magic's in the makeup

Rather than posting something related to clothes today, because it is much too hot to even think about them, I'm doing a makeup post. Mostly I don't wear a lot of makeup, but I think that makeup is an extension of personal style and is an outlet for creativity. In other words, makeup is an art. I'm not particularly good at applying it myself, but I tried to do kind of a party/special occasion look. Or maybe just an every-day look if you're really, really cool. Which I am not.
Here's the "before" photo:

Products used: Neutrogena Sunscreen with SPF 55 and Blistex Silk & Shine lip balm. And nothing else. Pretty much what I wear every day. Sometimes if I feel a little crazy, I wear some clear mascara, but generally my eyes are bare. And here is the "after" photo:

Products used: Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Glam Rock (silver) and Metal Head (purple), Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express® Mascara, various Hard Candy products (from the Hard Candy Punk Palette) like lipgloss, eyeshadow, and blush, Sephora Liquid Eyeliner in Aubergine, and Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lipgloss in Cherry. Or something like that.
I hope that the weather will cool off enough for me to post more about clothes, but right now all I can do is describe what I'm wearing: a purple ribbed racerback tank from Target layered under a white halter-neck sundress with blue flowers and blue stitching, from my sister who got it from Ingrid's sister. Who is also my cousin.
I hope everyone has some way to stay cool. As for me, I'm going down to the basement with a cold Pepsi One and watching the Create network.

contrast

I love dresses as much as Ingrid does. Heck, I own about thirteen of them. The only thing I wore for the majority of the school year was dresses. But now, during the summer, here's what I'm finding: I might like skirts more. The thing about skirts is that they're just so much more versatile. With dresses, you can layer, but there's only so much you can do. With skirts, you can add tights or leggings, wear them with any combination of shirts and cardigans, you can just wear them with a basic tank top, or you could dress it up and wear heels and a pretty shirt. Plus, dresses always make me feel kind of girly. Not that I have a problem with that, but I like to feel a little bit more tomboyish during the summer, so I can run around and not feel too dressed up.

We all have our own "go-to" outfit, and mine has morphed into something completely different than it was ten months ago. Then, my staple pieces were tights, a dress, and converse. The dress could be anything, but generally it was something flowy with a defined waist. However, as of late, the outfit I reach for when I'm in need of something comfortable yet stylish is a light-weight cardigan (white or black), a solid but bright tank top or t-shirt, and a colorfully patterned skirt. It's pretty but casual, stylish but comfy. I do not disrespect the dress, but I love love LOVE the skirt.

heat.

This is Ingrid, also known as Ingy, aka Bingy. I am the other half, the one to finish Mimi's duet.
And let me tell you something about Utah:
It is warm. What does one do when it is far too hot to think or move? My answer has been a series of sundresses from various thrift stores (such as the Deseret Industries, Savers, and CTR, may it rest in peace), sisters, and cousins. I can't really even muster the strength to bother with undergarments, which makes me very thankful for the hippie movement, for burning a bra myself would make things even hotter (oh wait. That's not possible). In any case, thank heavens they did it for me.
But this heat also makes me thankful for another thing, which is the dress. In my opinion, this is the most glorious garment a person can wear, and I am eternally grateful for being born a woman, for I cannot imagine anything more detestable than wearing pants my entire life.
My recent discovery has been daddyos.com. My loving parents gave me a $100 gift certificate there, and I am facing the great decision of which dress to buy. Everything there seems to belong to a different decade, almost to the point of looking like a costume in some cases (which, to be clear, is absolutely no problem). The models are all real people and the clothes all look like they belong to a pinup. Such anachronistic wear is kind of my passion... but what to choose?

in the beginning

Welcome to Shaggy Jasmine. I am Amelia, also known as Mimi, also known as Meems. I am one-half of this team. My partner is my cousin Ingrid, but I'll let her introduce herself later. Just to get things started, I'm listing a few of my favorite brands, stores, and designers(not that I could ever afford most of them):

-Christian Loboutin
-Tulle
-Betsey Johnson
-Nick & Mo
-The Frye Company
-Value Village
-H&M
-Velvet
-Jessica Louise
-Anthropologie
-L.A.M.B.
-Target
-Jeffrey Campbell
-BB Dakota
-Steven Madden

So there you go. I also inherit a lot of my clothes, which is helpful. I hope this post has been informative and interesting. Expect more updates later in the summer.