Poll: how important are your looks to you

[As You Like It]

I've been thinking a lot about looks lately, and it seems especially pertainent to discussion on a fashion board, especially when so many members, it seems, have aspirations to put their pretty faces to work for themselves.

So I put it to the F-spotters, how important is your physical appearance. Do you think you are good looking or not? Does your beauty or lack thereof make a big difference in how your life goes? Do you wish you were more or less attractive?

Going first, I will step right up and say that I am quite plain, and recognised myself as such at an early age. I think I was around 10 when I realized that I would never be "pretty," but I also recognised at about the same time that I had some other really good things going on, like the ability to be a smartass and amuse other people. I think being taken seriously as a funny person comes more easily to those of us who don't have too perfect of faces.

Not being good looking hasn't really held me down or held me back at all. Oh, sure, I'll never be on the cover of Vogue, but that was never a goal for me. It didn't stop me having a love life or making friends or getting a good job, and it didn't make me shy. In fact, I think the very nature of my not being traditionally beautiful frees me up to be a little more brash, a little more wierd, and a lot less inhibited than many other women who place more stock in being decorative.

I won't lie and say that I have never wished I were better looking, because I am human, and sometimes I just plain wish I looked different from how I do, but those days are becoming less and less frequent the older I get and the more that I have grown into my very strong, distinctive features, and generally become accustomed to being who and what I am.

 

[purplelucrezia]

Honestly, I'm pretty weird looking, but I'm also a vain louse.

 

[purplelucrezia]

Oh, and I'm too tired to write on about this long enough... but to me, there's a major differenciation between looking "plain," and looking attractive in an "ugly" way. If that makes any sense whatsoever... My head's hurting now, but I've always found, say, Jennifer Aniston, to be very plain, and someone who's more unusual to be the more attractive creature. It's about interesting features, not some bland standard. Interesting features last too.

 

[minasdecobre]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately too, and I'm still not sure exactly how important my looks are to me.

I've had issues with my appearance at times, and sometimes wished I was born more "beautiful" (whatever that is) BUT I've never wished to change any parts of my body, because then I would not be me, somehow... which is a strange thing to say, since my personality is the most important part of me after all... heh.

So. I have that Madonna/Agnetha Fältskog/Vanessa Paradis/Lauren Hutton gap between my front teeth - but I've come to like it. A lot actually. I'm also very pale, and people comment on it all the time, and even say I look sick or ill. I have tons of birthmarks all over my body. I bet I have more birthmarks on my left arm than my whole family have all together .

PE in school:
Class mate: "Wow, Louise, you have a lot of birthmarks!"
Me: (saying) "Eh, yeah" (thinking) "Oh? I do? I really never noticed myself."

I don't have Jessica Stam's or Adina's piercing eyes. I don't have Cintia's hair, and I certainly don't have Caroline Winberg's amazingly infectious smile. My body's not perfect by commercial standards, but it's ok. Over all, I'd say I look... um, not plain - that's not the word, but I also won't take your breath away. Even if other people see me as physically beautiful, I couldn't really see that myself. I'm not butt ugly, but I'm not lusting for myself either, that's for sure. And I'd never win any beauty contests. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to either.

Heck, it feels like this post is going nowhere... I'm not coming to any conclusions... I'm just rambling. Oh well. So yes, my looks are important to me. I try my best to look as good as I can. And yes, I care about what others might think about my appearance. I'd love it for others to get all dazzled by my beauty, but I couldn't help but laugh if someone actually called me beautiful. I'm just the girl next door.The girl you pass in the street without turning around for another look.


This was long. Felt like therapy.

 

[AlexN]

I feel like my looks/appearance are important to me. But they don't do a bit of good for me, so I guess they really aren't important. I've never been told I'm attractive or anything like that (except here, and even if people were being honest, I wouldn't believe it), so I don't feel the least bit attractive.

I know, I'm so whiney and obnoxious. Boohoo...

 

[Kimkhuu]

Do you consider yourself attractive?

Deep down inside....

 

[fouroclock]

Half the time, yes.

 

[cigaretiquette]

when I feel great I'm very attractive.
when I feel sorta unhinged it feels like my cheeks are swollen and have black spots beneath my eyes.
work does not do wonders for the way I feel so ..

 

[iconemod]

Specially when I wear my make-up à la Emma Peel and my chignon à la Audrey, I feel like princess-attractive.
Hair undone, wearing a Lagerfeld babydoll ... dark-attractive
With my bonnet à la David Bowie and my tight Maje brown coat and boots.. brit-attractive

 

[Curious]

Yes. I'm completely aware of ALL of my flaws, too. But I know I'm not ugly, if that's what you mean...

 

[jssy4eva]

i think that we all do...even if we don't admit it....i think that i am pretty and when i dress up ia am hot....if i want people to think that i am hot, i have to believe it myself

 

[laura4eva]

im always told im very pretty.... sometimes when i do my hair nice,and i wear nice clothese i feel pretty..but other times when my hair is greasy and i cant be bothered to do it,and ive got a few spots and that makes me feel soo unattractive i dont go out the house,and sit in my pajamas all day

 

[snowqueen]

no i dont, i feel physicaly sick when i look in the mirror. In my opinion i have horrid hair, my nose is wide at the top but short, it turns up slitely, my face looks like it rammed into the corner of my redicualsly square head, my eyes are like little slips, they are a werid grey colour, my lips are thin and a horrid colour. one of my teeeth is sloghtly crocked as it broke of my brace (long story, will be gettin fixed soon though), my ears are pierced once but i ripped the holes so the hole is big, my neck is long and werid, i have a pouch under my chin. I am short and fat, adn hva e stumpy fat teddy bear legs. my feet are tiny and my toes ae very werid and short. my arms are long with tiny hands with big long fingers, my nails are tiny and weak, my skin tones is very pale and fair and uneven.
So no in my opinion im butt ugly. Even though i regualry get told the opicite, some time even by complete strangers, but i find this patronising and think they are taking the p!ss out of me, and are only saying this out of pity. Ive never had a proper boyfriend, i only seem to attract stalkers and weridos....

 

[laura4eva]

wow you really have a downer on yourself dont you!! im sure your really pretty!!! it looks like you look and hate everything you see.You should ease up on yourself a bit,im sure if you start thinking your pretty you will feel pretty and feel better i know what its like when i feel proper ugly ,but when i feel nice i feel alot better.

 

[snowqueen]

pritty much yes, its not that im that ugly just i think everyone else is prittyer.
OMG how shallow do i sound, listen to my self i sound arful, at least i have no deformities or disabilities etc. i feel so bad for saying all this stuff now

 

[Curious]

Ive never had a proper boyfriend, i only seem to attract stalkers and weridos....

I had this problem, too!! Although, it's really not a problem in retrospect. Boys are silly and scared when they're young. They're probably intimitated and scared to approach. This is all new territory for them, too and it's much harder for them since they have to do the initiation. Don't worry about it. You'll find your prince

Also, I'm sure there's one feature about you that you like. Focus on that one feature that is beautiful to YOU and the rest will come. I'm sure your lovely, doll!!

 

[snowqueen]

thanks your all so sweet. It just finding something i like now thats the probalem lol

 

[Hipkitten]

Tiamaria: Don't be so hard on yourself! I'll bet you're a darling girl who’s just too critical about her looks (happens to the best of us). Besides, you're only 16 (according to your profile) - you still have a lot of growing and changing to do. In fact, at 25, I'm happier about my appearance than I ever have been. So chin up! Go shopping, treat yourself to a day at the spa, read an inspiring book, buy some naughty lingerie - make life about you for a while. You'll find yourself - and when you do you'll see what a gorgeous person you truly are

 

[snowqueen]

thanks !! i feel really bad for going on i feel really whiney lol

 

[LeEtoile]

I always say to myself..."I'm just happy to have a face".