Planning and More Planning

Before getting started on anything, I need to plan and figure what exactly I need to do. I want to make sure I plan my project accordingly and make sure I can submit my project on time.

Week 2-25:  research/planning

Week 3-4:  planning and layout design

Week 3-11: cover and content ideas

Week 3-18: gather supplies for the photo shoot and start production

Week 3-25: editing and creating content

Week 4-1: editing and the final product is due

This is my planned schedule but it is subject to change depending on how much work I am able to complete and if I run into any troubles. My goal is to stay on track and start taking pictures sooner than later.

        

Spring 2019 Trends

After creating the name of my magazine, I had to find out what my magazine issue would be about. It would obviously be about beauty, but there are so many aspects of beauty and makeup that it was difficult to choose. I knew that I wanted my issue to be about a current beauty/makeup trend for Spring/Summer of 2019, so I searched up on popular beauty websites, what will be trending in the makeup community for 2019. After searching through a few different websites, I gathered a list of 5 different makeup trends of 2019 that stuck out to me:

1. 'Dumpling skin' or 'glass skin' - inspired by K-beauty


2. Jewel-toned makeup - deep blues, emerald greens, ruby reds, and pink


3. Gloss - glossy skin, lips, and eyes


4. Monochromatic makeup - particularly mauves and pinks


5. Graphic eyes- colorful and intricate eyeliner and mascara


Although all of these trends sound beyond cool and something unique to feature in an issue, I had to consider my own limitations as a makeup artists, and personally, what trends I liked. Most trends I would be able to create, but the graphics eyes trend seems fairly difficult and I am not sure I would be able to create that. Also, it's not very practical for my readers, so I am scratching that trend. The next trend would be jewel-toned makeup, something very cool and hasn't been on trend in a while, but the trend doesn't speak to me much, so I am scratching that. Next would be the gloss trend, oh gosh I love this trend and have been on it since last year when it came off the runway, but from personal experience, it's really unrealistic. Your makeup starts slipping off, your eyelids get stuck together and your hair starts getting caught on your lip gloss. This trend is so beautiful but should be kept for runways and special shows only, I think it would be a cool feature, but I don't want the whole issue to be about this, so bye-bye gloss trend. Now I am down to my two favorites: glass skin and monochromatic makeup. I absolutely love the glass skin trend and try to do it on myself, but it definitely involves more than makeup, it's about your skin as well, so having an issue on this, I would be able to incorporate makeup and skin care which can appeal to my target audience. However, I die for monochromatic makeup, I basically do it every time I do makeup and is definitely practical and can be achieved by the everyday woman.

After careful decision making... I have realized that I actually don't want to just focus on one spring 2019 trend but incorporate all of them together, with the main focus on monochromatic makeup. I have chosen to make my issue about monochromatic makeup, while slightly adding other trends in the mix as well! It's definitely something I am capable of creating, I love the trend, and just because I eliminated all other trends, doesn't mean I can't necessarily slightly incorporate them into my makeup looks. I have a clear picture of how I want my cover shot to look like an I am so excited to incorporate my favorite makeup trends and surround it with monochromatic tones!!!!!

Ren Magazine

When starting my blog, one important thing I had to do is come up with a name for my magazine. I was bouncing back and forth between different feminine adjectives because many beauty and fashion magazines use this as their name, like 'Cosmopolitan' and 'Allure'. However, that just seemed very basic so I wanted to possibly use a name as the title of the magazine, like 'Marie Claire" or "Elle", and that's when it hit me! I wanted to use my last name 'Renslow', but instead of using my whole name I would only use "Ren". I want my magazine to be sophisticated and I thought this name was succinct, easy to say, sounds classy and it fell under the genre characteristics of names for female magazines. However, after I created the name, I wanted to make sure that the name didn't have a different meaning in a foreign country. In America, 'ren' doesn't really mean anything, maybe someone could have the name but it's not an official word. However, when I searched up on google what 'ren' meant, it apparently originates from China, and also has significance in Wales and Japan as well. In China, 'ren' means love or goodness, while in Japan, 'ren' is another name for a Lotus or Lily flower., however, in Welsh it means ruler.

After finding this information out, I realized Ren doesn't mean anything offensive or negative in another language and it actually means some pretty cool different things in different countries, and not to mention I'll still be able to represent my name without directly stating it. I believe this will be a great title for my magazine and it will easily be remembered and even if you're from a different country and see the magazine, it won't be offensive and on the contrary, could be something nice.

So it's official, my magazine is called "Ren Magazine"!

My Content Inspiration

I mentioned before that Vogue was my main source of inspiration, but I am afraid I didn't make myself clear enough. Vogue is my main source of inspiration overall and specifically the sophistication and photographs, but Allure is also my inspiration. Vogue is a more fashion oriented magazine, while Allure focuses more on beauty. I will be taking content inspiration from allure when it comes to creating my double page spread. But cover wise and possible table of contents will come from Vogue.

I am not sure exactly what I want my magazine content to be like, but here is some inspiration.

 

   

I definitely want to incorporate lots of pictures, mostly pictures of makeup and up close makeup looks. As for the table of contents, I find that those from Vogue either consist of lots a fine print words or ones that are all full of pictures, like the ones featured above. I saw that each table of contents matched what the issue was about, which is something I need to take into consideration.

The History of Vogue

Sarah Jessica Parker Narrates the History of 2010s Fashion in Vogue

After watching this video, I realized a lot about how the magazine industry has changed and some conventions that are specific to Vogue, which is my prime inspiration. At the beginning of the video, Sarah Jessica Parker tells viewers how vogue used to be very sleek, sophisticated and somewhat neutral, in the sense that the magazine wasn't too crazy full of colors and there weren't too many out of the box makeup looks or outfits. But as the years progressed, Vogue started spreading the idea that 'grunge' and 'rebel-elegance' was just as beautiful as 'sleek' and 'sophisticated'. "Outlaws are almost always glamorous...Whatever is bold, is what's beautiful" was stated by Ms. Parker in the video, and she reminded the audience that you don't have to be simple to be considered pretty as it was in the old days. You could have a bold outfit or makeup look and still be considered glam and elegant, which is something I am thinking about incorporating into my magazine.

Additionally, Parker was trying to say that you don't have to be perfect to be in a magazine or be considered beautiful, which directly brought her on to her new topic: actors and celebrities. In the mid-2000s, Vogue not only featured famous models, but they started to incorporate actors and other celebrities into their issues. These celebrities were featured in the magazine to give a more "laid back-feel" in a sense. Vogue is not a laid back gossip magazine, but they were trying to incorporate other people other than models into their magazine so that readers got to understand and know the opinions and attitudes of real-life people who are just like the readers. These actors got to choose what they wanted to wear and what they wanted to express in the issue they were featured in, which is something similar to what I want to incorporate in my magazine.

Something else featured in the video that I am most definitely incorporating into my magazine is the focus on newer and upcoming artists. Most magazines feature extremely famous celebrities and models and designers, but in the mid-2000s, Vogue started to incorporate new designers, which is what I want to do but with artists. I want to incorporate the tips, tricks, and recommendations, and ideas from a newer artist just starting out. I want my magazine to be able to cater to everyone, not only the elite class. Most designers, clothing pieces and makeup products featured in magazines are worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars, something not a lot of people can afford. Therefore, sometimes reading magazines, especially vogue,  can be intimidating and that's not the vibe I want to give off in my magazine. I want to give off a friendly vibe and make sure that any beauty and makeup lover will pick up my magazine and feel like there is something inside for them. This ties into the beginning of this post. I not only want to feature simple and elegant makeup looks, but also those that appeal to my more creative audience, where I will use a lot of texture and intricate color schemes. Additionally, with my magazine, it won't all be plastered with celebrities, but starting out makeup artists and their own opinions and recommendations for readers. This gives readers a new perspective on beauty and sheds new light for them as well.

What I Want to Represent

In my beauty magazine, I plan to represent the concept of makeup. Many times makeup is seen as something solely used to cover up imperfections, however, makeup can be used as a creative outlet, just like drawing or painting. Makeup is just as much of art as sculpting, painting, or drawing, but many fail to recognize this. Without makeup, we would not have all of those flawless and beautiful celebrities we see on television, magazines, or movies. For example, most horror movies use special effects makeup that basically makes the whole movie; imagine the movie "Nightmare on Elm Street" without Freddy Krueger. Makeup not only plays a huge part in movies but its also essential for magazines. All the beautiful celebrities that you see on magazine covers aren't all that perfect; take off the makeup and remove the editing, and they are just like us. Makeup helps enhance the beauty we have and I believe that without makeup, we would all be living in a dull world. Makeup's main purpose is to help enhance the beauty we all have and make us feel good about ourselves. Makeup isn't used to just cover up imperfections, it's used to enhance our natural features and encapsulate our definitions of beauty.  Likewise, for the everyday woman makeup can be used to make her feel good about herself, but for an artist, it can be used to express creativity and experiment with different techniques, colors, and textures. Furthermore, makeup is not only used as an enhancer but it could also be used creatively, such as for special effects.

Currently, I am very unhappy with how makeup and makeup artists themselves are represented in today's society. Makeup is seen as an add-on item and makeup artists are either misrepresented or under-represented. Makeup is seen as something insignificant, however, the beauty industry is growing by billions every year, so those that believe makeup is unimportant, will be very confused when they here that "In 2013, the industry added nearly $237 billion to the US gross domestic product (GDP), and supported 3.6 million domestic jobs that earned $144 billion in wages and incomes through its direct, indirect and induced contributions." I wouldn't say makeup is uninfluential. Makeup not only influences our nation but influences all the people that wear makeup or use beauty products. I don't think that the makeup representation is fair, nor do I believe it is correct. People must educate themselves on the importance of makeup, not only for individuals but also how beauty affects the community.

When creating my magazine, there are a few representation characteristics I would like to retain, while there are others I would like to challenge. For example, I would love to challenge the belief that makeup is only used to cover imperfections; I would love to show how makeup can be used artistically and creatively. I want to show bold and creatively makeup looks and I want my magazine to show that makeup creates just as beautiful art as the traditional mediums. Additionally, I would love to keep the representation that makeup makes users feel happy and confident about themselves. I believe that is essential to include the fact that makeup enhances the wonderful, unique, and one of a kind features we all have.

Fashion Magazine Characteristics

1. Genre: Fashion and Style Magazine (teen style)

2. Genre Conventions (Content):

- relevant to a young teen's life and issues she may encounter at her age, and talking about these issues.

- Used as an escape for many teens, so interesting topics such as reports on new style trends, self-help articles, beauty and boy tips, and relevant real-life stories are shared.

-Also focused on entertainment such as relevant celebrities, music, TV, gossip, celebrity quizzes, and sometimes posters.

3. Genre Conventions (Production Techniques):
-Attention-grabbing covers since magazine are not really relevant for teens as much as they used to be.

- Covers could include one person or many people.

- Cover lines need to be appropriate with current things happening in pop culture.

- Cover lines need to be fresh, including new trends or styles or celebrity gossip.

- Cover lines should be exclusive to the magazine, such as an exclusive interview with a celebrity.

- The actual cover photograph should include a friendly looking girl or a handsome looking boy, have eyepopping and colorful images

- Cover usually have eye-popping lines offering something for free, such as a poster or free sample.

- On the inside of the magazine, there are bright article titles and many colorful pictures. Almost every page will have some sort of image or cartoon.

- Relevant advertisements will be featured, showing popular makeup or hair product and in-style clothing brands and items.

- Bright colors and eye-catching fonts are used.



This magazine embodies my genre because it includes a very popular and relevant celebrity and there is an "exclusive" interview inside that makes teens want to buy the magazine. This magazine uses various fonts in black and bright red and in different sizes to look eye-catching. The cover lines include beauty and fashion advice, information on a popular male and female celebrity, and features articles on music and well-known musicians.



This magazine embodies my genre because it includes a pretty and friendly popular celebrity in a colorful in-style outfit. The magazine has many cover lines stating school advice, real-life stories, how to win free items, and fashion advice, all of which are essential to a teen magazine. Attractive fonts in bright colors are used to grab a teen's attention.