Website Investigation & Design

Fashion Magazine website investigation

USING WIX

I have used Wix before it was updated and seeing that they are offering such a diverse range of templates really helped me in choosing the right layout and format of a fashion magazine website.

I choose to go to the Fashion and beauty templates.

Most of the templates were aimed at beauty-makeup and fashion blogs or online fashion stores. 

I choose the template: Small Brand.

Then I looked at the template and I liked the way it was laid out so I clicked "Edit this site".

The tools available to change and personalize the site were very accessible. 

I have looked into the tools available and I tried to give my site a personal touch.

I looked at all the tools and used most of them just to get used to WIX, for when I will do my actual site for my fashion magazine. 

It took me 15-20 min to create the home page as you can see above. 

 I had to change the title and add social media links as well as change the content.

 The gallery at the top was a nice option, I saw many websites of fashion magazines having a slider gallery so I added one myself. I used the photographs available from WIX for this.

I went into a simpler version of my initial idea, I wanted to create a flexible slider to show the main picture of the articles that are part of the (TOP STORIES) but WIX did not have that option so I kept thing simple. 

Furthermore, the post in the middle is part of the top stories which was inspired from the Vogue website.  I had to delete the video that came with the template and replace it with a Versace Fashion show on YouTube. 

It was harder than I expected but it was a nice challenge. 

 ***However, this is the first time I am trying Wix since updated, and this is just an investigation. I will not use this as my final website.***

Case Studies of Fashion Magazines

I went into further research about Vogue and made a simple case study inspired by Grazia's case study that is available on their website. For the case study, I had to look at different articles and use social media platforms to be able to give more information about Vogue magazine.

Celebrity/ Model Representation

Winnie Harlow 

aka Chantelle Winnie – she’s tall, slender, drop-dead gorgeous but there’s something that sets her apart – she has vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation in sections of the skin. It occurs when melanocytes (the cells responsible for skin pigmentation) die or are unable to function.

She’s the first model with the disease and her story is truly inspirational. She admits growing up was very tough and the bullying felt endless but she learned to love herself and is now a vitiligo spokesperson.

Winnie appeared on America’s Next Top Model in which she stated, “a lot of people have a story, a background, but mine is painted on my body”.

She’s taking the world by storm and inspiring others with her natural beauty and positive outlook on life.

Representation

We can see that Magazines are not afraid anymore of presenting models that aren't traditionally "PERFECT", in this case, perfect refers to white, tall, skinny models.

By having Winnie Harlow on the front covers of the magazines changes the traditional conventions of a magazine because she is not only representing black women but also those that have Vitiligo and those that don't fit with the traditional beauty standards.

1. GRAZIA

The image of the GRAZIA magazine is different from what they usually have, they use paparazzi photographs on most of their front covers.
However, this Photograph of Winnie Harlow is a studio shot, we can see the clear blue background which gives a simplistic theme to the front cover. The color scheme is very simplistic as well, the Cover lines and heading are white mainly, but we can see the use of black and red that we can find on the model as she wears red lipstick and the black hair that matches with the picture at the top and some of the text on the cover lines. The makeup used is very simple, aimed to highlight her facial features that have depigmentation.
The pose of the model, in this case, Winnie Harlow, is focusing on the facial features. We can only see her face and hands(close shot) suggesting that the issue is pointing out the beauty side that the magazine is promoting rather than fashion, moreover, at the bottom of the front cover, there are some beauty products which are promoted supporting the concept of beauty.


2. ELLE

ELLE is usually having mid-long shots of models/celebrities on their front covers.
Similarly to GRAZIA, the model is wearing her hear down, but this time the hairstyle is different as it straight.
The background is neutral- nude color, which matches the model's clothes especially her top, the black bra matches with the hair and the masthead of the magazine. The red trousers give a nice touch of color, the laces on the trousers match the color of the features of the magazine which are white.
The pose of the model shows a lot of the garment that is promoted as she poses standing.
We can clearly see that the model in this issue is promoting clothing/fashion rather than makeup and beauty.

3.BAZAAR

Similarly to ELLE, BAZAAR magazine uses celebrities and models on their front covers and promote fashion.
In this front cover, the model is posing in a red dress and a red hat that covers her hair but reveals her back as she is positioned sideways from the camera(over the shoulder pose). We can see her skin and the fact that she has Vitiligo and how she is not afraid to show her skin features to everyone.
her makeup is very bizarre and dark which matches with the features of the magazine adding a bit of mystery and giving it a dramatic effect, the masthead is white, less visible perhaps to focus the attention on the model rather than the title.
The background is grey-neutral, which makes the model and her garment stand out.

Colour Scheme, Feature & Typography Research

Feature Research

I have looked at different magazines and most of them have the features above.

I choose to present this magazine because it has the features I am interested in for my own magazines. 

TYPOGRAPHY Research 

Most popular fashion magazines use serif fonts like Bodoni or Didot as their standard font but today more and more magazines are started to use original, custom made fonts.

Vogue Magazine's logo has advanced in recent years, but its look remains firmly planted in font styles of the Didone. Beginning in 2015, the of Sans-Serif lettering has been used for the spread content and body as determined by Terminal Design Group for Vogue Magazine.

The font for Elle Magazine is Didot, Serif in nature, which compliments the polish of the Spread. The branding of the magazine is synonymous with the logo.

I took inspiration from

 Elle and Vogue magazine.

I tried to use Vogue's font to have an idea of how it would look. I already know that I want my masthead to be in Capital letters.

Why? 

Because it makes a statement stands out and that can attract consumers.

1st Edition

Colour Scheme

2nd Edition 

Colour Scheme

Bauer Media Group Research

 Bauer Media UK is an entertainment network of iconic, multi-platform brands.

The business became part of the Bauer Media Group, Europe’s largest privately-owned media group, in 2008. Founded in Hamburg in 1875 and now in its fifth generation of family ownership, the Bauer Media Group operates in 20 countries including the UK, Germany, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA and has 11,000 employees worldwide.

Their brand riched 25 million consumers. With a portfolio that includes:

• heat
•  KISS
• Grazia
• Empire
• Motor Cycle News
• Parkers
•  TV Choice
•  Take a Break
•  Bella
• Magic & Absolute Radio.

"In an era where audiences are ever harder to categorize, we build strong cultural connections, drawing people together with the things that they really care about. Our brands become the lens through which our audiences see the world. "

CROSS-PLATFORM OFFER

• Magazines 
• digital 
• radio 
• television
• advertising

When it comes to magazines, their heritage stretches back to 1953 with the launch of Angling Times.

More recently, Closer was launched in 2002 and Britain’s first weekly glossy, Grazia, was launched in 2005. 

Under the section "More from Bauer" I found Great Magazines, Greatmagazines launched in 2003 is the Bauer Media UK dedicated subscription sales website. Ranging over 71 Bauer Media UK magazines the site specializes in subscriptions and single-issue sales in both print and digital. The e-commerce site is not only mobile responsive but is fully optimized for international visitors with prices listed in 5 different currencies.

Management team

Fashion Photography& Fashion Magazine Photography Investigation

What is fashion Photography? 

A genre of photography devoted to displaying clothing or other fashion items. (It's not about the model as much as the garment that is worn by them)

The Light, color, location, narrative and pose are very important.

Light

Backlighting adds a beautiful, flattering and fairytale quality to photographs. In this example, we can see that is done to emphasize the garment the model is wearing.  

Downlighting accentuates the mood of the photograph, they become very dramatic with obvious shadows and highlights.

Natural light gives the true colors of the garment and its forms, it can give some of the best results.

Color is one of many strategies fashion photographers use to catch the eye of the consumers.

Muted colors, can create a different vibe. It depends on the garment as well as the atmosphere the photographer is trying to create.

Black and white photography, is seen as traditional and "classy". In some cases black and white stand out from the other images in a fashion magazine.

Location

Fashion photography can be very flexible as it could be done in a Studio or even outside in the wider world where the photograph can present everyday situation and bizarre concepts. 

Narrative

 A photograph can show many things, it can express many concepts, actions, thoughts, emotions etc. 

Photographs that are used in the fashion industry usually tell a story depending on the garment, location, and theme.

Pose

The fashion photography industry not only promotes the garments but is trying to sell them, therefore models have to pose in different ways to make their outfits stand out and look impeccable. Here is an example of fast model posing showing how models have to pose to promote the garments they are wearing.   

 In some cases, Models have uncomfortable poses, but they need to show off the garment as best they can.

Fashion Moodboard

1st Edition Mood Board

 The first edition of my magazine will have an autumn theme, focusing on natural colors.
The model will be posing in a natural environment that will help me highlight the theme.
Considering the A-B demographic which I aim to attract the model will be wearing formal- office like the outfit.

1st edition Mood Board - Inspiration

2nd Edition  Mood Board

On the second edition of my magazine, I will look at more cold colors, to emphasize the theme which will be linking with the winter season.
I am looking forward to a non- conformist look for my model as I want the consumers to have a different idea of the theme. People might think of winter as cozy and comfortable but I aim to get out the comfort zone and attract the public by having an eye-catching image of the winter trends.

2nd edition Mood Board - Inspiration

Deconstruction

Deconstruction of front cover, contents page and website

To be able to apply the codes and conventions I have learned onto my magazine, I had to look at other magazines front covers, contents pages, and websites of fashion magazines to analyze them in depth.

While deconstructing some of them I could see the continuity of the color scheme and the concept used on a front cover that was carried to the contents pages.

Cosmopolitan Front Cover, October 2016

Marie Claire Front Cover, September 2018

Marie Claire Contents Page, September 2018

U.K. Vogue Website 

Italia Vogue Website

Target Audience & Reader profile

How do we categorize people by class in the U.K.?

I learned that we categorize people by:

-class

-appearances

-income / jobs

*Magazines are usually aimed at A-B demographic.*

(In my opinion, I think that magazines should be aiming all social grades.)

Basic Reader Profile

I decided to aim my magazine at the A-B demographic. Mainly orientated to women but could appeal to men as well, aged between 25-45.
Looking at the fact that the media has changed over time and it is now part of our lives, social media is everywhere thus I am aiming my magazine to people who are also active on social media platforms as I will use social media to promote my magazine, furthermore, I will create a website for my fashion magazine using WIX.

Recent statistics of social media users, worldwide.

I believe that having social media platforms and the website linked to my fashion magazine will enable the consumers to engage more with my content.







The magazine is aimed at people who are interested in:
-Politics, strong women, perhaps feminists, wanting to know about the current social movements that might have an impact on society and themselves.
-Art, targeted to help people understand how art has a massive influence on fashion and how it can be used to improve aspects of life and well being.
-Fashion, focusing on what is the newest trend in the fashion industry and how it could build confidence.
-Traveling, intending to broaden peoples knowledge of the world around them.

Introduction:

For this term, I've been given the task to create 2 fashion magazine covers and 2 contents pages and a website.

While doing this I will use media in various ways. For example, I will use a camera and a tripod to take photographs of different models which then I can use them in  Photoshop to create and edit my magazine covers and contents pages.

I had the chance of remembering the codes and conventions of a magazine which I learned last year during my preliminary task doing a music magazine.

Codes and conventions of a magazine: 

-Masthead

-The angle of gaze (of the model)

-Contents 

-Feature lines 

-Headlines

-Plugs

-Secondary lead (sneak preview of an inside article or story)

etc. 

Furthermore, this year we had a closer look at the process of making not only one front cover and contents page but 2 (editions) of the same magazine. 

I have learned new terms as well as other terms that I had knowledge of such as continuity, cohesion and theme and how it relates to media and fashion magazines. 

Continuity is very important, as I deconstructed other magazines front cover and contents page I've learned how to spot similarities that were chosen to show a cohesion even a development in some cases in color, fonts, themes. 



The magazines that I've looked at so far are some of the best FASHION MAGAZINES.