The Review of Mess: Episode Summary Title: The Truth About Butter Biscuit Blondes
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Hosts: Jessica DeFino & Emily Kirkpatrick

Introduction & Updates

Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick kick off the episode with personal updates and announcements. Jessica mentions recording from a WeWork office, signaling a departure from her usual recording environment (00:34). The hosts discuss their plans for a live podcast in New York, seeking assistance from event producers (01:28). Additionally, Jessica announces a forthcoming name change for her newsletter, hinting at a new era in her work, while Emily expresses support and teasing potential listener reactions (02:13).

Red Carpet Trends: Wired Garments

The hosts delve into the emerging trend of wired garments on the red carpet. Emily highlights instances where celebrities like Irina Shayk and Julia Fox embrace avant-garde fashion featuring visible wiring, creating a "floating" or "magical" effect (04:02). Jessica and Emily discuss how designers like Louis Vuitton, under Nicolas Gasgier, are pushing these boundaries, noting the mix of futuristic aesthetics with traditional high fashion (08:34). They debate the implications of this trend, questioning whether it reflects deeper societal issues such as climate change and the performative aspects of fashion in media (11:45).

Notable Quote:

Emily Kirkpatrick (04:02): "It really happened. In a spectacular fashion."

Mainstream Media's Foray into Independent Spaces: Allure on Substack

Jessica and Emily express frustration over traditional media brands like Allure launching independent newsletters on platforms like Substack (13:04). They critique Allure’s move, arguing that major brands infiltrate spaces initially dominated by independent journalists, often without fair compensation. The discussion touches on the broader implications for freelance writers, who struggle with low pay rates from established media outlets (15:14).

Notable Quotes:

Jessica DeFino (13:44): "Like, who can afford to get $350 for, like, two weeks of work."

Emily Kirkpatrick (17:14): "You just refuse to pay for it. So you want to come in and intervene."

Red Carpet Footwear: The Rise of Pleaser Platform Heels

The conversation shifts to the ubiquity of pleaser platform heels on the red carpet. Emily laments the trend, citing celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Sabrina Carpenter who opt for excessively high-platform shoes, which she views as both impractical and aesthetically unappealing (21:23). They discuss the societal pressures leading to such choices, including height favoritism in the fashion industry and the desire to appear taller and slimmer on camera.

Notable Quotes:

Emily Kirkpatrick (22:06): "It's the female version of the leg breaking surgery that men are doing now."

Jessica DeFino (28:37): "It's very pedestal."

Designer Beauty Lines: Louis Vuitton's Expansion

Jessica brings attention to Louis Vuitton's recent collaboration with beauty expert Pat McGrath to launch a new beauty line (30:23). They speculate on how McGrath’s expertise will influence the product offerings and discuss the broader trend of high-fashion brands entering the beauty industry. The hosts debate the sustainability and ethical implications of such expansions, drawing parallels to the fast fashion industry's notorious practices.

Notable Quote:

Jessica DeFino (30:40): "55 lipsticks, 10 lip balms, and eight eye palettes."

Interview Segment: Ina on "The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA"

The episode features an in-depth interview with Ina, a reporter who authored the Mother Jones article titled "The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA" (56:29). Ina explores the intersection of aesthetics and political power within the MAGA movement, examining how appearance serves as a tool for signaling alignment with political ideologies. The discussion covers:

• Kristi Noem's public persona and aesthetic choices.
• The role of cosmetic procedures in reinforcing political and class-based identities.
• The perpetuation of regressive gender norms through visual presentation.
• The long-term implications of associating physical appearance with political allegiance.

Notable Quotes:

Ina (57:11): "What kind of mindset do you have to be in to cut your face off for Donald Trump."

Emily Kirkpatrick (64:14): "They are all part of the grift. Right."

Mess of the Month: Meghan Markle's Shop My Account

Emily critiques Meghan Markle's new "Shop My Account," an affiliate marketing endeavor that she finds incongruent with Markle’s royal status (86:44). They mock the concept of a member of the Royal family engaging in affiliate sales, highlighting the clash between traditional royal image and modern capitalist practices. The discussion extends to the broader issue of celebrities monetizing personal platforms through affiliate links, questioning the authenticity and necessity of such ventures.

Notable Quotes:

Emily Kirkpatrick (86:53): "It's so funny to me for a member of the Royal family to have affiliate links."

Jessica DeFino (88:10): "And it's so much more."

Hair Color Trends: The Overcomplication of Blonde Shades

The hosts express exasperation over the beauty industry's tendency to create overly intricate and meaningless names for simple hair color shades (93:52). They cite examples from Marie Claire and celebrity stylists like Lindsay Lohan’s stylist Demetrius Janetos, who name similar blonde shades with whimsical terms like "Butter Biscuit Blonde" and "Almond Milk." Jessica and Emily argue that this trend reflects a superficial approach to beauty journalism and marketing, which prioritizes trendiness over substantive content.

Notable Quotes:

Jessica DeFino (94:03): "What do I do over a picture of Hailey Bieber? They're the same shade."

Emily Kirkpatrick (95:50): "It's all or nothing. You have to pop a sneaker on."

Conclusion

In wrapping up, Jessica and Emily reaffirm their commitment to critically analyzing pop culture's superficial trends, emphasizing the importance of understanding the deeper societal and political implications behind seemingly trivial aesthetic choices. They encourage listeners to stay informed and question the motives behind beauty and fashion trends perpetuated by influential figures and mainstream media.

Notable Quotes:

Emily Kirkpatrick (85:54): "We're all victims of these beauty standards."

Jessica DeFino (99:14): "We'll see you next month."

Key Takeaways

• Aesthetic Trends Reflect Deeper Issues: The episode underscores how fashion and beauty trends, such as wired garments and platform heels, often mirror broader societal and political dynamics.

• Mainstream Media vs. Independent Journalism: The critique of Allure’s move to Substack highlights tensions between traditional media corporations and the independent journalism ecosystem.

• Political Aesthetics: The interview with Ina reveals how political movements like MAGA use aesthetics to signal power and align with specific ideologies, perpetuating gender norms and class distinctions.

• Overcomplication in Beauty Media: The frustration with convoluted hair color trend names points to the beauty industry's focus on marketing gimmicks over genuine content.

• Celebrity Influence and Capitalism: Meghan Markle’s Shop My Account serves as a case study in how celebrities monetize personal platforms, blending royalty with capitalist practices in incongruent ways.

For Further Listening: To dive deeper into these discussions and explore the unfiltered opinions on the most critical and chaotic trends in pop culture, subscribe to The Review of Mess on Apple Podcasts and stay tuned for next month's episode.