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Urban Princesses: Do I Belong?

tova

Hi!
I'm new here, but while googling, I was shocked to see threads of people describing their style sensibilities as "urban warrior princess", or "urban princess". I was astonished because last week, I settled on "urban princess" as my term for my own aesthetic! I didn't know it was a "thing".
HOWEVER. When looking at people's posts about these topics, I started to worry that it isn't accurate for me. Definitely not the "warrior" part-- though my style does have elements of that sharpness, it is much more feminine and soft overall.
This is my pinterest board for my personal style: http://www.pinterest.com/esper.....-princess/
I called it Urban Princess because to me, it's what a fairytale-type princess would wear if she were suddenly, say, an art student in Chicago. She's a little bit tough and a little bit edgy, but she's sweet and she still loves anything that reminds her of her royalty lifestyle.
If somebody would be willing to comment on whether you think my style as demonstrated by my pinterest board qualifies as Urban Princess, or if it's more something else, I would be very grateful!

~Tova

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Datura

tova

(Sorry that some of the stuff on the board isn't actually clothes. I love interior design also and was just trying to get a feel for the overall aesthetic I like, from fashion to decor to fine art)

Emily

Veteran

To me, at least, an Urban Warrior Princess is different from an Urban Princess - the UWP would be tougher and edgier than a straight up Urban Princess. I like your interpretation of Urban Princess style, both in words and on your pinboard. Of course, the descriptor is just shorthand, and what's most important is what it means to you.

Liz

Veteran

The Urban Warrior Princess thing here came out of, I think, one of the forum members' term for her style, just like your designation came out of your term for your style. There is no "right way" to portray those words. Use the words in a way that is useful to you.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Hi Tova, welcome to the forum.

Your Pinterest board captures the Brothers Grimm for the current age http://www.bing.com/images/sea.....ORM=RESTAB
therefore, I feel Urban Princess is a very apt descriptor.

tova

Thank you!
Sounds like I should own my princesshood. I guess I was just worried not that other urban princess folks would reject or challenge me, but that I would cause a miscommunication if my terminology conjured a very different image in their heads than what I meant.

(Edit: just saw the Brothers Grimm thing- very cool! Those illustrations definitely remind me of my style mind ^.^)

Beth Ann

Veteran

Style monikers are a great way to focus and explore your own unique style personality. I have never found the "real" one for me, preferring style "rubrics" instead --- I have two that I use interchangeably. The point is --- we enjoy these tools because they help us have fun with fashion, and there are no rules!

I think that Urban Princess is a great moniker, if your board is a good representation of where you want to go stylewise. The "urban" part implies a bit of edge, and "princess" implies a ladylike femininity. Do yo have an outfit or two that you think showcases your moniker? Are you already exploring ways to use it in your day to day, real life dressing?

tova

I think my biggest current style objective is to bring in more of the edgy urban to my princesshood-- kind of symbolic for me since I'm heading off to college and gaining confidence and so forth.
One surefire way I've found to get good examples of my style is looking at steampunk stuff. Women's steampunk costumes almost always have that perfect blend of fussy details, lacy-fluffy-softness, and a tough added edginess that I love!
I LOVE this outfit. I would never wear this one because I have a vendetta against rompers but if it was shorts with suspenders I would love it. I love fingerless gloves, I own a few pairs. Obviously both those outfits are pretty wild and unconventional but I would love to have a wardrobe in that attitude if not quite that literal. Or maybe that literal, who knows. College is a time to make yourself look crazy right?
I also just bought a pair of black leather heeled lace-up ankle boots from a vintage store that I'm in love with. Oh I love clothes.

rachylou

Veteran

I agree, Urban Princess works. But I must tell you, princesshood is the genius term. I need a quirky-waif-hood... I'm Quirky Waif in the UWP world because, no, I think I'd prefer to ping people in the head with my slingshot than smote them with a big heavy sword that had to be lugged all around, lol!

art student in Chicago. She's a little bit tough and a little bit edgy,
but she's sweet and she still loves anything that reminds her of her
royalty lifestyle

Btw, your description reminds me of the first half of a book I read: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. It's about a young art student in Prague and involves magic and battles and so forth... but the first half is written very prettily and uses the most amazingly advanced vocabulary. The vocabulary is positively Victorian in erudition, and used so naturally... but I digress...

E

Veteran

Hi Tova! College is definitely a great time for sartorial play; I wish I'd discovered secondhand shopping then instead of after I graduated. One thing to keep in mind though is that for classes, at least at the very beginning of a semester, you'll probably not want to go full-on steampunk, just to make sure your professors will take you seriously. I'm sure you already know that though; it's the older sister in me that can't help giving advice.

Una's (alaskagirl is her moniker) UWP (urban warrior princess) is much more post-apocolyptic than the looks you've shown, but we also have princes (Suz) & knights (Ceit), so I'm sure there's space for an urban princess too. hehe

I myself very much enjoy fairy tales & literary inspiration when I get dressed & I think I've finally settled on the moniker storybook gamine. I prefer to look quirky instead of costume-y, because I'm in my late 20s & have a sedate daily life, hehe, but sometimes I venture pretty close to that line. And I'm also a fan of fingerless gloves. (Do you knit? I learned last year & have been happily expanding my mitts collection ever since: they're a great beginner project.)

If you love clothes, you definitely belong on the forum. There's all kinds of styles represented here! Off the top of my head, Alasse does beautiful 'retro princess' inspired outfits. And Goldenpig has been adding tougher elements to her matchy-matchy ladylike, very textured style. MuseumGal is exploring East Meets Wild Wild West, which can read as a bit steampunk-y. Diana & Firecracker do different versions of arty, since you mentioned your princess is an art student. Lyn does girly to perfection (lots of fit & flare dresses & pattern mixing). RachyLou's already mentioned her waif tendencies. Astrid has an urban, girly tomboy kind of thing going on & I believe she's a student (but close to graduation). Rabbit's another one you should probably take a look at. (All of these are their profile names, so you should be able to search the members & find them.)

ETA: Oh! I forgot SarahtheWhite! She and I connected over our shared love for the costuming in Once Upon a Time.

And of course, there's hundreds more posting regularly with all kinds of styleinspiration!

RachyLou, I've read Daughter of Smoke and Fire! I was terribly jealous that she got a new language each year as a birthday present, not to mention getting to run around Prague.

Anonymous

You very much belong.

tova

Oh man, Daughter of Smoke and Bone sounds glorious. Also, I watch Once Upon a Time and constantly scream over the costumes!! Both the fantasy-world getups and the cute modern ones.
Definitely a good point about classes-- even if I do edge more towards the extra-whimsical side, I'll tone it down for classes. I'll just have to keep the whimsy confined to my personality for a few hours x) (also, I should reiterate that my current wardrobe is very normal and not actually steampunk like the photos I linked. But those costumes are my inspiration and I need more of that fashion daringness for my non-classroom life.)

Your descriptions of Daughter of Smoke and Bone also remind me of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. So much rich description and elegant goodness.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, Night Circus was completely enrapturing. I started a Pet and Widge pinboard, and have developed a whole thing about circus stripes. I definitely have a thing for magical realism too, à la Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

E - Storybook Gamine is perfect. Anything involving the word *storybook* would be perfect

Once Upon a Time is a great show. I find it just hits the spot and wish the new season were here already...

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Ooh I love the Smoke and Bone trilogy. And I really wanted Karou's blue hair!

fern

Veteran

I like your pins & style direction.
I also loved Smoke & Bone. Angels are not benevolent.
Tova, I bought the Etsy "Victorian City" tights you pinned. They were fun & steampunky but I didn't like the ivory color - it was close enough to my skin color that they looked like tattoos, but it also looked like my leg skin was weirdly paler than the rest of me, just "off".
I would go back to that store though - they have really cute designs.
I wonder if I purged them... I bet I could dye them gray... hmmm.

gryffin

Veteran

Tova - what gorgeous images!! I love the steampunk/ren faire quality. I have a subtle vein of that in my style. My first impression when I saw your pins was "urban faerie queen" with that delicate but strong Sulamith Wulfing quality. Love it. Love the costumes in "once upon a time" too and reminds me of Ladyhawke another favorite. I think your moniker is perfect for you!

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Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I LOVE your theme! It is so artistic! I get a very strong Art Nouveau impression from your Pinterest board, and a lesser, but still strong Harajuku Street flavor (at least, as I saw it in the mid-Aughties).

Nouveau Urban Princess?
Urban Anime Princess?

Urban Nouveau Princess may roll a little more smoothly off the tongue.

E

Veteran

Tova, you can definitely be whimsical in class! Especially if your plan is to add more of this flavour to your existing 'normal' wardrobe. I just thought that the two outfits you linked to might be a bit much for meeting new professors.

So it sounds like you're interested in a style shift, then? I think a few statement accessories (belts especially) could go a long way towards making regular clothes feel more whimsical, assuming they're already in the shapes you prefer. I hope you start doing WIWs: I love whimsical styles.

RachyLou, I have Shevia to thank for the word storybook. So grateful to her!

tova

"Urban faerie queen" aaahhh I love that!! Also love urban anime princess-- I am currently deeply in love with Princess Jellyfish. Best anime ever... cool confident cross-dressing guy takes a geeky unconfident artist girl under his wing and shows her the magic of fashion as power. If only it had more than one season.
fern-- I'll have to check out that shop! If the other products are in the same spirit I might really get along with it.
Also love art nouveau!! I feel so understood :*D hehe thank you all!

tova

Just been reminded of Lolita style. Basically steampunk lolita is my dream look...

tova

A lot of the actually executed steampunk lolita looks I'm finding are too overworked for my taste. But paired down and sleekified, it could be a glorious combination. This one is nice. (Again, obviously more costumey than a practical daily outfit, but cool for inspiration)

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Datura

Awesome thread, lots of inspiration here. Love the pinboard, tova. I'm also new to the forums...would describe my style as "warrior/queen", but I struggle with getting the balance right. I often end up with outfits that I feel are either too boring or too costume-y. Thanks E for the rundown on others here that share a similar style, lots to check out and be inspired by.