Analysing Magazine Front Covers

Masthead

Strapline

Barcode

Cover lines

Cover lines

Direct Mode of Address

Main Cover Line

Language‘LOOK YOUR BEST’, 'Find your PERFECT COAT’; both cover lines refer to the reader, that this magazine is going to help them personally. This helps grab the reader’s attention.

DesignThe Masthead is placed at the top of the magazine cover in a large font. Its white font colour helps it stand out against the red background of the text. The image takes most of the space of the front cover, with the cover lines on the sides. The image even overlaps over the masthead, but it still recognisable, and still will be noticeable from a distance.

Arial font is used and colours such as red, black, white, and yellow are used, which suggest that that the magazine is targeted towards an older audience.

Images

Gwen Stefani is featured on the front cover of this magazine. She is a well known singer and a top fashion icon, which may attract and influence people to buy the magazine. This magazine targets new readers as well as usual readers.

The image is in direct mode of address, where the person in the image is looking straight at the reader. The direct gaze helps simulate interaction with each individual reader.

The image of Gwen Stefani is a medium shot, and takes most of the space on the front cover.

Overall ImpressionIn my opinion, I think the front cover is effective, making it look like a classy fashion magazine, targeting it’s older female audience.

The magazine front cover gives a good indication of what’s inside. ‘89 FAST FASHION FIXES’, ‘ A-list colour tricks for AMAZING HAIR’; this makes the reader look forward to reading the articles inside the magazine on how to better themselves, with tips from influential people with celebrity status.