BY STEPHANIE VALENTE
I wholeheartedly sunk my little teeth into Ari Aster's Midsommar, and what really grabbed me in the intriguing pagan cult psychological thriller was its use of lush, vivid, and vibrant colors. Running with these color placements and symbols, the daylight setting adds a layer of beauty to its horror.
And I thought to myself... what sinister beauty. The florals, the forest, the dancing, garments, and hair styles were so enticing, so filled with intrigue and dread. With those shadows and darkness in mind, and if the film is still buzzing around your head like mine, here are some beauty ideas inspired by Midsommar.
1. Mix in florals. Don flower crowns or pluck simple buds tuck them behind your ear. Wear dried flowers like a cuff around your wrists or drop the dried petals in your pockets for luck. Petals and flowers are everywhere in this film, they are beautiful just as they are suffocating.
2. Color as a focal point. The colors in Midsommar are astounding. Dripping jewel tone petals, green lush and thick grass, deep milky white textured garments. This would be a good time for a bold eyeshadow.
3. Braids as power symbols. Hair and braiding isn't something to be taken lightly. While braids are functional in Midsommar (it's hot during these rituals), they're also telling a story with power and identity. Adding in braiding or something different to your hair strengthens its power narrative.
4. Minimal make up. The film itself doesn't feature bold and heavily pigmented make up styles. Dani doesn't wear make up in the film, and the reasons don't matter. Instead, her face is bare and blank, perhaps a symbol for her receiving these changes given to her by the cult. Nourish your skin with dewy facial oil, moisturizer, and a trusty SPF.
Stephanie Valente lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as an editor. One day, she would like to be a silent film star. She is the author of Hotel Ghost (Bottlecap Press, 2015) and Waiting for the End of the World (Bottlecap Press, 2017). Her work has appeared in dotdotdash, Nano Fiction, LIES/ISLE, and Uphook Press. She can be found at her website.