The Review of Mess

• A Hermeneutic Analysis of Jones Road Beauty

  We’re back with another episode of The Review of Mess: a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by me, Jessica DeFino) and I (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick). For this installment we invited Mikala Jamison, writer of the newsletter Body Type, to chat about muscle-as-accessory in the Build-A-Body era. Today we’re talking about: A final Met Gala recap [3:12]; the Cannes red carpet nipple ban [27:30]; a hermeneutic analysis of Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer [38:30]; genderqueer outfits from Justin Bieber and Alexander Skarsgård [48:30]; faux-free bleeding from Julia Fox [54:30]; Jennifer Aniston and LolaVie’s gimmicky “No Gimmicks” campaign [58:40]; a conversation with Mikala Jamison about Sophie Turner’s muscles, Khloé Kardashian’s protein popcorn, and the absurdity of “revenge bodies” [1:06:50]; Barbie Fashion Designer CD-ROMs [1:39:45]; and DIY otoplasty [1:43:25]. Plus more!Media we mentioned: Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity [Monica L. Miller], “Black Dandyism: a Cultural History, an interview with Monica L. Miller” [Dressed: The History of Fashion Podcast], Theory of the Gimmick [Sianne Ngai]About the podcast: The Review of Mess is a podcast by Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick that takes a critical look at the dregs of pop culture. Jessica is the writer behind The Review of Beauty, which has been called the newsletter “the beauty industry fears,” and Emily is the creator of I , a weekly roundup of the best of the worst celebrity fashion. Together, they dissect the biggest and dumbest celebrity happenings every month and give their unfiltered opinion on everything going on in the world of fashion and beauty.Subscribe to receive future podcast posts in your inbox:About the theme music: The Review of Mess theme song is “Hot Mess” by Carly Lind. Find more about Carly here and listen to her music here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicadefino.substack.com/subscribe

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• $33 Non-Toxic Toilet Paper with Ochuko Akpovbovbo

  This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jessicadefino.substack.comWe’re back with another very special paid subscriber only episode of The Review of Mess: a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by me, Jessica DeFino) and I (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick). For this installment, we invited Ochuko Akpovbovbo — writer of the must-read and oft-quoted (by us) newsletter as seen on — to join us.Today we’re talking …

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• David Cronenberg For The Girlies

  We’re back with another episode of The Review of Mess: a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by me, Jessica DeFino) and I (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick). For this installment, we invited writer and director Emilie Blichfeldt to talk about her new “beauty horror” film, The Ugly Stepsister, which is theaters now and will begin streaming on Shudder on May 9.Today we’re talking about: Apocalyptic steampunk fashion at Coachella [3:30]; the astounding number of beauty brand founders on Time Magazine’s list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2025 [18:45]; aesthetic recession indicators [23:57]; a horrifying/embarrassing story involving Jessica, J.K. Rowling, and this Batsheva BUTTERFACE t-shirt [39:20]; a new hole care brand called Niches & Nooks [42:00]; luxury fashion post-tariffs [51:10]; Anne Hathaway’s alleged face lift [1:02:45]; an interview with Emilie Blichfeldt on tape worms, hair loss, and ugly heroines [1:08:36]; Lauren Sanchez’s $5,750 Balenciaga coffee cup [1:40:00]; and a fun little mental breakdown that resulted in Jessica bleaching her eyebrows [1:48:45]. Plus more!Media we mentioned: “Small plate cowgirls” [American Style], Ways of Seeing [John Berger], “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” [Walter Benjamin], “Weight-Loss Drugs Like Wegovy Are Linked to Hair Loss” [TIME], “Reentering The World With Anxiety Eyebrows” [Vogue]About the podcast: The Review of Mess is a podcast by Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick that takes a critical look at the dregs of pop culture. Jessica is the writer behind The Review of Beauty, which has been called the newsletter “the beauty industry fears,” and Emily is the creator of I , a weekly roundup of the best of the worst celebrity fashion. Together, they dissect the biggest and dumbest celebrity happenings every month and give their unfiltered opinion on everything going on in the world of fashion and beauty.Subscribe to receive future podcast posts in your inbox:About the theme music: The Review of Mess theme song is “Hot Mess” by Carly Lind. Find more about Carly here and listen to her music here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicadefino.substack.com/subscribe

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  1:52:33
• Bon Iver's Tinned Fish with Josh Gondelman

  This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit jessicadefino.substack.comWe’re back with another very special paid subscriber only episode of The Review of Mess: a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by me, Jessica DeFino) and I (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick). For this installment, we invited comedian extraordinaire Josh Gondelman, writer of the newsletter That's Marvelous!, to join us in conversation.Today we’re tal…

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  7:57
• The Truth About Butter Biscuit Blondes

  We’re back with another episode of The Review of Mess: a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by me, Jessica DeFino) and I (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick). For this installment, we invited Mother Jones reporter Inae Oh to talk about “In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA,” her recent investigation into Mar-a-Lago Face, conservative makeup, and more.Today we’re talking about: A potential live podcast event in NYC!, wired garments that simulate wind [5:10] and makeup that mimics weather [12:50], the irony of Allure joining Substack [13:50], the red carpet’s pleaser problem [21:25], Jacquemus and Louis Vuitton are launching beauty lines [30:22], why all beauty is “fast beauty” [33:15], Kim Kardashian covers Perfect magazine with her Tesla robot [40:40], a deep-dive into MAGA aesthetics with Inae Oh [56:00], Meghan Markle’s messy ShopMy account [1:26:40], Mindy Kaling’s ugly Kelly bag bling [1:30:50], and “butter biscuit blonde” highlights [1:34:00]. Plus more!Media we mentioned: “In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA” [Mother Jones], “Why ‘Allure’ joined Substack” [Embedded], “long live the female founder” [as seen on], “Would you eat at a reSTOREant?” [Shop Rat], “Elisa’s ‘Elle Decor’ Era & Kim K’s Skky Fall” [Puck], “Influencer Brands Often Fail. Does Meghan Markle's Stand a Chance?” [Back Row]About the podcast: The Review of Mess is a podcast by Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick that takes a critical look at the dregs of pop culture. Jessica is the writer behind The Review of Beauty, which has been called the newsletter “the beauty industry fears,” and Emily is the creator of I , a weekly roundup of the best of the worst celebrity fashion. Together, they dissect the biggest and dumbest celebrity happenings every month and give their unfiltered opinion on everything going on in the world of fashion and beauty.Subscribe to receive future podcast posts in your inbox:About the theme music: The Review of Mess theme song is “Hot Mess” by Carly Lind. Find more about Carly here and listen to her music here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicadefino.substack.com/subscribe

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