Once you get past their odor, French women are the same as those the world over.

not the u circonflexe, simply the u as in "tu". Excusez-moi!

Sophie wouldn't sleep with you, Waldo?

"odor" ?
surely you mean scent!

I have noticed that, to me, certain age and nationality groups seem very appealing. But as I said, it's to me. I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it all depends on whether or not that certain type is your type, if you know what I mean.

I like thin, pale men. When thin, young, pale men have English or Irish accents, I lose my cool.

DH likes Italian women (and it's a good thing, too!) and has been known to stare at gorgeous young women in Italy.

When in France, I notice more good looking men, but notice many stylish women, especially in Paris.

So my theory is, that it's what you like that catches your intention. I have known a couple of men from outside the US that think girls in New York, Florida and California are the hottest things they've ever seen. It's what makes the world go round, IMO.

Not to be sticky Tuscan but I am not sure "beauty" is what I meant - reread the title. Perhaps this is an example:
http://tinyurl.com/yybej6

Scarlett,
I think the film with Emanuelle Béart and Daniel Auteuil is "Un Coeur en Hiver."

It's currently in my queue on Netflix- sounds good.

When we were in Paris in September, my sister saw Catherine Deneuve near St. Sulpice (I guess she lives nearby). She said she still looked very beautiful.

sunstar: Who she thinkh he is :)

Scarlett, yes, I still love her best in Nelly and M. Arnaud, a film where nothing much happens but gets to you.
Michel Serrault is heart-breaking. What an actor! From Cage au Folie to Nelly!

what has impressed me about European women, in general, is the fact that very few women have had plastic surgery, or if they have, it was very subtle. Living in Los Angeles I see so many people that look as though they would melt in a heat wave. The collagen lips, fake breasts, skinny legs and arms. They look like they're either related to the Joker from Batman or Donald Duck with their puffed up lips. Not a very attractive look.

Madison, have you seen "For Your Consideration"? There is a very funny (and very telling) riff on the over-collagenized LA woman.

Every starlet wants to look like SHE, whose lips enter the room first, A.J.

lol, cigale! The only problem w/AJ is that out of those lips come some pretty strange words, imo.

lucie - No, I haven't seen "For Your Consideration." Question - who is AJ?

that's my description of Angelina Jolie.

"I like thin, pale men..."

Tuscanlifeedit, how funny, I'm the opposite, I have no interest in skinny men, aka twig boys. I would far rather ogle Brendan Fraser than Jude Law (fortunately for me, DH is built very much like the former). Must be my German genes!

There are beautiful women from every country. Some French women are gorgeous, others don't look so great close up (mostly due to the effects of chain smoking).

As for Italian men, you should hear what my Milan lady colleagues have to say about them. They are NOT impressed. As far as they're concerned, most Italian men are spoiled, self-centered mama's boys.

I agree with that and I too,
prefer Brendan Fraser. He's under-used as an actor.

Are they sexy to those flirtatious Italian men perhaps?

Cigalechanta,

You can actually catch Michel Serrault as one of the teaching staff in the original <i>Diabolique</i>.

I saw that film, great, especially the director's wife whose name escapes me.
Sh really looked like she had that heart attack!

V&eacute;ra Clouzot, who did die of a heart attack in 1960.