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I’d say that eyes are the feature that matter most to us in terms of looks. You don’t often hear someone saying, for example, “Oh, he had the most beautiful chin! I couldn’t look away!”
In the romance novels of my formative years, all the heroes had coal-black eyes (impossible, of course…dark, dark brown, sure. Black…no.). Heroines, on the other hand, had only jewel-tones: sapphire, emerald, topaz, the occasional turquoise. This matched their ruby lips quite nicely, as well as their pearl-like teeth.
When I was a youth, I dated a guy who had really pretty eyes…blue. Or green. Or bluish-green? Anyway, what I remember more than his actual eye color was the number of times women exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh, you have the most amazing eyes!” I found this quite irritating. My own eyes are brown. I consider them to be my best feature. I have pretty good lashes (thanks, Dad!). My family is Hungarian—to me, a quintessential Hungarian feature is big, expressive eyes. When I’m sad, as I was recently due to the death 
of my beloved dog, I can’t stand to look in the mirror, because I look so dang tragic. My son and one of my nieces, on the other hand, have what I call “smiley eyes.” They always look mischievous, these kids. If they’re up to something, we can always tell. Heath Ledger had smiley eyes. Usher does, too. So does my own sainted husband.
When I think back on my hero and heroine’s eye color, I come up with this: Sam & Millie: hazel/brown. Malone & Maggie: blue/gray. Trevor & Chastity: brown/blue. Callahan & Grace: blue/I forget. Ethan and Lucy: brown/brown. Ian & Callie: blue/brown. Nick & Harper: brown/green. Malone and Ian both had very pretty blue eyes, and their womenfolk fixated on the color appropriately.
More important to me, though, is the mood of the eyes—I’m doing line edits for My One & Only, and I keep coming across the phrase “gypsy eyes” for Nick. That’s because when I was first writing this book, I dreamed about the characters, and Nick looked an awful lot like Robert Downey Jr. (sigh!). And come one…RDJ has beautiful gypsy eyes, don’t you think?
Sad eyes get to me, too…Callahan and Sam both had those downturning, lovely eyes. I’m a sucker for this type. Russell Crowe, Kyle Chandler…purr! I find myself stifling urges to make them smile, because the transformation is so deeply satisfying. (Does anyone have their phone numbers, by the way?)
Contrary to many romance novels, eyes can’t change color. No one’s turquoise eyes, for example, can actually darken to sapphire. But irises do expand with attraction, so it might look that way. And it’s amazing, I think, how much emotion can be conveyed in a gaze—I mean, can’t we all tell when our significant others are bored or amorous or stifling laughter, even when their poker faces are on?
Do you have a preference for eye color or shape? Are eyes the first thing you notice? Post a comment, and I’ll give away a copy of Just One of the Guys, which I hear is in short supply (but which Harlequin is kindly reprinting at this very moment!). Trevor had hot fudge eyes in that one…perfect for Chastity, who loves dessert.
Filed in: Jaunty Post,Kristan Higgins
Nov 2nd
2010
6:34 am
Laura Said:
A few years back I was setting up one of my closest friends and the woman I was fixing him up with asked what color his eyes were. I assumed they were brown and told her so. Then I had lunch with him a couple of days later and they were green. So, while I might get wrapped up in some really gorgeous eyes, they don’t necessarily stand out to me. Oh, and I’ve been told my eyes have changed colors. I have blue eyes but when I went to get fitted for contacts when I was in high school, the eye doctor said they were green. I looked at my mother like he was nuts and she agreed with him that they were green – in that moment. I’ve also been told they’ve looked violet before. So maybe something is going on to make them look that way but it does at least appear they’re changing – at times.
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Nov 2nd
2010
6:58 am
Kirsten Said:
The first thing that I notice about someone is their smile or lack of it. If they have nice teeth, good lips or if one corner turns up. Even if they have dimples. It fascinates me. This doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate eyes but it’s the smile that gets my first attention. In children it usually is their eyes I like, if they sparkle with excitement or have a zest for life. I’m not always such a happy person and meeting people whose face expresses joy, makes me feel lighter somehow. I guess that’s why the eyes come second place. If they are smiling wide I am encouraged to look deep into their eyes and then I tend to love the deep dark chocolate browns.
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Nov 2nd
2010
7:03 am
Laurie G Said:
In a book, I don’t really care about eye color. I am interested in the author’s total image description.
In person,I always like blue eyes especially with dark hair. I like large eyes too. Small, squinty eyes yuck! They make me think of a criminal. I like normal spaced eyes, symmetrical. The lady who plays Emma on Glee, her eyes are so wide spaced. I find it hard to look at her.
I do believe in the phrase, He has bedroom eyes!
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Nov 2nd
2010
7:18 am
Jamie F Said:
I love thick lashes. They get me every time.
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Nov 2nd
2010
7:22 am
Rebecca Alizadeh Said:
I find eyes to be quite fascinating! There’s also crinkly eyes which u find quite adorable as well. My husband, George Cloooney, has them. It has a way of making a woman feel particularly warm and cozy. Which is the only reason I so willingly share him with all Of the other the women. As a rule, I also like the dark hair, blue-eyed version on a man. Reminds me of someone I used to know. A certain someone who I’ll call DJ, who had a way of looking at me as if he could really SEE me! Regardless of eye color, that is the best kind of eye on a man. And man who really sees you and likes what he sees!
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Nov 2nd
2010
7:29 am
Kristan Higgins Said:
Laura, my daughter’s eyes are green, but if she wears purple, they seem blue. That being said, the irises don’t really change color, of course, but it’s fun to see how different they can look.
@Kirsten…yep, a smile makes a huge difference, doesn’t it?
@Laurie G, I love that phrase, too. Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights rather defines that phrase, you know?
@Jamie F…thick lashes are the reason I spoke to my husband for the first time. Gorgeous!
@Rebecca…you are so generous to share your man with the rest of us! Thank you! And yes, crinkly eyes…sigh!
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Nov 2nd
2010
7:38 am
Christi Snow Said:
I love guys with ice blue eyes and long lashes…just gorgeous!
I am so excited that Just One of the Guys is being re-issued. That is the only book of yours that I haven’t read and everyone just raves about it so I am dying to read it! smiles….
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:00 am
RobynDeHart Said:
Oh yes, I love eyes. I’m not particular about color (though my husband has amazingly blue eyes) but I fixate on eyes. Though I confess I’m fascinated by your eye classification. I’d be curious to know what you’d call Johnny Depp eyes and Joseph Fiennes eyes. So I task you with going to look at their pictures (you’re welcome) so you can answer that question for me. Great post!
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:27 am
kris Said:
eyes are definitely great. I’m a sucker for dark hair and blue eyes. But what really does it for me is hands. I know that is fairly random, but yeah, I love a mans hands.
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:28 am
Ashlee Said:
I love eyes, though I can’t say that I have a color I’m specifically drawn to. In general, I think I notice hands first when I look at someone, though I’m not sure why.
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:28 am
Kristan Higgins Said:
Thank you for the homework, Robyn! After several soulful moments staring at pictures of Johnny Depp, I’d put him in the gypsy classification, most def! Ralph…psycho killer eyes, maybe? The man scares me. Sure, they’re beautiful…yet evil…yet gorgeous…yet terrifying…
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:38 am
Nancy Robards Thompson Said:
I’m a sucker for eyes. However, they’re second on my list to a rockin’ set of shoulders… Favorite eye color: brown…hands down. I’ve always been drawn to the dark and mysterious type. Gypsy eyes…that’s a great description, Kristan. Fun post!
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:50 am
Lisa Said:
I must admit, I’m an “eye” person. My husband has black hair (now speckled with white…which he hates and keeps threatening to use that awful Just for Men haircolor! Ahh! I told him him I like “salt and pepper”…Clooney-esque right?)…anyway, and he has green eyes and long black lashes. Love this combo! My 1 year old son has beautiful eyes as well. they are golden on the inside and blue on the outside. they tend to change colors in whatever outfit he is wearing. We get quite a few compliments on my son’s eyes and I love it! He won’t have dark hair like his daddy…seems he is taking after the “Finn” side (Finnish) of the family. He’s blond like me. Speaking of Finns, my Finnish grandmother adored my younger brother. Forget blue eyes and blond hair. My brother hair light brown eyes and blond locks…my grandmother loved this combination. Maybe blue eyes and blond hair are over-rated in Finland?!
My eyes, well I guess there’s nothing special about the…they are green/hazel and I haven’t many compliments on them. The most memorable compliment I was given was from a sketchy Glamour Shots photographer. At the time I had pink eye. I don’t know why I still had the photo shoot… the photgrapher came up to me, fixed the hideous
hat I was wearing, looked into my eyes and said, “You have beautiful eyes.” I’m guessing he was trying to hit on me or the pink eye ailment I had helped set off the green in my eyes!
: )
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Nov 2nd
2010
8:54 am
Lorelei Said:
I used to think blue eyes were the most beautiful color, then hazel, my eyes are brown. I used wear a lot of black eyeliner to make them look as light brown as possible. But you know later I discovered that it’s not so much the color but the expression the eyes give that make me think if someones handsome, attractive or nice. I once saw a Police Officer at the airport who had the most amazing turquoise colored eyes (handsome,too)I just couldn’t stop staring at him. My aunt was with me and told him so, he just blushed from the comment and smiled. I’m sure we made his day. Not many people go around telling you so. They say the eyes are the window to our souls and I kind of believe that. My husbands eyes are hazel/green, more olive looking green at times. It wasn’t the color that attracted me so much but that look~ sigh. Still in love after 23 years…
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Nov 2nd
2010
9:08 am
Maureen Said:
I don’t always notice someone’s eye color right away. Sometimes I’m noticing their facial expressions. Recently my son was telling me how the girls at work like his eyes and many have mentioned them. My reply was, “Really? Huh.” He was very annoyed with me and went on to explain why they liked his eyes. I think the fact that they’re a darker version of mine and many people in the family have them contributed to my lack of appreciation.
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Nov 2nd
2010
9:19 am
RobynDeHart Said:
Gypsy, yes, that makes perfect sense and explains my draw to RDJ as well. But not Ralph, my friend, he is creepy, but the younger and hotter Fiennes brother, Joseph.
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Nov 2nd
2010
10:38 am
Serenissima Said:
Lisa,
No, all Finns don´t have blond hair and blue eyes
In my opinion this is a stereotype of people living in all Scandinavia. I know only a very few Finns with blond hair and blue eyes; I have only one in my family. I would say that in colouring the majority of Finns are lighter or fair, but there are very many people with dark hair over here. For example my sister has very dark hair, my brother has a bit of red in his brown hair and I used to be a blond (with years passing my hair has turned light brown). And yes, we share same parents…
Now to Kristan´s question: I just love the combination of light hair and brown eyes. Blue eyes and very dark lashes are very nice too.
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Nov 2nd
2010
10:40 am
Shana Said:
I like heroes with dark hair and light eyes and heroines with food-like eyes (cinnamon, coffee, chocolate, sherry). I don’t know why, but that’s what I like. My daughter has blue eyes and people always comment on them. Of course, they look just like my eyes–but I guess they look prettier on a baby!
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Nov 2nd
2010
10:56 am
Linda Henderson Said:
Actually the smile is the first thing I notice, after that eyes. I do like green eyes, maybe because I have them myself.
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Nov 2nd
2010
12:43 pm
Kristan Higgins Said:
Christi, I hear you on the long lashes bit (you owe it to yourself to stare at a picture of Clive Owen for an hour or two…)
@Nancy…I have this thing for arms. I think it’s why Russell Crowe does things to me.
@Lisa…your son sounds gorgeous! My son has brown eyes with long, long lashes. A heartbreaker in the making!
@Lorelei, I hear you on the expressions within whatever color. The right emotion can make anyone look quite swoon-worthy.
@Maureen, how funny! I love brown eyes too.
@Serenissima, I had no idea. Guess I bought the stereotype of blond/blue. Thanks for the education!
@Shane, I love food descriptions for eyes, too. Whiskey colored eyes always intrigued me.
@Linda, smiles are so telling you’re absolutely right!
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Nov 2nd
2010
12:50 pm
thea Said:
They are the windows of the soul! I’m not sure I have a preference, but i do like the black hair/blue eyes/fair skin with ruddy cheeks combo. I’m actually trying to decide on eye color for my hero and heroine. he intimidates others but not the heroine. I’d like it if he had really dark blue eyes, so his eyes look almost black. not sure if that would work. She, I think will have green eyes, with thick, dark lashes.
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Nov 2nd
2010
1:41 pm
Kimberly Loomis Said:
Excellent post. RDJ – *sigh* …. Right. Eyes. More overwhelmingly I notice a man’s facial structure; sharp cheekbones, good chin and eyes that are set very well within the rest. My two favorite colors for eyes, however, are blue and a warm, dark brown. Shape doesn’t matter so long as they’re easily seen and I can lose myself in the wonderment of eye contact.
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Nov 2nd
2010
2:49 pm
catslady Said:
As long as he looks into my eyes deeply with his they can be any color
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Nov 2nd
2010
5:10 pm
Barbara Elness Said:
I have to say that deep blue eyes do it for me, especially in a guy with dark hair. Eyes aren’t always the first thing I notice, unless they’re very striking. I usually notice the face as a whole or features that are unusual – like a large or crooked nose.
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Nov 2nd
2010
5:49 pm
Karyn Gerrard Said:
I do notice eyes, I really love the dark haired men with light blue or gray eyes, so dreamy.
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Nov 2nd
2010
5:57 pm
Kristan Higgins Said:
Thea, you’re describing my baby girl!
@Kimberly & Catslady, I hear you, sisters! A guy who isn’t afraid to look into your eyes…and keep looking…smokin’ hot!
@Barbara & Karyn…we have similar tastes, what can I say? McIrish has black hair and green eyes (and lashes! Such lashes!).
But I think in the end, it’s not the shape or the color…it’s the ability to look into your eyes and see something that no one else does. Sigh!
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Nov 2nd
2010
6:20 pm
Kara Mull Said:
I’m a fan of blue eyes…. I have them and so does my husband. Makes me melt.
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Nov 2nd
2010
6:44 pm
Johanna Jochum Said:
I love green eyes! My husband has blue but he has the longest lashes ever! It really does not matter! LOL! Thanks for sharing today! Fun Blog!!!!
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Nov 2nd
2010
11:52 pm
Diana Said:
I like the combination of dark hair and blue eyes. The contrast is sexeh!
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