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"!
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Saturday, February 23, 2019
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
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.
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.
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.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Genre Conventions for Fashion Magazines
- Genre:
- Women’s fashion magazine -- (focus on beauty)
- Genre conventions (content):
- Latest beauty trends of the season and presenting them in a creative manner
- Beauty and fashion tips and tricks with suggestions on how to look better and suggestions on certain products or items
- Fashion trends and how to achieve them
- Health and care focused on taking care of hair and skin with possible recipes and advice
- Picture tutorials for makeup and hair
- Makeup and outfit inspiration using the latest products and trends
- Features on celebrities and famous makeup artists to inspire readers
- Genre conventions (production techniques):
- Cover:
- Masthead: a feature that will always stay the same, like the title of the magazine. Ex: Allure or Vogue. Will always be big, bold, and on top of front cover. Let’s audience become familiar with cover and name
- Main image: different every month or season. Will be the main factor to catch readers’ attention and be related to the content of the issue.
- Sell lines: will always be linked to the main image, could be quotes of the person featured on the cover, or have a few words from the main magazine feature. Also, it contains secondary sell-lines in smaller font, very catchy information regarding the issue.
- Target audience: women ages 18-50, interested in fashion, beauty, hair, skin care, pop culture, quizzes, and trends. The use of the color pink and red are used often because they are considered feminine and sexy. SImilar clothing and makeup to the audience will be worn by the person on the cover to be relatable and make readers feel attached, compelling readers to buy the magazine.
- Contents Page:
- Main image: will include an image of the same person on the cover, but a different pose and will be one of the larger photographs featured. Will be larger to signify the importance of the person in the issue
- Title: the name of the magazine will be big and bold on top of contents page
- Page numbers with occasional summaries: Next to the images will be bolded page numbers and the possible title of the page and occasionally will include a summary of the page. The summary will tell the readers the best pages to read-- the pages that the magazine thinks high of.
- Date and Issue number: the date the issue came out and the name of the issue will be featured
- Double Page Spreads:
- Layout: writing will be separated into column form. At the start of most paragraphs, the title will be big and bold to catch readers’ attention. The main image will most likely be covering one side of the double page spread.
- Main large image: will most likely be the same person on the cover, just a different photograph, or the large image will be heavily related to the content spoken about in the article.
- Large Headings/Pull Quotes: headings or quotes will always be related to or pulled from the article written and linked to the main image.
- Institutional conventions (marketing):
- Strong and bold headlines: used on the cover to draw the attention of readers and get them intrigued about content in issue. Also used on content pages to bring readers’ eyes to important pages and their summary. Lastly, used on double-page spreads at the beginning of the article and also used when mentioning of pulled quotes from the article.
- The precise use of color: most fashion magazines focus on using feminine colors such as pink and red and the use of light pastel colors that are appealing to the eyes without taking away attention from the main photograph or article.
- Visually appealing: most magazine covers not only have bold words but they are visually appealing by the photograph featured and the colors featured in the photograph and the colors used for the masthead and sell-lines.
- Current topics: not only have bold titles withdrawing words, but the titles must be relevant and current so that readers will be interested in learning more.
- Appealing fonts: fonts draw attention and get readers’ eyes to focus on the words mentioned.
- Sample #1
This magazine perfectly embodies fashion magazine conventions. The cover has a beautiful celebrity with natural hair and natural makeup. The cover has a large masthead and features differently sized sell-lines in different colors that all complement each other. The use of white, gold, and black is all visually appealing to draw in readers. Additionally, the use of the gray is a great background color, that adds color without taking away attention from the main subject.
- Sample #2
This is a perfect example of a double page spread for a beauty magazine. The writing is separated into column form and has large bold heading to draw the readers’ attention. The double page spread is full of graphics and colors to keep the reader interested. This spread is giving readers tips and tricks for a good skin care regimen. It also recommends products and mentions the cost and where to buy it.
Other examples:
Introducing Me!
Hello, my name is Vanessa Renslow, I am a makeup artist and a beauty enthusiast from Florida. I absolutely love to keep up with new makeup trends, and I constantly find myself looking at new beauty related magazines to get inspired and create my own looks. If you didn't know, the beauty industry is constantly changing every year. What can be in style in fall, can be totally out of style next season, and that's what my favorite part about the beauty community is. The beauty and makeup community never become stale and new trends come out almost every season. For the most part, when a new beauty trend is released, it's released in fashion/beauty magazines and on designer runway shows. I love to browse through magazines and look at new makeup trends to follow and eventually try out myself. I have a personal Instagram blog where I post pictures of beauty trends I try out on myself and my opinions of them. Because of the fact I love to learn about new trends and keep up with them, I decided to make a fashion magazine issue, but specifically focusing on the beauty aspect. I want to focus on the makeup aspect of beauty and focus on top makeup trends of 2018. In this blog, I will be documenting my journey of creating this magazine issue, and all the steps, successes and failures along the way. I'm still unsure about what my whole magazine issue will be about, but I do have a few ideas that I will be sharing soon! 💜💜💜
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