Costume code for my AS media magazine.

1. For the images I am going to use in my
magazine, it is crucial that the
costume code fits in with the genre
and theme of my magazine. This not
only will keep a consistency of
magazine, but also appeal to my
desired target audience as if they can
identify the magazine as a genre they
would like to read, by looking at the
costume code presented in the image.
Fir this I will have to investigate
iconography for different genres of
music magazines.

2. Messy hair and dark eye make-up is an
iconography of rock music. By looking
at this image it is easy to identify that
the music is rock music.
Gold chains are an iconography if
R&B music, this will be present as
part of the costume code for an R
& B magazine.
In folk music, you would typically
expect to see floral, country, older
in style, clothing. If one was
writing a folk music magazine, a
common convention would be the
use of a floral headband and
waistcoat, or the use of puffed
sleeves.
EXAMPLES OF ICONGRAHY:

3. These are all examples of classical music magazines, currently available on the market. From what I can see the majority of subjects
in the image are female, which could suggest that classical music magazines are aimed primarily towards women. The women in all
the pictures, are modelling smart, formal dresses or skirt suits. This is accompanied by make-up, glamourous jewellery and bare skin
being shown. This could suggest that Mulvey’s’ Male gaze’, is used for pictures for this particular style of music magazine.
Furthermore all the women, are wearing their hair down, further emphasising their femininity and glamour. This gives me examples
of the types of clothing that typically are worn in classical music magazine, and by using these as potential templates, I can start to
pick out items of clothing for my model to wear when photographing them for my magazine.

4. The model is wearing her
hair down, emphasising
her femininity.
Make-up
includes eye
mascara,
blusher and lip
tint/gloss, again
emphasising her
femininity and
attempts to
make her look
attractive.
The model wears a
feminine black, silk
dress, which highlights
her femininity and
makes her look
attractive and elegant.
The texture of the silk
emphasises softness
and luxuriousness
The emphasis of revilement of
skin, in particular the bust area,
supports Laura Mulvey;s male
gaze theory, as it appeals to a
male audience because of the
emphasise of very feminine
biological aspects. High key
lighting is presented over this
area, to again enhance the
femininity and Male gaze theory.
CHIAROSCURO LIGHTING shows
contrast between the model
And the dark background. This
supports Laura Mulvey’s male gaze
because the lighting causes the
female, who is sporting feminine,
glamourous clothing and makeup, to
be in the centre of the image and the
person of whom is seen first.

5. SHORTLISTED DRESSES:
I asked my model ‘Rebekah’ to show me a few of her dresses that fit within the
glamour, sophisticated nature of the typical classical music magazine, I chose
between 5 of her chosen dresses, and shortlisted them down to two of which I
will now analyse which appropriateness for the purpose of my music magazine.
 This is the first shortlisted dress, I really like the design on this dress as the
crystals add sparkle and an element of ‘magic’ to the dress. This fits within
the sophisticated element of the classical genre. In addition the tight fitting
crystal waist element of the dress accentuates her figure, fitting within the
theory of the Male gaze, which I identified to be on the majority of classical
music magazines.
 The dress is knee length, which although shows skin, fitting with the male
gaze, also stays within the decent range, as the amount of skin showing is
more sophisticated and hidden than that, of which may be shown on an R &
B magazine, for example. The Dress could be accompanied by jewellery and
makeup to her look even more glamourous and as if on a night out.
 The colour is dark and blends in well, meaning that I am not restricted with
the colour scheme I can use, however the dress is not black(which was
picked up on my mock ups feedback) and overly dark, which could although
add enigma which could attract an audience, does not get rid of the pure
nature of the classical genre.
 Overall I really like this dress and am considering using it as the one I place
Rebekah in for the photo-shoot.

6. SHORTLISTED DRESSES:
This is the second shortlisted dress, that could be a possible costume for
Rebekah to wear when modelling for my magazine.
 I really like the lace embroidery on the shoulders of the dress, as this adds
not only an element of interest but also accompanies the sophisticated
nature of classical music magazines, as well as the more old period of
classical music, which is less popular now than it was.
 However saying this because my target audience is university music
students, I think it is better to emphasise a postmodernists feel to the dress,
juxtaposing the typical ‘stereotype’ of classical music.
 The length is similar to the previous dress, which also supports the male
gaze but has sophistication and decency.
 The shoulder and neck part of the dress, is higher and more reserved than
the previous dress, in other words it shows less skin.
 This is less conventional compared to other classical music magazines, of
which the subject bares more skin in order to fit within Mulvey’s theory of
the male gaze. I think this could be a limitation to this particular dress.
 Furthermore the colour of this dress is somewhat darker than the other,
which although previously suggested adds enigma, it could also be too
solemn and dark for the type of magazine I am going for.

7. CUSTOMER FEEDBACK:
• “I like both dresses, as they are both very feminine and smart which is really important for classical music, however
my preference is the first dress (blue one) as its just more glamorous and even more feminine and would really go
nicely with the use of a classical instrument”-Miss Patterson
• “Lovely dresses, both of them! I think yhey7 are both really elegant, however the length of the blue one is that bit
more elegant as its less party-ish and more evening wear which I think fits the criteria of classical music quite a bit
more, so yeah that would be the one I would go for”-Sarah-Louise
• “ They are both so nice, I personally prefer the black one though because of the lace trimming along the top, I think
its just so nice, and elegant which matches your brief and genre of music magazine”-Kim
• “I personally like the blue dress, which is the first one, as the crystals along the waist not only emphasise Rebekah’s
figure which adds femininity but they are also really elegant and glamourous, whereas the black dress is kind of
plain!”-Jana
• “I really like both dresses, they both show elegancy and glamour, but I personally prefer the black dress as its more
formal which is actually how the classical music industry is run, I think the model needs to be dressed as if they
were performing at a classical music concert”-Winnie
• “Both dresses are very nice, but I personally prefer the blue one as its just a softer colour and the crystals and pleats
on the bottom half are more feminine than the plain black one, which because of the darker colour could come
across as more masculine in my opinion.”-Rasses

8. MY FINAL DECISION:
After reviewing the customer research I have decided to use the blue dress,
instead of the black one. This is because the blue on has features that add
glamour and femininity, that the black dress unfortunately lacks, such as crystals,
pleats at the bottom, open shoulder neck line and hugging material. This means
it fits the typical costume code, worn by models, of whom are on the front of
classical music magazines. Therefore this is the dress that I will use for my
photographs to be included within my magazine.
Crystals lining
the waist and
neck.
• Figure
hugging
material to
emphasise
waist.
Knee length emphasises
elegance and decency
Navy blue colour is not
too striking and
outgoing but adds
more interest than
black.