1. FASHION MAGAZINE
My first assignment is to analyze a magazine cover. The magazine I will be
working on is a fashion magazine. FASHION Magazine is singularly poised to
bring the world of international fashion home to Canadians. With editors
and contributors who travel to, and live in, the style capitals of the world,
we’re out there on the front lines of fashion. FASHION is filled with up-tothe-minute news from the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris.
From the front row to the shopping addresses of Canada, FASHION
Magazine is there. Each issue of FASHION has a shopping section filled with
everything that Canadian fashion and beauty lovers need to hit the streets.
As well as delivering the best finds in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary
and Edmonton, they’ll continue to introduce readers to the personalities
behind Canada’s fashion and retail scene. They celebrate the designers,
retailers and spa owners who make it all happen in Canada.
3. Masthead
The masthead, FASHION is big and bold at the top of the page. This is one of the
first places we look when looking at a magazine front cover, so the need for it to be
big and bold is completely necessary. It is in a serif font, making it look powerful
and this also allows it to appear more clearly to the audience who are looking out
for their favorite fashion magazine. The masthead is also in capital letters, adding to
the idea that the masthead must stand out above all other aspects. The colour of the
masthead is white that matches with the text colour of most of the cover lines on the
magazine cover. The masthead ‘FASHION’ clearly indicates to the target audience
that this is a fashion magazine. The main image on the magazine is more prominent
then the masthead as it is covering the masthead. However the audience can clearly
figure out the name of the magazine because of the other codes and conventions on
the front cover.
4. Tagline
The masthead is conventionally placed at the top of the page followed by a tagline
being either place on the side of the page or on the top right corner acting more or
less like a banner. Looking now at the tagline on this front cover placed on the right of the
page, it is relating to Canada’s best fashion and beauty magazine. It is about bring
different types of international fashion to Canada. The tagline ‘CANADA’S NO.1
FASHION & BEAUTY MAGAZINE’ reflects the fact that it is one of the best fashion
magazine in Canada. Such a tagline will appeal to anyone looking at the front cover
because when seeing the word No.1, the audience would be eager to see why the magazine
claims that it is the No.1 Fashion & Beauty Magazine of Canada.
5. Cover Lines
Cover lines are catchy phrases or words on the cover. Their basic use is to interest people
enough to read the rest article. These are often called kickers. The majority of the cover
lines are in capital letters and are in white so they are easily readable. This allows them to
look simple and bold, standing out and also appealing to a simpler target audience of
females. Most of the cover lines are referring to different fashion trends and looks, for
example ’NEWEST NAIL LOOKS’. These cover lines would appeal to the audience as they
will believe that they are going to be able to read about these different trends.
6. Buzzword
A buzzword is a word or phrase used to impress, or is fashionable. In this
magazine front cover the sign ‘+’ is used to impress the target audience to
tell that there is something exclusive in this magazine about the new fashion
trends.
