I had to laugh when I heard Willie nelson mutter this to June carter cash in a corny western movie my wife was watching this morning. I could see a cowboy in a movie getting away with a compliment like that but I don't think I would have had much success hooking up with my wife had I complimented her in such a way .

It's rarely used today, but was not uncommon a few generations ago.  From the Urban Dictionary.

 

 

Handsome Woman

 

A woman with the kind of refined beauty and attractiveness that requires poise, dignity, and strength of mind and character, things that often come with age; not merely sex-appeal. Usually applied to a woman who is also very well-groomed and from an upper class background.

This phrase is very dated and rarely used in today's English. Those who don't understand the term could almost be insulted by the word "handsome" being applied to a woman, mistakenly thinking you're saying she is masculine.

 

"Though she had lost long ago her virginal loveliness, she had ripened into a handsome and fruitful looking woman." - Ellen Glasgow

It's rarely used today, but was not uncommon a few generations ago. From the Urban Dictionary.

Handsome Woman

A woman with the kind of refined beauty and attractiveness that requires poise, dignity, and strength of mind and character, things that often come with age; not merely sex-appeal. Usually applied to a woman who is also very well-groomed and from an upper class background.

This phrase is very dated and rarely used in today's English. Those who don't understand the term could almost be insulted by the word "handsome" being applied to a woman, mistakenly thinking you're saying she is masculine.

"Though she had lost long ago her virginal loveliness, she had ripened into a handsome and fruitful looking woman." - Ellen Glasgow

Ripe and fruitful, my favorite kind of woman.

Ripe and fruitful, my favorite kind of woman.

 

Melons or mangos, ripe fruit is the best kind to eat.

Someone referred to us in this picture as a "handsome couple."  I told my girlfriend it was a weird, old timey compliment, and laughed.

 

I have never referred to a woman as handsome unless I was being a smart a**. I have said you guys make a handsome couple to my guy friends before though. I guess it just sounds better than "aww yall too look so cute together." Lol.

I don't find the term handsome woman or handsome couple to be archaic at all, have said it myself numerous times.

I guess the term seems too manly like for me.If i were single and a buddy of mine tried to fix me up with a woman and he described her as being handsome looking, i think i would be afraid to call her 

I don't find the term handsome woman or handsome couple to be archaic at all, have said it myself numerous times.

Wow!  It must be an old phrase then!

I don't find the term handsome woman or handsome couple to be archaic at all, have said it myself numerous times.

Me too. But then, we're probably considered old.

 

Tom