The Review of Mess: A Hermeneutic Analysis of Jones Road Beauty

Episode Release Date: June 2, 2025

Hosts: Jessica DeFino & Emily Kirkpatrick

Introduction

In this episode of The Review of Mess, hosts Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick dive deep into the intricacies of the latest Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival, followed by a critical hermeneutic analysis of Jones Road Beauty's new campaign. Their candid discussions offer listeners an unfiltered perspective on contemporary trends in fashion and beauty, blending sharp critique with insightful commentary.

Book Club Announcement

Early in the episode, Jessica and Emily excitedly announce their plans to launch a book club. Emily shares, “We've been figuring out ways to further enmesh our lives with one another... maybe we should expand it to include other people as well” [00:54]. This initiative aims to foster deeper discussions around theory and pop culture, enhancing their analytical approach to fashion and beauty.

Month in Review: Met Gala

The duo begins their month’s review with an extensive critique of the Met Gala, focusing on this year’s theme: Super Fine Tailoring Black Style, inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of the Black Diasporic Identity.

Key Points:

1. Theme Misalignment: Emily criticizes the disconnect between the Met Gala’s theme and the actual attire on the red carpet. She states, “they're given the easiest, like slam dunk theme and every year they somehow manage to fuck it up” [04:38].

2. Quiet Luxury Failures: The hosts highlight the underwhelming attempts at "quiet luxury," with outfits lacking personality and flair. For instance, Sofia Richie's Tommy Hilfiger white dress is deemed “pretty boring and unremarkable” [07:32].

3. Cultural Appropriation Concerns: Emily voices concerns over Kendall Jenner’s homage to black dandyism, questioning the adequacy of her representation: “It's kind of rude... especially given your history of racism” [11:31].

4. Notable Failures: Kim Kardashian’s repeated use of the same Chrome Hearts dress is criticized for its lack of innovation, with Emily mocking, “Someone called her dominatrix Carmen Sandiego on my Instagram” [16:09].

5. Celebratory Successes: Despite widespread disappointment, Lauryn Hill’s ensemble is praised for perfectly encapsulating black dandyism, embodying both high fashion and cultural significance [16:03 – 21:28].

Notable Quotes:

• Emily: “Why they can’t have something that nods to black dandyism but still gives you tailored for you” [07:32]
• Jessica: “You deploy those one or two points really well” [01:19]

Month in Review: Cannes Film Festival

Transitioning from the Met Gala, Jessica and Emily delve into the Cannes Film Festival, critiquing its new and ambiguous dress codes.

Key Points:

1. Restrictive Dress Codes: Emily highlights bizarre rules like “no voluminous outfits with large trains” [31:57], questioning their relevance and implementation.

2. Gender-Specific Regulations: The hosts express frustration over the Cannes' peculiar focus on women's attire, suggesting a bias in enforcement and underlying misogynistic tendencies [32:05].

3. Lack of Emphasis on Film Artistry: They argue that the festival’s attempts to curb red carpet excesses detract from its primary focus on film, with Emily remarking, “Take the free PR where everyone mentions the movie” [28:00].

4. Celebrity Compliance and Resistance: From Halle Berry’s restricted gown to Julia Fox’s underreported outfit, Emily laments the festival’s inability to effectively manage celebrity fashion without stifling creativity [37:06 – 39:00].

Notable Quotes:

• Jessica: “And also, I have this suspicion that the cameramen... they need to focus on what details to focus on” [18:45]
• Emily: “We need to bring back the manicam” [18:56]

Hermeneutic Analysis of Jones Road Beauty

The core of the episode features a critical analysis of Jones Road Beauty’s latest campaign for their tinted moisturizer, Just Enough.

Key Points:

1. Implicit Messaging: Jessica unpacks the problematic implications of the phrase “Just Enough,” suggesting it perpetuates a precarious balance between being too little and too much. She states, “just enough applies a not enough, like, on the precipice of being not enough” [39:36].

2. Contradictory Advice: The campaign’s slogan, “the quickest way to feel put together without looking like you've done anything,” is scrutinized for promoting minimalism in makeup while still enforcing standards of perfection [41:15].

3. Bobby Brown’s Influence: Despite Jones Road Beauty’s accolade in Time’s 100 for 2025, Jessica disputes the genuine positive impact of Bobby Brown, arguing that the brand continues to impose restrictive beauty norms under the guise of enhancement [44:34 – 44:51].

4. Product Critique: Emily shares a vehement negative review of the Just Enough moisturizer, describing it as “the worst products I’ve ever experienced” and highlighting its impractical formulation [46:19 – 48:10].

Notable Quotes:

• Jessica: “Enhancing what's already there. It's just such a mystification that means covering what’s not good enough” [43:48]
• Emily: “Don't buy into the Jones Road hype, everyone. It's a lie” [47:00]

Interview Segment: Michaela Jamison on Protein and Male Beauty Standards

In a guest interview, Michaela Jamison of the Body Type newsletter discusses the rising trends of protein consumption and the evolving standards of male beauty.

Key Points:

1. Muscularity as a Trend: Michaela explores how celebs like Justin Bieber and Alexander Skarsgrd are pushing the boundaries of traditional masculinity through extreme muscularity, sparking both fascination and backlash.

2. Health vs. Aesthetics: The conversation delves into the fine line between healthy fitness and aesthetic-driven body obsession. Michaela emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach, noting, “If you're into or trying to get into strength training, you probably need more than you're getting” [82:03].

3. Impact on Mental Health: Both hosts and Michaela acknowledge the psychological toll of body image pressures, particularly how trends can lead to disordered behaviors despite the potential health benefits of strength training.

4. Commercial Influence: The discussion criticizes brands capitalizing on protein trends without providing substantial benefits, exemplified by the skepticism towards Khloe Kardashian’s Cloud Popcorn, which offers minimal protein for a premium price [89:08 – 90:55].

Notable Quotes:

• Michaela: “It is something that comes from a place of a hobby and a habit that I really like doing that makes me feel good” [82:16].
• Jessica: “Like, you can't be not enough, and you can't be too much. You have to be just enough” [39:30].

Mess of the Month

The episode concludes with the "Mess of the Month" segment, where both hosts share personal anecdotes and humorous takes on their own insecurities.

1. Jessica’s Nostalgia for Barbie Fashion Designer: Emily reminisces about the 1996 CD-ROM game Barbie Fashion Designer, highlighting its impact on her early interest in fashion despite the limited resources: “I just wanted to make different outfits for her” [99:08 – 101:06].

2. Jessica’s Struggle with Ear Insecurities: Jessica vents about an Instagram ad for ear adhesives, revealing her deep-seated insecurity about her ears and critiquing how such products commodify personal flaws: “Your body is a medical issue” [103:22 – 107:26].

Notable Quotes:

• Emily: “Just let them have ears” [104:53].
• Jessica: “It's saying like you are your bodies, your flaws are your... your body is a medical issue” [104:54].

Conclusion

Jessica and Emily wrap up the episode by reflecting on the complexities of beauty standards and the influence of pop culture on personal self-image. Their candid and often humorous exchanges provide a relatable and critical lens through which listeners can examine the often contradictory messages prevalent in the fashion and beauty industries.

Final Thoughts:

• Emily: “At least people are setting foot in the gym and learning maybe a little bit more about their bodies” [82:23].
• Jessica: “Bad marketing, apparently. Bad products” [48:17].

Listeners are encouraged to engage with the hosts' upcoming book club and stay tuned for more incisive discussions in future episodes.

Notable Quotes Summary

• Jessica: “Enhancing what's already there. It's just such a mystification that means covering what's not good enough” [43:48]
• Emily: “Don't buy into the Jones Road hype, everyone. It's a lie” [47:00]
• Michaela: “It is something that comes from a place of a hobby and a habit that I really like doing that makes me feel good” [82:16]

Further Resources

• Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of the Black Diasporic Identity [03:07]
• Michaela Jamison’s Body Type newsletter on Substack

For more insights and updates, visit jessicadefino.substack.com.