Pleasingly plump? What do men really think?

i can only offer my twisted perspective which isnt going to answer the question as directly as im guessing youd prefer. i dont like models (at least none ive encountered so far) for a number of reasons and although i know i shouldnt allow that dislike to project itself on women who just have the bad fortune to resemble models, its difficult. so ill pass on the anorexics in bathing suits (especially those with toothpick arms). other than that, i like all the other varieties, preferably without any surgical enhancements.

Teegs -- see Dharma's article "what's the skinny with anorexic looking chicks"Link

She basically asked the same question a couple months ago and got a few good responses

Curvaceously yours... or not?

you wish jelly fish

Here is a tip.....every guy is different. e.g. I know a few guys who think Julia Roberts is sexy....for me she is a turn off. Some guys can go for looks and it doesnt matter what is 'underneath'. For me Julia Roberts is one of the worst actresses I have ever seen and so I find her a complete turn off.
That doesnt mean that I dont find women sexy on looks but I can tell you if I started talking to the sexyist looking woman in the world and she proved to be really dumb I would (may????) be turned off. Looks matter, but it is not everything in the mixture. From someone who has neither looks or intelligence, you can believe it.

Julia Roberts is one of the worst actresses I have ever seen

a truly insightful observation

Every guy has different ideas of what is attractive and what is not. Personally, I don't even have a "type". I know that I prefer women a little shorter than average, but have dated some women who were tall.

I don't like extremely skinny women, but have dated a few. I don't like extremely heavy women, but have dated a few.

It all depends on the woman's personality and over-all image. I don't like a woman who is too lazy to fix her hair and make herself presentable any more than I would expect a woman to like a guy who doesn't take time to shave and make himself presentable.

To answer your question, there is no answer. It all just depends.

I have been both fat and thin. And I can tell you that in terms of attracting people, it doesn't seem to matter anywhere near as much as how you feel about yourself. I know that it is a trite, over used platitude, but you have to be happy with yourself. That's what shines through and makes you attractive. When I was thin I hated myself so much that no matter how good I looked in what ever it was I was wearing, the cloud of self loathing that hung around me would stop anyone from being interested!
And no one is universally attractive. Just as we won't get on with everyone we meet, we won't be attractive to everybody either. Look at the celebrities that people name as most attractive - everyone has a different opinion.
I say rejoice in our diversity! And the most beautiful people I know don't have a particular size or look. They have a kind heart.

That's what shines through and makes you attractive.

so true

Just as we won't get on with everyone we meet, we won't be attractive to everybody either.

But no matter how much we tell ourselves these things, it doesn't matter it is at the core of our beings to be both wanted to be liked by everyone and found attractive by someone.

Of course every man is different some of the girls my best friends goes for I wouldn't touch with a fifty foot pole and vice versa. Yet I feel there are somegenerally characterics that most guys will agree on (at least it terms of totally superficial aspects).

1. Nice proportions. Girls seem to think that guys care about whether they are short, tall, fat, thin or in between. I think guys just care that they look proportionate. I've female friends with beautiful curves complain "Oh I'm soo fat!" when they have beautiful proportions. On the other hand you can have a girls that is thin, but way too thin and there head looks like and apple perched on a skewer. Thin girls can look good but only if it is there natural body type, I've senn plenty of heathly looking thin girls. In general though size preference is variable from guy to guy.

2. Hair looks better down than up and better head-length to long than really short (unless it goes afro). I've informally surveyed many guys about this and nearly everyone likes hair down better. And yet girls put their hair up for special occasions...something I will never understand. I don't mind if its up most of the time (I know it can get annoying) and makes sense to save the hair down thing for maximum impact.

I wouldn't go by how most models look. They are pick as walking clothes horses by straight women and gay men! Except for the some of the "supermodels" I think most models are dog ugly. For crying out loud learn to smile girls!

But no matter how much we tell ourselves these things, it doesn't matter it is at the core of our beings to be both wanted to be liked by everyone and found attractive by someone.

So true, Gerry. I think I'm being a little idealistic! (As per usual)

For crying out loud learn to smile girls!

Yeah, most of the runway models look like they are in pain most of the time .  Why do they look so mad all the time? 

Runway models are typically not "naturally" that thin.  Cindy Crawford is "big" compared to the average runway model.  They starve themselves and tend to do drugs to keep the weight off- which may be why they are not considered attractive my some males- they don't look healthy.

3 words...Catherine Zeta Jones

I probably won't be much help, because I'm a chick, but I think it just completely depends on the person, like they've been saying.

I know a few guys who think Julia Roberts is sexy....for me she is a turn off. Some guys can go for looks and it doesnt matter what is 'underneath'. For me Julia Roberts is one of the worst actresses I have ever seen and so I find her a complete turn off.

Argh... I would disagree 180 degrees. I think she's great, and also goodlooking. One time my friend (a guy) was over and complaining about how ugly she is. Drove me nuts... so I asked my uncle if he thought she was good-looking and he said yes. I think she's gorgeous and can act as well! So Gerry, who are your favourite actors?

~Sarah

My husband can't stand Julia Roberts, either.  I don't know what it is- but it seems like more women label her as "attractive" then men do.

Yeah, most of the runway models look like they are in pain most of the time

They probably have stomach cramps from all abuse they do to their digestive tract. (i.e. starvation)

-- B

3 words...Catherine Zeta Jones

Yes! She is extremely sexy, I even thought so when she had a bun in the oven. It's all about the overall aura that a woman throws off. The accent might have something to do with it too.

-- B

Cher (back in the 70's) was SO HOT! I also loved Princess Lea in the second Star Wars when she was chained to Jabba the Hut in her slave outfit.

heres a true model anecdote:

i dropped by a shoot to discuss something with one of the photographers only everyone was taking a break and the person i needed to see had stepped out for a few. so im looking over the polaroids and i hear the following conversation...

model 1: (discussing the thai food that had been ordered in) this is really good. i just LOVE thai food
model 2: yeah me too. (long moment) where does it come from?
model 1: hmm im not sure. (brightening) oh i know..japan!

model 1: (discussing the thai food that had been ordered in) this is really good. i just LOVE thai food model 2: yeah me too. (long moment) where does it come from? model 1: hmm im not sure. (brightening) oh i know..japan!

See, it's not healthy to starve yourself.  You kill off brain cells.

Were these two blonde, by chance?

When the lights are out, they really don't care;)

in this case, yes. but modeldom trumps hair color. several weeks later, a brunette was led into my office and urged to ask me the same question shed just posed to the person who brought her to me. so she smiled sweetly and asked, 'have you ever heard of a guy named bob dylan? is he famous or something?" after meeting him in a bar and spending most of the night hanging out with him, she wasnt quite sure if it was worth bragging about.

.

When the lights are out, they really don't care;)

Thats a low blow.

I dont know i dont have a specific type when it comes to women, if i have to guess it would be 2 things, the first one would be "looks" (as i said i dont have anything specific to add to "looks") the next one would be personality they would have to be great listeners, funny, charming, open-minded, intelligent, witty and most importantly caring.

Yeah, most of the runway models look like they are in pain most of the time . Why do they look so mad all the time?

They're probably hungering for a Big Mac that they know they'll never have.

wow.... i've been out all weekend but it seems you guys have been busy! check out all your responses!

i totally agree with what most of you said about 1. self confidence being attractive and 2. how it depends on your 'type' and 3. personality is way more important. well, all three of those are certainly true for me when it comes to how i look at guys. my reason for writing this post though was that i was just puzzled that magazines and the fashion industry seem to push "skinny" on us, when it seems so many people find curvy (or at least non-bony) attractive.

it's just weird!

not saying skinny can't be pretty, and some people are naturally thin (and berated for it!). takes all kinds, as they say. i just hope the young generation of girls who are so influenced by what they see in the media are able to see themselves as attractive as they are, and don't try to fit themselves into a mold that for some is unattainable, and for most is not the pinnacle of attractiveness that they percieve it to be.

Skinny, bony, fat, pleasingly..., all are in the beholder, yet I perceive them as trim in their own right.