girls are a basic pearl.

nah. PP has darker features and now wants to redefine the whole category so that she can somehow fit in. beautiful blondes are very popular in italy, btw, and really everywhere.

[Anonymous]

If we have to accept Gwyneth with her lopsided nose, then I'm going to insist again on Angelina with her lips. I think Angie has the more classic, delicate features, lips aside. I disagree that classic means small or nondescript features. I think strong lines like in a sculpture qualify. Think Nefertiti or portrayals of Helen of Troy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we have to accept Gwyneth with her lopsided nose, then I'm going to insist again on Angelina with her lips. I think Angie has the more classic, delicate features, lips aside. I disagree that classic means small or nondescript features. I think strong lines like in a sculpture qualify. Think Nefertiti or portrayals of Helen of Troy.

Yes. Painful but yes. Angelina feels so plastic though.

[Anonymous]

Modern day Grace Kelly

[Anonymous]

Elizabeth Hurley

[Anonymous]

I think a “Classic Beauty” is someone who would be considered beautiful during any decade, both past AND present.
Yes.....
Even possibly into the future.

Plus a woman who has the type of beauty that almost everyone can attest to.

Marilyn Monroe is the Queen of the Classic Beauty, bar none.

Others-
• Elizabeth Taylor
• Lana Turner
• Sophia Loren
• Lauren (Betty) Bacall
• Veronica Lake
• Rita Hayworth
• Ava Gardner
• Jacklyn Smith
• Selena Gomez
• Julia Roberts
• Christina Milian
• Beyoncé Knowles
• Kim Kardashian
• Nicole Ritchie
• Princess Diana
• Paris Hilton
• GiGi Hadid
• Susan Boyle (J/K!!)

[Anonymous]

^^
you definition is fine but most of your examples are preposterous. Nicole Richie??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one calls Kate Middleton a classic beauty, at least no one with eyes. I think of timeless faces like Ava Gardner or Grace Kelly. Today I would say Angelina Jolie. Assuming of course that most people who use this term think exclusively of white women as classic beauties. I would put Iman or Rita Hayworth in this category as well and among modern women, Aishwarya Rai.

Angelina Jolie looks like a porn star, not a classic beauty.

She’s skinny as hell which isn’t classically beautiful.

You are wrong to think that no one of another race is a ‘classic beauty’ .

Serena Williams. Queen Rania of Jordan. Michelle Kwan. Vanessa Williams. The list is endless.
You are prejudiced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day Grace Kelly

Skinny flaky half talented white woman. No.

Maya Rudolph - yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one calls Kate Middleton a classic beauty, at least no one with eyes. I think of timeless faces like Ava Gardner or Grace Kelly. Today I would say Angelina Jolie. Assuming of course that most people who use this term think exclusively of white women as classic beauties. I would put Iman or Rita Hayworth in this category as well and among modern women, Aishwarya Rai.

Angelina Jolie looks like a porn star, not a classic beauty.

She’s skinny as hell which isn’t classically beautiful.

You are wrong to think that no one of another race is a ‘classic beauty’ .

Serena Williams. Queen Rania of Jordan. Michelle Kwan. Vanessa Williams. The list is endless.
You are prejudiced.

You misunderstand me. I said that Rita Hayworth, Iman and Aishwarya Rai are classic beauties but the assumption on DCUM tends to be that only white women can be called that. In fact, the premise of the thread is about a basic white woman, Kate Middleton being called a classic beauty, which is preposterous because she is basic, but not because she is white. OP seemed to imply that whiteness was part of it.

[Anonymous]

It's ridiculous that folks are injecting a ethnic competition into a standard that has nothing to do with coloring. Classic beauty just means a beauty that involves a symmetric, well-proportioned face, features on the delicate side, none disproportionate (even if its beautiful or sexy in its own way, e.g. Angelina's mouth, Amal's eyebrows), perhaps a statuesque, sculptural quality to face and body. I agree with others that although its not perhaps strictly part of the definition, it implies someone who is more elegant and pretty than sexy.

I would say that there are plenty of non-Anglo women that meet the definition--as others said, Halle Berry, Iman, also Lupita Nyong'o, Aishwarya Rai, maybe Thandie Newton, Freida Pinto. And on the other side, definitely actresses like Grace Kelley and Ava Gardner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's ridiculous that folks are injecting a ethnic competition into a standard that has nothing to do with coloring. Classic beauty just means a beauty that involves a symmetric, well-proportioned face, features on the delicate side, none disproportionate (even if its beautiful or sexy in its own way, e.g. Angelina's mouth, Amal's eyebrows), perhaps a statuesque, sculptural quality to face and body. I agree with others that although its not perhaps strictly part of the definition, it implies someone who is more elegant and pretty than sexy.

I would say that there are plenty of non-Anglo women that meet the definition--as others said, Halle Berry, Iman, also Lupita Nyong'o, Aishwarya Rai, maybe Thandie Newton, Freida Pinto. And on the other side, definitely actresses like Grace Kelley and Ava Gardner.

Different ethnicity have their own standards for "classic beauty" as well. Japanese and Indians wouldn't generally hold up Grace Kelly as their standard. That look is what we, white westerners think of to define the word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's ridiculous that folks are injecting a ethnic competition into a standard that has nothing to do with coloring. Classic beauty just means a beauty that involves a symmetric, well-proportioned face, features on the delicate side, none disproportionate (even if its beautiful or sexy in its own way, e.g. Angelina's mouth, Amal's eyebrows), perhaps a statuesque, sculptural quality to face and body. I agree with others that although its not perhaps strictly part of the definition, it implies someone who is more elegant and pretty than sexy.

I would say that there are plenty of non-Anglo women that meet the definition--as others said, Halle Berry, Iman, also Lupita Nyong'o, Aishwarya Rai, maybe Thandie Newton, Freida Pinto. And on the other side, definitely actresses like Grace Kelley and Ava Gardner.

This. Classic beauty does not mean "most beautiful," it refers to a particular kind of facial symmetry and proportion, which can be found in women of all coloring. There are many gorgeous women who are not classically beautiful. And I agree that if your definition of classic beauty does not include Grace Kelly, then your definition bears no resemblance to what the term actually means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's ridiculous that folks are injecting a ethnic competition into a standard that has nothing to do with coloring. Classic beauty just means a beauty that involves a symmetric, well-proportioned face, features on the delicate side, none disproportionate (even if its beautiful or sexy in its own way, e.g. Angelina's mouth, Amal's eyebrows), perhaps a statuesque, sculptural quality to face and body. I agree with others that although its not perhaps strictly part of the definition, it implies someone who is more elegant and pretty than sexy.

I would say that there are plenty of non-Anglo women that meet the definition--as others said, Halle Berry, Iman, also Lupita Nyong'o, Aishwarya Rai, maybe Thandie Newton, Freida Pinto. And on the other side, definitely actresses like Grace Kelley and Ava Gardner.

exactly!