What does someone mean if they describe you as 'striking'

[surlycurly]

As per the thread title, close to me someone regularly describes me as 'striking'. Unfortunately it doesn't feel like a compliment. I'm on holiday at the moment and was commenting to them about the cultural differences re catcalls beeping horns etc, when they said well 'I suppose you're quite striking. And Italians are boobs men and you have big boobs. It's probably that'. To be honest, I've never heard that kind of stereotypical crap before, and I'm not a teenager who needs to get compliments from random men. It's just that this person regularly describes me as 'striking' rather than attractive. Are the two synonymous to you?

It’s a prickly way of saying you turn heads.

I think striking isn't typically pretty, but is very attractive. I'm trying to think of an example of someone famous and really struggling!

Yes, it means very attractive but not necessarily in an obvious pretty girl-next-door sort of way. It’s a compliment.

I'd say it means attractive but not in a stereotypically 'pretty' way; it's how I'd describe my 14 year old. Think someone like Angelica Houston.

I would have thought Italian men are more leg or butt men.

I interpret and say striking as attractive in a unique or unusual way that makes you stands out from the crowds, when you enter a room with a group of women you are the first one that eyes go for and notice. Perhaps you have very blue eyes and jet black hair or are tall with a great big mane of red hair or something like that that makes you stand out and noticeable, head turning because your beauty is not common, everyday type of look. I think it's a compliment but I can see why it might seem like objectifying or othering you especially if you are from a mixed ethnicity or one that might be described 'exotic' (horrid term).

Was she pissed when she said what she said?

I think it's not conventionally pretty like a girl next door type but very attractive and attracts attention.

I would say Angelina Jolie is striking. Reese Witherspoon is very pretty.

Angelina Jolie came to my mind too. Striking - kind of dramatic looking, stops you in your tracks.

Interestingly, I seem to take it more negatively than anyone here. I'm tall with very dark eyes. Not conventionally pretty but I seem to have something. It's usually said quite dismissively which is why I have taken umbrage I suppose. I have form with this person; they need constant reassurance about their looks, whereas I haven't really ever needed that. I think I thought they were being quite hostile.

To me, striking would describe people like Linda Evangelista (in her prime), Anjelica Huston, Angelina Jolie etc - women with strong, beautiful, stand out facial features that cause you to stare at them because they stand out from the crowd.

They can still be beautiful but they arent that kind of cutesy, twee type pretty that many women aim for

Linda Evangelists compared to Claudia Schiffer.

Well maybe I need to stop being so jaggy about that one! 😖

Yes- exactly. Linda was my favourite supermodel. I could stare at her face for ages because it just mesmerises me. Claudia I can see is obviously pretty but there is nothing interesting about her face to me, she's just one of many "pretty" women

Not necessarily pretty but memorable-looking. It's usually a compliment.

Buggering up everyone’s journey because you don’t think you’re paid enough.

I would have said it applies to people with noticeable facial dysmorphia, unusual enough to observe at a casual glance so not as mild as markers for FAS, more like a big underbite etc.

Attractive but in an unusual way, rather than generically pretty. Usually cheekbone-y!

Cate Blanchett is striking, I’d say. Or Zoe Saldana

Angelina Jolie was the person that came to mind when I was thinking of someone who'd be considered striking. It is a compliment - someone striking will turn heads, attract attention (in a good way).

It definitely isn't facial disfigurement!

To me, striking is someone who stands out. Someone whose looks or poise or a specific feature just draws your attention.

It’s something I got called as a young woman .. and I’m tall and was dark haired and eyed like you say you are . I took it the same way as you - to mean not pretty but someone who stands out .

looking back I should have just accepted the compliment !

it’s a good thing OP

Yes, striking to me means attractive in a memorable, ‘second look’ but not typically ‘pretty’ way. So maybe exceptionally tall and elegant, has that illusive ‘X factor’ that makes them sexy (the way they move, hold themselves or engage with people), fantastic hair, strong jawline (not as PP above describes, more like a square or particularly well defined jaw line) or nose.

😃

I used to get this a lot when I was younger. I'm 'ethnic' and I am tall with a a lot of dark curly hair and a big nose. I always took it as a sort of backhanded compliment - it was usually said by very 'WASP-y' types (blonde, blue eyed, conventionally pretty). Often think it has an undertone of being sexually attractive but not 'pretty'.

It's been said about me quite a few times (I'm also tall and dark and obviously not typical white European) and I never took it very positively either.

ah, you’ve said you’re tall. That tends to garner attention. I’m not even tall at almost 5’8” but weirdly, despite living in flat shoes, I am often the tallest woman in the room (I must live in a short area!). I am otherwise unremarkable to look at but i almost always get a second look. I think it’s because I catch men’s eyeline like a giraffe popping up over the canopy

Someone with something that makes them stand out - long red hair, bright green eyes or very high cheek bones. Something that means you can't take your eyes off them.