How do magazine front covers use denotation and connotation to attract their intended audience?

Look magazine entices their intended audience in several ways. The magazine is called 'look' which accentuates the action 'look' and directly invites the audience to see, signifying a voyeuristic nature and fashion wise it also suggests 'get the look'. The 'look' is big, bold and eye catching; as it is bright pink. The colour scheme for this particular issue is pink, white and yellow; so it's quite feminine, girly and appeals female readers. The selling line ‘Britain’s best-selling fashion weekly’ reinforces the title look once again, projecting that this magazine interests women who are obsessed with their image. The language used such as ‘wow! ‘amazing!’ and ‘buy me now bags’ portrays the informal mode of address, and constructs the readers as a bit imprudent, and obsessed with clothing and celebrities.

The magazine also includes images that are colourful and attractive to appeal to a female audience and is filled with cover lines and bright colours. The photo is of a famous celebrity, Cheryl Cole. She is posing, smiling and appears to be attracting the readers through eye level. The photo was taken on the red carpet and gives the impression that it is quite a natural shot which makes us feel equal. The photo is close up and you cannot see the background; which allows the readers to be concentrated only onto Cheryl. The editors of look magazine could have used a photo of Cheryl and chose the main headline to be about her, as she is regularly in the public eye. Cheryl Cole is presented to us as a role model, an icon, as women adore her and men fantasise about her. Cheryl was also going through a rough stage in her life and women feel empathy for her, and would want to keep up with the latest news about her.

In addition the magazine also draws its specified audience by evidently featuring a celebrity in a swimsuit and how they can achieve that perfect body too. I think this magazine is intended at women aged 15-30; as women in that age category are more concerned about their body image.