It's hard to know for certain from the novel. Austen has different characters comment on or react to Elizabeth, and all we know for certain of her physically was that she was relatively small (her father called her his little Lizzy and her baby sister Lydia was tallest of all the girls)--please note, I say relatively, because she could also be written as the shortest of several tall girls.
She is also shorter than Darcy's little sister but, again, that's relative. Still, I am going with Elizabeth probably being shorter than other girls since Georgiana at four or five years younger is taller.
Elizabeth has dark, sparkling eyes and a light and pleasing figure.
Now here's the thing. She's attractive enough to have caught the eye of Collins as second in beauty among the Bennet sisters. But, then again, Collins ends up marrying a woman older than he who freely admits she had never been pretty -- so, maybe, Collins did not have really high standards?
Caroline Bingley is devastating in her attack on Elizabeth's lack of beauty, but she is countered by Darcy, who calls Elizabeth one of the most handsome women of his acquaintance. Interestingly enough, he used the word handsome earlier in the book in referring to Jane Bennet as "the only handsome girl" in the room. Bingley agrees that Jane Bennet is the "most beautiful creature I ever beheld." That is pretty specific, and, speaking of pretty, Bingley then says, that one of Jane's sisters who happens to be sitting behind Darcy is "very pretty." Darcy looks at Elizabeth, catches her eye and then withdraws his own, and he makes the famous tolerable remark. At that point, she is not "handsome enough" (his words) to tempt Darcy. But I think both Darcy and Bingley are measuring beauty in a specific way and Elizabeth, while not the most beautiful creature, is pretty. Darcy feels, at that point, a man like himself is due a more handsome woman and he is certainly not going to pay attention to a woman left sitting alone while other women dance. He has standards to uphold.
(And, by the way, I personally cannot read shy guy into Darcy from this exchange. He looks her in the eye and decides that, like all the other women in this room, she is not handsome enough to be worth his time. If her looks had rated a "handsome" from him then as Jane's did, might Darcy have danced? Was he simply saying no to get rid of Bingley? Wouldn't a simple, "No, I do not want to dance" have been sufficient? Why was a criticism of Elizabeth's lack of enough beauty necessary? And, yes, I can see the argument that it was really his crippling shyness that made him so fearful, and therefore, harsh. I do not buy it but I see it.)
Once he gets to know her, Darcy honestly feels she looks better. Has she changed or has he? He was not standing that far from her, was he, that he could not judge? We're never told that he is near-sighted, although that might be a plot bunny. But have we not all had the experience of feeling someone looks better to us the longer we know them?
The force of personality can greatly affect how we view someone's attractiveness. It can be the difference between a star and someone who is not. Case in point, wasn't personality a part of Jack Nicholson's charm? And, does anyone think that Benedict Cumberbatch is a conventionally handsome man? (I am going to get into trouble with that one, but really, look at him! And I am fan of his acting.)
What we know for certain is that Elizabeth improved in looks in Darcy's eyes. I for one think that if you center your fanfic around a stunningly beautiful Elizabeth, whose exceptional looks are recognized from the beginning, you are losing a vital part of what makes Darcy and Elizabeth, well, Darcy and Elizabeth.
She is also shorter than Darcy's little sister but, again, that's relative. Still, I am going with Elizabeth probably being shorter than other girls since Georgiana at four or five years younger is taller.
Elizabeth has dark, sparkling eyes and a light and pleasing figure.
Now here's the thing. She's attractive enough to have caught the eye of Collins as second in beauty among the Bennet sisters. But, then again, Collins ends up marrying a woman older than he who freely admits she had never been pretty -- so, maybe, Collins did not have really high standards?
Caroline Bingley is devastating in her attack on Elizabeth's lack of beauty, but she is countered by Darcy, who calls Elizabeth one of the most handsome women of his acquaintance. Interestingly enough, he used the word handsome earlier in the book in referring to Jane Bennet as "the only handsome girl" in the room. Bingley agrees that Jane Bennet is the "most beautiful creature I ever beheld." That is pretty specific, and, speaking of pretty, Bingley then says, that one of Jane's sisters who happens to be sitting behind Darcy is "very pretty." Darcy looks at Elizabeth, catches her eye and then withdraws his own, and he makes the famous tolerable remark. At that point, she is not "handsome enough" (his words) to tempt Darcy. But I think both Darcy and Bingley are measuring beauty in a specific way and Elizabeth, while not the most beautiful creature, is pretty. Darcy feels, at that point, a man like himself is due a more handsome woman and he is certainly not going to pay attention to a woman left sitting alone while other women dance. He has standards to uphold.
(And, by the way, I personally cannot read shy guy into Darcy from this exchange. He looks her in the eye and decides that, like all the other women in this room, she is not handsome enough to be worth his time. If her looks had rated a "handsome" from him then as Jane's did, might Darcy have danced? Was he simply saying no to get rid of Bingley? Wouldn't a simple, "No, I do not want to dance" have been sufficient? Why was a criticism of Elizabeth's lack of enough beauty necessary? And, yes, I can see the argument that it was really his crippling shyness that made him so fearful, and therefore, harsh. I do not buy it but I see it.)
Once he gets to know her, Darcy honestly feels she looks better. Has she changed or has he? He was not standing that far from her, was he, that he could not judge? We're never told that he is near-sighted, although that might be a plot bunny. But have we not all had the experience of feeling someone looks better to us the longer we know them?
The force of personality can greatly affect how we view someone's attractiveness. It can be the difference between a star and someone who is not. Case in point, wasn't personality a part of Jack Nicholson's charm? And, does anyone think that Benedict Cumberbatch is a conventionally handsome man? (I am going to get into trouble with that one, but really, look at him! And I am fan of his acting.)
What we know for certain is that Elizabeth improved in looks in Darcy's eyes. I for one think that if you center your fanfic around a stunningly beautiful Elizabeth, whose exceptional looks are recognized from the beginning, you are losing a vital part of what makes Darcy and Elizabeth, well, Darcy and Elizabeth.