Research - Magazine analysis

Magazine picks

The magazines I chose to analyse are VOGUE and ELLE.

https://www.vogue.com/magazine

VOGUE

Vogue is a hugely popular magazine that holds significant sway in the fashion world. Its name, which means "with style" in French, perfectly reflects its focus and traditions. It's considered one of the most powerful players in the fashion industry. I looked at Vogue magazine covers from 1975 and 2024 ,focusing on things like different types of models, what's in the cover photos, and the styles they show. I also looked at fashion articles in Vogue from those years in more detail. I observed that while Vogue has become more diverse in the content of its articles, they haven't shown as much diversity on the covers. Anyway, what caught my attention the most is the fact that the basis of each magazine is femininity. The models on the covers of the magazine express the fact that they feel very confident and have confidence in their bodies, transmitting this to the people who look at the magazine.

I assume that it is "Spring" because of the red text and the golden glow that mimics the women's skin tone and hair. Another clue that this might have been made especially for "Spring" is the female model's outfit, which has short sleeves and a flowery design that suggests it would be too chilly to wear in any other season. The model's head blocks the middle letter "G" on the masthead, suggesting that she might be very important and that the main article would focus on her. In fact, one of the main cover lines reads, "Stella Tennant's..."; this reference to her name would suggest that the article is about her even if readers aren't familiar with her appearance.Finally, there is only a limited range of three colours used in the masthead and cover lines. Red is used to symbolise spring, and black may be used because the text is legible and easy to read on the model, who occupies the entire page. The white writing of "BE INSPIRED" may be used to stand out and may have a double meaning, as the words essentially mean "don't be afraid to stand out," which is what the main cover words are doing. It could also be argued that white reflects the clothing the female model is wearing, possibly to show a continuous and avoid a messy unclear front cover, which works extremely well.

ELLE

This Elle edition, which debuted in December 2008, is a Christmas edition. The mix of silver and black creates a celebratory atmosphere. Although silver doesn't generally draw attention, it works in this instance, especially when paired with Jennifer Lopez's dress, which is decorated with glitter and silver sequins that reflect the glitz of the holidays. Jennifer stands out against the subdued hues with her skin tone. Her bold, dark makeup stands out against her natural appearance and suggests a change from the sunny seasons.

The model's head is divided by the Elle masthead, showcasing Jennifer Lopez's notoriety and demonstrating careful editing. Elle gains more appeal by using her image, drawing admirers of Jennifer Lopez in addition to Vogue readers. Reflecting the joyous Christmas season and the ornaments utilised and erected globally, contributing to Vogue's widespread recognition. Additionally, Jennifer's skin tone stands out beautifully because it is the only bright colour on the entire front cover, which may draw a lot of attention to it. Her makeup is also rather dark and unnatural, which may also reflect the season because it is the antithesis of natural and suggests a time of heat and sun. Furthermore, the ELLE mast head has been divided, with EL on one side of the model's head and LE on the other, indicating the job.