Love + Sex

Saturday, December 5, 2009

How much do looks matter?

I may sound really shallow, but I don't think I can date someone who I don't find physically attractive.

I wish I could deny my instincts, but my instincts tell me that I won't be happy unless someone is smart, fun, sweet AND good-looking.

Guys are often stimulated by visual cues. They will gravitate and hit on the girls they find physically attractive when they are out.

But I hope that most guys are not judging books by the cover. In other words, I hope what most guys are looking for is a book with a pretty cover and a great story inside. A pretty cover alone can only go so far.

So, is it less shallow to say that guys are attracted to a girl at FIRST by how she looks, but then there must be more to formulate a deeper relationship? I've struggled for a long time: why can't I just be attracted to the great girl that isn't pretty on the outside in my eyes? Or, why do I only go for these girls that I find pretty on the outside before I know about what's on the inside?

When I meet an amazing girl personality-wise that is not physically attractive to me, she just becomes a really good friend, and once they are a friend it never changes.

Here is what I notice in terms of appearance, in order, in a girl when I'm out:

1. Figure/frame - I wish this wasn't so, but it is. I tried to tell my friend Margaret that I noticed eyes before anything else. But she was quick to point out that I won't approach a girl who is not petite and is not shorter than me. I'm average height and my first few girlfriends I ever had were all petite. So I guess I've just developed attraction to that type of figure.

2. Eyes - The most attractive communicate a lot in general, but they also say that there are hidden things that-- if I'm lucky to get close to that person--I will discover. Not all eyes have that little glimmer that sets me on fire, but when I see that glimmer it's an amazing experience.

Blondie Glow

http://welliwonder.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/die-young-stay-pretty/


3. Hair - You know that when hair moves a certain way, it moves me. So, pretty hairstyle, color, and texture are attractive.

4. Smile - Smiling a lot is key. Almost all smiles I've seen in my experience are pretty.

5. Style - When a girl has exceptional, classy or edgy style, it is really attractive, and it almost always enhances her natural appearance.

When I see a girl that meets all of those characteristics,
she has a slight glow: she stands out in a crowded room. I see girls like this about once every three months or so.

I find it hard to imagine dating anyone that I wouldn''t want to see sitting across from me at a dinner table every day, that wouldn''t brighten the room every day when she walked in, and that didn''t have that glow.

What I do need to work on, perhaps, is being more forgiven. Should I open my mind so that I'm not so picky-does she really need to "glow"? Or is it impossible to just change my instincts and mental makeup?

Maybe I'm just immature. Older people tell me that looks disappear eventually, but personality is what will keep me happy in a serious relationship as time goes on. So, is it limiting to demand both amazing looks and personality in a soul mate?

Have you ever met someone that wasn't attractive at first, but then became more physically attractive because of a wonderful personality? Do you agree that the first step in attraction is physical and that it's really hard to just change what you've developed in your mind as "physical attractiveness" in the opposite sex?


Posted by Rich

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 291
  • Rae's Avatar
    Posted by Rae Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:09pm PST

    Yep.

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  • FL Enginerd's Avatar
    Posted by FL Enginerd Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:46am PST

    I think that looks in general aren't important, but the initial attraction is vital. My mother always told everyone that my type was tall, skinny, and ugly. Maybe they were in her eyes, but to me I thought they were adorable. There were also boyfriends that were so cute, that I even felt intimidated!

    I did like this guy a couple months back that was so much fun to hang out with. We had so much fun together and he was sweet and caring towards me. I just couldn't feel the attraction. He did not want to be "friends", so I tried to pursue him as a boyfriend. What happened? Not only did I lose a guy that I wasn't that into, but my best friend in the whole world. I should've known better.

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  • Mike's Avatar
    Posted by Mike Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:11pm PST

    I don't think its shallow to only date people you are physically attracted to. It doesn't matter how wonderful a person is on the inside, if they aren't physically attractive in my eyes, then its simply not going to work. For me, sexual chemistry is an important part of a relationship.

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  • Juliette Rousseau's Avatar
    Posted by Juliette Rousseau Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:13pm PST

    What I'm finding nowadays is that I've become somewhat attracted to some of my guy friends. When I first become friends with some of them, I'm not as inclined to their physical characteristics. But if they have a great personality and are just fun to be around, eventually I'll start to think things like, "You know, he has a really cute smile" or "I never noticed how brown his eyes are..."

    Things like that. I believe that after a while, once you get to know a person, the things you didn't notice before will begin to shine through. But then again, I could never imagine myself dating most of my guy friends. What I mean to say I guess is that even though they may not seem physically attractive at first, at some point they may start to show more noticable characteristics. Perhaps it takes a little while to get that "glow" goin', you know?

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  • Gigi's Avatar
    Posted by Gigi Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:14pm PST

    I'm one of those people that, if they're really nice or has that swagger, they start getting more attractive to me. Looks do matter at first, but there are ways to get over that.

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  • Rowdygirl's Avatar
    Posted by Rowdygirl Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:19pm PST

    I think you're going to be on a continual hunt since looks really ARE all that matter to you.... your post makes that pretty obvious. My question would be this: why are you still looking? If you've always dated only good looking women, why haven't you already chosen one? If it's just the looks and you don't truly care about the person, just pick a good looking one and take yourself off the market. I'm sure there are ALOT of women who would be glad to see you go...

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  • Nic's Avatar
    Posted by Nic Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:10pm PST

    My [hot] girlfriends and I tend to have average looking boyfriends by conventional standards, but we've all been with our men for 4+ years and one of them is even engaged. Guess why? Because they aren't shallow pricks. Guys like you that approach me are completley transparent - I can tell all you are into is my looks and that might be all you care about. I avoid most typically good looking guys because in my 26 years on this planet, 99% of them have been pure a-holes. It's the quieter, unassuming guys that will treat you like a queen and stick it out for the long haul. They are also better at making me laugh - a quality that far surpasses physical appearance.

    But I'm not a man...so I guess I don't get how the "visual" aspect of love & sex is the most important.

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  • kay's Avatar
    Posted by kay Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:16pm PST

    i think that looks are important, its part of what attracts you to a person initially most times. its scientifically proven. but everyones opinion of what they like varies. I have a friend who likes really tall, really skinny guys. i tend to prefer guys closer to my height who are not quite as thin. everyone has traits they like and dislike. as long as your not holding the expectation that you will only be willing to date a supermodel, its okay to put a bit into looks.

    plus, a lot of people who aren't the most attractive at first (not to say you find them completely unappealing) can seem more attractive once you get to know them.

    Just remember its not about looks alone.

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  • hi my name is...'s Avatar
    Posted by hi my name is... Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:40pm PST

    Attraction is key, on someone's part. My boyfriend, was instantly attracted to me. I thought he was cute, not my type (my type prior being attractive good looking self-centered aholes). But, I agree with Juliette. The more time I spent with him, the more sides I got to see of him. The more i loved him. Thus, making him that more sexy, cute, attractive... to me. Sometimes, you have to give it a chance. Who knows what could be in store.

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  • JessicaC's Avatar
    Posted by JessicaC Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:11pm PST

    There is nothing wrong with the way you look at things. Your woman should definatly have that glow.....that is what makes here so special to you. But one day you may notice that the woman of your dreams, the woman with this amazing glow....may be a size 12! Could you handle that?????

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