Fashion Criticism

A. OBJECTIVE

Choose, analyze and critique two (2) different fashion advertisements OR magazine covers.

B. METHODOLOGY

Choose two (2) different fashion advertisements or magazine covers. One should be an American brand, the other European or International. At least one (1) should be from 2022. Include an image of the advertisement or magazine cover.

• Summarize and explain the ad, describing the design and photography, colour, balance, fashion styling and casting.
• Deconstruct the work and critique whether it is good, bad or both.
• Give it context, why it’s happening now, why it seems relevant, what it has to do with what came before, and where things are going.
• Cite opinions, theories and quotes presented by other fashion critics, observers, or researchers.
• Finally draw conclusions and state what the ads represent.
• Word count: 400-500 words

Some questions to help you critique the ads/magazine covers:

• Consider the goal of the advertising creative. What are the aims of the ad? Were they achieved? Does the advertisement create an impression upon first glance?
• Trends Is the photo shoot or video riding the crest of a trend? Are the clothes “telling” of what is going on in the world of Fashion? Trace the trend or item’s history through the past decades; theorize why it’s making a comeback now? Have the imagemakers pushed an image further by truly understanding what the public at large is ready to understand?• Photography or Cinematography Is the image striking? Does the lighting enhance the image? Does the composition of the model further the goal of the imagemaker?
• Model, subject, celebrity Are they part of the social consciousness? Does their body language, eye contact, and attitude scream from the picture or movie?
• Mood Is there an apparent mood when reviewing the advertisement? Is it happy, gleeful, tragic, depressing?
• Consistency Does this particular brand constantly reinforce the same type of imagery in their advertising – either good or bad? Is this a new creative or a continuation?
• Hair Styling Does the hair styling compliment the overall mood? Does it fit? If it doesn’t fit – was it meant to be in juxtaposition? Has the hair stylist considered the model choice? If there is reference to a past hair style, does it capture the original image?
• Makeup artistry Does the makeup artistry compliment the overall mood. Is it current? If it is meant to be retro – does it capture the retro feeling?
• Taste level Regardless of whether or not you find the ad nice to look at – does it have a high barometer of taste? Is it so bad it is good? Does it create a call to action?
• Memorability – Will you remember the ad tomorrow? A week from now? A month? A year?

C. EVALUATION
• Word count: 400-500

Rubric/Evaluation:
Fashion Criticism
Hed, Dek, – /5
Writing – /10
Content – /10
Language mechanics – /10
Attribution, paraphrasing and use of quotes – /10
Proofreading – /5
TOTAL: /50

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