Genre Research Day 2

     Given that the genre I feel most comfortable and intrigued in is Fashion/Beauty magazines, today my research consisted of looking into some subgenres of women's magazines; and successful examples within these categories that I can observe extracts from and take inspiration to eventually incorporate these within my own. The majority of the information provided is concluded using realistic observations from the denotations and connotations of different subgenres and comparing them.

    The first subgenre I explored were those of high fashion and luxury. These are most mainstream in my opinion, or most culturally significant in the fashion industry. Typically the content of these magazines consist of high end photography, luxury insight and brands, and have a general focus on luxury lifestyles, designer drops and celebrity cover stories. Examples of these include vogue, business of fashion, etc. The layout is dense, with multiple sell lines and popups. The tone is sophisticated and formal. The photography uses highkey lighting, extreme retouching, and direct camera-eye contact.  Harper's BAZAAR - Your Source for Fashion Trends, Beauty Tips, Pop Culture News, and Celebrity Style

    Another major subgenre I encountered was the category of niche and independent magazines. These value art and culture rather than the first example, which focuses on art and culture rather than commercial advertising. These are typically regarded more highly, or less disposed of like a monthly magazine. These are more focused on photography, underground culture, and long-form essays on identity. The layout is very minimalistic, and the tone is intellectual and artistic. The photography looks grainy and raw. They often use natural lighting and diverse models. Dazed & Confused Magazine | Fashion, Art, Music, Film, Ideas | Dazed The Gentlewoman 

Something I noted to differentiate the two is looking at the advertising-to-content ratio; as it is additionally a major indicator of the subgenre of magazine you may be reading. High Fashion magazines are often 50% or more advertising, when in contrast Indie magazines typically prioritize art and photography over brand placements.