Podcast Summary: The Review of Mess – Episode: "Stop Trying To Make 'Mu Dang Skin' Happen"

Hosts and Introduction

In this episode of The Review of Mess, co-hosts Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick delve deep into the latest trends, controversies, and cultural phenomena within the realms of fashion and beauty. Released on September 30, 2024, this episode tackles a diverse range of topics, from emerging beauty standards to the evolving empire of the Kardashians.

Upcoming Event: The Whole Debate with Substack

The episode begins with Jessica and Emily excitedly discussing their upcoming event, The Whole Debate with Substack. Scheduled at the iconic Duane Park in New York, the event focuses on dissecting beauty standards imposed by the industry, including topics like labiaplasty, butthole beauty, vaginal deodorants, and the Brazilian wax. Emily humorously refers to herself as the "foremost uneducated expert" on pubic hair fashion (00:40).

• Notable Quote:
  Emily: “Everyone knows that I am the expert on pubic hair. Foremost uneducated expert. Yeah.” [01:08]

Renaissance Faire Fall: A Medieval Revival in Fashion

Transitioning from discussions about body aesthetics, Emily introduces the concept of Renaissance Faire Fall, a trend she has been monitoring in her newsletter. This trend marks a resurgence of medieval and Renaissance-inspired fashion on red carpets, exemplified by celebrities like Omar Apollo and Emma Laird donning chainmail-like tunics at the Venice Film Festival (03:05).

• Notable Quote:
  Jessica: “I think the timing is also interesting because, you know, kind of a defining feature of the medieval era was the bubonic plague.” [08:28]

Capitalism and Craftsmanship in Modern Fashion

The hosts explore the dichotomy between fast fashion and the artisanal craftsmanship reminiscent of the medieval era. They discuss how couture houses preserve traditional skills that are rapidly disappearing in the industry, highlighting the slow fashion movement's appeal as a counter to capitalism's influence on mass-produced clothing (07:53).

Celebrity Influence and the Kardashians’ Decline

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing the crumbling empire of the Kardashians. Emily points out that the family's ventures, such as Kylie Swim and the folding of various brands into larger umbrellas like Kai, are signaling a downturn in their business resilience. They critique the shift in Kim Kardashian’s fashion influence post-divorce from Kanye, emphasizing her stagnation and lack of innovation compared to her earlier, trendsetting days (57:55).

• Notable Quote:
  Emily: “Chloe's been really able to successfully build something that's like almost independent of what the rest of her family's doing and maybe is also helped by the fact that her own name is not in the brand.” [78:50]

Mu Dang Skin: The Latest Beauty Fad

The centerpiece of the episode is the discussion on Mu Dang Skin, a beauty trend inspired by a baby hippo from a Thai zoo. Jessica criticizes the trend for its unrealistic standards and the disconnection it fosters between individuals and their natural selves.

• Notable Quotes:
  Jessica: “I hate that people are now going to the zoo and trying to provoke reactions from Mu Dang to make her scream and bite.” [38:10]
  Emily: “Mu Dang just has these adorable chin hairs. I think that that's mooding.” [43:40]

Jessica and Emily argue that attempting to emulate Mu Dang’s shiny, oily skin is detrimental, both cosmetically and psychologically. They highlight the uniqueness of hippos' "blood sweat," a substance that serves as a versatile moisturizer and sunscreen, contrasting it with human sebum.

• Notable Quote:
  Jessica: “We are supposed to secrete natural juices. But ours are very different from Hippo juices and are not supposed to look like that.” [41:08]

Regulatory and Ethical Concerns: Lemmy GLP1 Daily

The hosts transition to discussing the controversial supplement brand Lemmy GLP1 Daily by Kourtney Kardashian's venture. They critique the product for making unfounded health claims, such as enhancing GLP1 levels without containing the actual hormone. The discussion underscores the potential legal ramifications and the dubious nature of marketing unproven supplements.

• Notable Quote:
  Emily: “GLP1 levels, hunger reduction, weight management, clinical trials even. They all have asterisks.” [46:23]

Brand Mascots and Corporate Personification

In a lighter segment, Jessica and Emily lament the ineffectiveness of brand mascots like Chippy the Doritos chip, which failed to create the intended viral marketing impact. They explore the broader trend of brands developing sentient personalities and incorporating them into unexpected venues, such as red carpets and podcasts, often leading to awkward and unsuccessful encounters.

• Notable Quote:
  Emily: “Chippy really did not make the media impact that he was supposed to make... it just flopped so hard and even they like did MTV do an interview with Chippy and it's just like quite sad.” [91:52]

Controversial Launches and Market Strategies

The episode also touches on the trend of sync-marketing between films and products, such as Flamin Hot Cheetos and Pop-Tart movies, where brands seamlessly integrate their products into cinematic narratives. This trend blurs the lines between authentic content and overt advertising.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wrapping up, Jessica and Emily recap their main points, reiterating their skepticism towards current beauty trends and celebrity-driven brands. They encourage listeners to critically evaluate the messages propagated by the beauty and fashion industries.

• Notable Quote:
  Emily: “It's like we’re cruising towards that [perfection for hands], there's just no way we aren't trying.” [33:22]

Final Remarks

The episode concludes with the hosts inviting listeners to engage with their content, emphasizing the importance of reviewing and subscribing to support their candid discussions on pop culture's most questionable trends.

Overall Insights

• Cultural Reflection:
  The podcast episode effectively mirrors societal obsessions with beauty standards and the commercialization of natural traits, critiquing how these trends can lead to unrealistic expectations and mental health issues.

• Celebrity Critique:
  The critical examination of the Kardashians highlights the vulnerability of even the most influential families when they fail to innovate and adapt, underscoring the transient nature of fame and business success.

• Industry Analysis:
  By dissecting beauty trends like Mu Dang Skin and corporate strategies involving brand mascots, the hosts provide a nuanced understanding of how the beauty and fashion industries manipulate cultural narratives for profit.

Key Takeaways

1. Emerging Trends: Renaissance-inspired fashion and unconventional beauty standards like Mu Dang Skin illustrate the ongoing experimentation within the beauty industry, often at the expense of authenticity and practicality.

2. Celebrity Influence: The decline of the Kardashians' business influence serves as a cautionary tale about the sustainability of celebrity-driven brands without continuous innovation.

3. Regulatory Oversight: The critique of Lemmy GLP1 Daily emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and ethical standards in supplement marketing to protect consumers from misleading claims.

4. Cultural Impact: The episode underscores the powerful role of beauty standards in shaping societal perceptions of morality, worth, and identity, urging listeners to adopt a more critical stance towards these influences.

By blending insightful analysis with engaging discussions, Jessica and Emily offer listeners a comprehensive critique of contemporary beauty and fashion trends, encouraging a more mindful approach to pop culture consumption.