odd featured women who are stunning: les jolies laides

[newprincesita]

I thought we could discuss women whose features are usally considered not preety, but who are undoubtedly beautiful.The french call this kind of women "jolie laide" that can translate (poorly) as beautiful-ugly or ugly-beautiful.

For instance Sarah Jessica Parker o Charlotte Gainsbourg. When you look at their faces, you can easily point features are quite strong, odd proportioned or at least "off" and usually considered "flaws".

Can you think of other celebrities?
What is the factor that can transform these women in the icons they are?

 

[christina126]

First person that came to mind was Jackie Kennedy. Her style and elegance made her a "beautiful" woman.

 

[betty_s]

Anjelica Huston. Paloma Picasso. Both extremely strong featured women, I remember looking at Paloma's ads in the 80's thinking, she is not pretty at all but there's something so arresting about her.

Both happen to be the daughters of very powerful men, maybe being around such strong personalities taught them how to channel their inner strength, which always is very attractive.

Betty

 

[eternitygoddess]

What is the factor that can transform these women in the icons they are?

to use another french term: je ne sais quoi

I find alot of French actresses are not facially beautiful, but very alluring.

American actresses on the other hand, facially attractive but as appealing as a lump of coal.

 

[La bordélique]

je ne sais quoi is just synonym of 'it' factor.

 

[>GLamourETTE<]

carine roitfeld and talitha getty.

 

[newprincesita]

Carine Roitfeld absolutely!

I was thinking about Joanna Preiss and Vanessa Paradis too. Vanessa has a gorgeous face, but her teeth would look hideous on somebody else.

 

[Style-Addict]

to use another french term: je ne sais quoi

I find alot of French actresses are not facially beautiful, but very alluring.

American actresses on the other hand, facially attractive but as appealing as a lump of coal.

So true!

 

[satin chic]

Tilda Swinton is the first one that came to mind. I don't think she'd be considered conventional in any way.

 

[newprincesita]

Lou Doillon. That´s an odd face, great body, but definitely non conventional features.

 

[ChloeFrancoise]

I don't know if I would agree with the part about facial beauty because that depends on what someone actually considers beautiful, but I agree that the French actresses are more alluring and appealing than a lot the American ones.

 

[newprincesita]

I realize that beauty is sometimes something relative, what someone finds beautiful, could be not for others. But also there are certain "conventions" about beauty, about features, that are blatantly broken by these women I´m refering to.

For instance Charlotte Gainsbourg mouth is quite strange, she has no lips almost, a strange underbite, her eyes are droopy and her eyelashes are always pointing down. But she has the ability to look wonderful, like a fairy, WITHOUT desguising those features, but on the contrary FLAUNTING them....

If this is not magic, I don´t know it could be.

 

[angelfish]

i like this thread!
first person that came to mind for me is devon aoki

i think she has one of the most interesting faces ever. it's very child-like
alot of people find her unattractive but i always thought she is so lovely.