After reading "Advertising's Fifteen Basic Appeals" by Jib Fowles, I examined a few ads to see what appeals are working in each ad. I grabbed one of my favorite magazines, Elle, a fashion magazine for women. At first there were no ads that especially stood out to me because so many were without slogans and were just glossy pages of beautiful women in beautiful clothes . . . Then I thought to myself, that's something, that's how they appeal to their readers, and then I went back and began to take a more careful look.
             I decided to go back to the main focal point of the magazine, the cover page. Magazines prep their cover pages for months before it is just right. This issue, the September, 2004 issue, features Jessica Simpson on the cover. Her hair is somewhat teased and her head is slightly cocked to the side. Her facial expression is a bit sexy, lips slightly apart. She is wearing the latest for this Fall, a plaid blazer with a large silver and turquoise belt buckle exposed, and gold chains draped around her neck. The main title of this issue is "500+ Pages of Fall Fashion, 1000+ Great ideas, Our Biggest Shopping Guide Ever". The side title, among others, is "Jessica Simpson, America's Princess Bride". (Another title asks, "Are you ready for plastic surgery?") After a thorough examination of the cover, which is the main advertisement for the magazine, I realized the main appeal is the need for attention. This whole magazine is built on women's need for attention, or being looked at. This is why so many of the pages are filled with ads that just feature pretty women in pretty clothes doing pretty things. I want to look good too!
             Upon further inspection of the magazine, I came across an ad for Gottlieb $ Sons engagement rings. The main shot is of a happy couple, a bride in her gown and veil, and the groom in a white shirt and black pants. The two are dancing with wide ...