WIW 1/14: Some pseudo-UWP alternative--SUP, ULP, PUP?

In the recent UWP descriptor thread, Angie said I was more of a Fun Flirty Princess than an Urban Warrior Princess because I'm too girly to be an UWP. Which is probably true of my main style persona, but it still doesn't quite describe my pseudo-UWP shadow persona. The slightly moodier one who wears a lot of black and white and grey instead of lots of bright colors, and likes to add a hint of toughness (leather and studs and spikes) to the ladylike polish. I'm finding I'm going for the darker look more lately, especially in the winter. This is my urban version of a "business suit"--blazer, blouse, pearls, pencil skirt. So what would you call this look? I may have to co-opt Zap's Sleek Urban Princess moniker (since we do have fairly similar styles and buy a lot of the same pieces). Or Una suggested Urban Luxe Princess. Or maybe Polished Urban Princess (or is that the same as Sleek, which is much more fun to say?)

Tahari black leather jacket
H&M grey and white shirt (non-maternity but long enough to still wear)
Forever 21 black woven stretch belt
Vince Camuto black stretchy midi tube skirt (also non-maternity)
Mia Nanette black ankle booties
Michael Kors black Astor studded satchel
F21 spiky bracelet
Black pearl necklace via OC swap

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15 Comments

  • cobaltblue replied 11 years ago

    I really like the sound of Polished Urban Princess but don't know if that quite captures the spikes. Edgy Urban Princess?

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    Well whatever you call it, you look great. I do sort of like urban luxe princess!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Before I answer, I'd like to know... if it were me or Una wearing this exact same outfit, would the forum still say it is not UWP?

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Also, to me, Luxe Princess and Polished Princess are both redundant. In my mind, the Princess portion of the descriptor is what signifies my polished, luxe, and colorful leanings.

  • Thistle replied 11 years ago

    Well, I think it may be UWP. Whatever you call it, you look mama zing. Most stylish pregnant woman ever

  • MsMary replied 11 years ago

    This looks beautifully UWP to me!

    But if you don't like that name, how about Edgy Princess?

  • Sara L. replied 11 years ago

    I had the exact same thought, Rae. I was trying to imagine someone I think of as UWP wearing the same outfit and how I'd perceive it. It's hard to separate the person from the clothes sometimes.

    Goldenpig - I like this outfit and I think I would classify it as "almost" UWP. It's a little too polished to classify as what I think of as UWP.

  • replied 11 years ago

    Rae,
    You just nailed the central aspect of my conundrum with your question, will the forum think it is UWP? That's where I'm leaning lately, I think these personas go far beyond the individual pieces. Yes, to me princess denotes the luxe , polished element.

    Natalie, We do have similar styles but not quite the same... I can't pinpoint the difference. Perhaps I'm less adventurous... Ummm.... I'm confused by this entire thing.

    Love the outfit!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Well, I DO think it is UWP. Sometimes an outfit will emphasize more urban, more warrior, or more princess, but that doesn't mean the other things don't matter or have been superseded. Here are some of my looks from the office - they feel less warrior-like than the outfit above, yet no one seems to doubt my UWP cred. In general, I am less warrior-like than Una, and Ceit as well.

    I think it may be a case where it is hard to see past your DB style to the shadow persona, Natalie.

  • Caro in Oz replied 11 years ago

    This really interests me too - is it about the clothes or the personality of the person or a unique combination of the two?

    The only visible thing I can think of rae is I don't believe you or Una would wear pearls with this outfit (correct me if I'm wrong).

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    I love this, Natalie! And other than the pearls (for which I would substitute the wolverine necklace), I think this totally fits into the "UWP goes to work" category. My outfit today would be an interesting comparison. I got into the whole topic of "how much does personality inform your style" issue in another thread and find it fascinating... Would love to talk about it more!

  • goldenpig replied 11 years ago

    Thanks Becky, Shevia, Rae, Thistle, MaryK, Sara, Zap, Caro and Una! You all have such great points! Actually, I don't have any objection to using the term UWP for my outfits, as I was perfectly happy to call it my inspiration/shadow style before. It's only when we started talking about UWP in these recent threads and I posted my UWP outfits and looked at the pics, I started to doubt myself that they were really all that UWP because they were so polished. And then Angie said she thought my style was too girly to be UWP and everyone else started coming up with these UWP alternative descriptors. I too am starting to get confused! I can only do office UWP, not combat UWP! I guess maybe I should just go back to calling it UWP, but maybe with a little tiny w and a giant P! LOL!

    Zap, I know our styles are not exactly the same (that would be too eerie!) I haven't seen as much of your style as you have of mine, so you would be the better judge of how similar/different we are. I just get a kick out of sharing purchases with you!

    Great question Rae. I think if you wore the same outfit as mine, it probably *would* look a little more UWP because that is much more of your primary persona, whereas I'm just dabbling in UWP once in a while. And there probably is some projection of personality onto an outfit. Actually, remember our twin day? That's a good comparison because we were dressed totally alike! What do you think--any difference in the UWP-ness in these outfits?
    http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....in-kitties
    Thanks for posting your other "office UWP" looks. I do see that maybe we are on a RATE continuum, with me at the "perfectly polished" and girly end and Una and Ceit at the RATE/stompy end and you in the middle!

    And Una, I think your outfit today looks great! I love that snakeskin shirt on you and you radiate confidence! I think you tend to emphasize the angular/straight lines whereas I go for curvy--as we discussed before I feel a little uncomfortable in your type of silhouette and vice versa! Do you think you could ever do a curvy UWP look? Which thread were you reading about personality? I should read it!

    As for whether personality informs style, I suppose it does, but the weird thing is my real life personality is neither diva bombshell nor tough UWP, it's just the way I like to dress. Kind of like role play. And I'm not even truly dressing in "classic bombshell" or "classic UWP", it's some different variation I've made up in my head. If I really dressed like my true personality, I think I'd be back to my old pre-YLF "REI fleece and Merrell Mocs everywhere" days! A little introverted, nice and warm and comfy but not the star of the show. Isn't that funny!

  • rute replied 11 years ago

    Love this outfit! Love the booties with the pencil skirt! I must try that!
    Thanks for the inspiration!

  • replied 11 years ago

    I know! I'd love to have your closet and your style, but yes, that would be impossible.
    (Although we seem to have at least 1/4 of it in common lol).This is very confusing indeed. I was just trying to see if our subtle differences would shed any light into this matter, but I think Rae and Una are on the money here.

    I think you are able to experiment with different looks and styles and make them believable. For that matter, so you should be joining all the tribes, as an honorary member. Just sayin'

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Regardless of what you call it, this outfit is fantastic! I love those booties and the edge your fantastic handbag brings to the outfit.

    I do think it's hard to look past people's personalities when reviewing an outfit and Rae's question as to whether or not we would view this outfit as UWP if she or Una were wearing it, is an interesting one.

    To me there are a couple of things that keep the outfit from being true UWP - the pearls, your sleek hair and your pretty baby bump.

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