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11/12/2004: "Blonde and Blue? Or Brown and Lavender?"

Recently I've been seeing discussions about hero/heroine eye and hair color crop up on at least two different lists. I've seen people saying things like, "I'm sick of seeing red-haired, green-eyed heroines," and "dark hair and dark eyes on a hero is so cliche!"



Is it just me, or does it seem impossible for hair/eye color to be cliche, given that there are only so many combinations in the world? I mean, eyes come in brown, green, and blue, with variations within each of those colors. So you only have so many to choose from. Same with hair. Blonde, brown, black, and red, with variations of each. I really don't get annoyed by REAL hair/color combinations.

What gets me are the "romance" colors like lavender. (I'm not talking about sci-fi or fantasy or paranormals, but stories set in the "real" world.

I don't know. Just seems weird to complain about character hair and eyes being cliche when A) those combinations exist in real life, and B) there are only so many combinations from which to choose. When did real life become cliche? Sometimes I think people scream "cliche" simply because the word is fun to say. Or because they are trying SO hard to create something different (which often doesn't work because it's too outlandish,) that they have to look down on what is real, or common, or normal.

IMO, how the author describes their characters is what makes the character not seem so cliche. Cheesy "her sapphire eyes sparkled in the pale moonlight that glistened off her golden blonde tresses" not only makes me gag, but does come across as tired. So keep the blue-eyed, blonde-haired heroine and make the description fresh. And keep the tall, dark and handsome hero, because that's what I like best!

Replies: 10 brave souls responded

on Friday, November 12th, Cece said

:::looking around::: okay it's safe. I'll stay.

I agree from the bottom of my tired heart. You can have cheesy or something that reads like a rap sheet. Fred was 5'10 with brown hair and eyes. So does he look more like Eminem orrrrrr Peewee Herman

Forgive me I'm slaphappy

on Friday, November 12th, Sasha said

It's those famous words the we love and hate.
"It's all in the execution."

on Friday, November 12th, Toni said

Regarding your post: Agreed.

Regarding the last two lines of your blog: You're a poet and don't know it.

on Friday, November 12th, Jordan said

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

on Friday, November 12th, Maili said

FWIW, it *is* a cliche to have a "highlander" with black hair and blue eyes, or dark brown hair and brown eyes. In real life, people with those colourings in the "Scottish Highlands" are a rarity. Those with dark brown eyes are usually redheads [from beautiful dark red to strawberry blonde, with a lot of orangeheads!].

If there is a blue-eyed, black-haired Scot, it usually means that person has strong Welsh or Irish heritage.

So, when I read a Scottish historical romance, it seems that it's almost always that the hero has black or very dark brown hair and blue eyes, or has the dark colouring. I never understood why. Maybe it's to do with the general [mis]assumption about Celtic looks?

There is a saying that, further you go up in Scotland, lighter hair and eyes locals will have. Also, if you sight a white-blond/e [also a rarity] in the most northern Scottish spot, you have to cross yourself and hope that misfortune won't visit you soon.

The "classic" Scottish colouring is dirty blonde hair, pale skin and blue, green, or hazel eyes. [Think of Sean Bean.] It makes sense because the west and north-east Highlands were home to many scandinavian settlements.

Anyway, yes, there is a cliche when comes to [mistakenly] associating physical colouring with a region. FWIW.

on Saturday, November 13th, Larissa said

Hmm, I guess I wasn't thinking about historicals. I was mostly ranting about contemporary romance, since that's almost all I read anymore. Good point, Maili!

on Saturday, November 13th, Jordan said

Hmm...I'm married to a black haired/green eyed Scot with no Welsh or Irish in him. LOL! I wonder where he fits in the scheme of things.

on Saturday, November 13th, Maili said

Jordan, I was referring to people of the Highlands. I have no doubt that there are/were some in the south. Where about is/was he from?

on Saturday, November 13th, Maili said

*sigh* my response didn't appear. I'm trying again:

Jordan, I was referring to people of the Highlands. I have no doubt that there are/were some in the south. Where about is/was your hubby from?

on Monday, November 15th, Cece said

Very interesting Maili! My dad's family came over from Aberdeen 2 generations ago (If I counted right). The quirky information nut in me loves stuff like this