# data[].attributes.headline
The use of tone to convey meaning and mood in British Vogues February cover

# data[].attributes.subject
The use of tone to convey meaning and mood in British Vogues February cover

# data[].attributes.body
Like many things in life, perspectives can differ and be subjective, my opinion on this cover installment of vogue is no different. I struggled to pick a side for which to argue for/against, but I'm left torn. But, I guess at the end of the day, that is exactly what art is supposed to do- it's supposed to evoke an emotion, a response, a viewpoint- however incomplete or unfocused. Let's start with that- "evoke". When looking at this cover of Vogue, I saw a stark contrast between the brown background and the beautiful brownness of the different skin tones to that of the bright, almost neon looking Vogue icon and blue bench. Admittedly, I first thought," why do the models look like they are not important and foregrounded? Why does it look like they all blend into one dark and dreary mosh pit of shadow and blackness?" when in actuality the opposite is true. I am all for the artistic direction, but for reasons unbeknownst to me, I do not know why the bright hue of Vogues blue icon is more important than celebrating the beauty and power of these women. I do however love the use of dark browns and shadow as a means of evoking images of power, inclusivity and regality to it's reader. And as an ode to the director- I can appreciate the foregrounding of 'Vogue' and 'Fashion now' as a way of expressing dynamism and boldness, as if to shout "watch out world!. We're black, proud, and finally being heard in an industry historically flooded with Eurocentric beauty standards and opportunity." In a sense, the use of brown and black tones in contrast to the blue and white around them also foregrounds the color itself as being dominant, assertive and unchanging. It is a visual representation of quite literally-blackness- and it's attempt to celebrate and hold space for people of colour. After all is said and done, perhaps the foregrounding of 'Vogue' is fitting as they have given these nine models a big platform to be seen and heard where other media platforms have previously failed, or perhaps, it highlights a much deeper issue- one where black people are often just pawns in a machine- faceless, nameless and labelled 'insignificant' by bigger, wealthier, 'whiter' industries and institutions that use and discard of them once hiring/ working/ affiliating themselves with them is no longer 'beneficial'. Whatever the point is that the director intended to make, one thing is evident: a healthy and very much necessary conversation has started.

# data[].attributes.body
At first glance this paper Mache artwork looks soft and almost cotton-y, like it could be a piece of clothing, but in reality there is a roughish texture to it. The natural fibers give it a almost newspaper-y and 'matted' feel, and you can feel the grain of the paper coming through. I love this material because there is an obvious texture at play with the grain-like, matted and newspaper-y feel, but there are also new textures being introduced at points of intersection and folding. This shows that texture not only comes from the material itself, but also from the patterns it creates through manipulation and/or repetition.

# data[].attributes.body
Introducing something truly spectacular- they don't make 'em like this anymore- a bulletin board. It feels rough, synthetic and almost mimics the texture and feel of a kitchen sponge. Although much softer than the kitchen scourer, the semblance is very much similar. What drew me to this material was it's simplicity- sometimes something feels exactly the same as it looks, no guess work needed. Your eyes can feel the boards texture without even needing to touch it.

# data[].attributes.body
Herewith another pretty example of texture being created in everyday objects by making use of pattern and repetition. What previously would have been a plain, smooth and glossy door now boasts a texture a little bit more interesting- one that's both smooth and ridge-like. My door now feels smooth to touch, but my fingers also seem to stop in between the dents and ridges, leaving it feeling button-y, gap-y and in a sense- brail like. I like simples things, and what's more simple than a pretty glossy door with textured patterns to cry behind when tasks keep piling up?

# data[].attributes.body
I love that these bricks are unabashedly rough and textured- there are no nuances here, it's bold, it's unassuming and does not try to be any other texture than it is. To touch these bricks feel the exact same as they look- rough, rigid, uneven, cold and even prickly at certain points. Once again, through constant repetition of the bricks, new parallel lines are created, and therefore an added layer of texture between, and not just within the bricks is created. The cement between these bricks create a cold, smooth and almost 'powdery' surface- a starkly different texture to that of its counterpart.

# data[].attributes.body
The naturally woven fibers of my dining room turned-study desk- chair boasts a skillfully designed pattern that feels smooth (due to its glossy finish), straw like, warm and bulbous to the touch. The dips and gaps between the round and bulging shapes of the chair feels to the finger like a calm wave- smooth and in a constant push/pull, 'up and down' motion. I chose this specific texture because I find it interesting that this texture was once created by manipulating 'natural' straw fibers into a pattern- something that is 'man made' by contrast.

# data[].attributes.body
There are many different types of brick textures out there, but what drew me to this one was the rawness of its exposed cement. Usually many homes are built with brick, sanded down and painted to ensure longevity, but this one remains unpainted, revealing its rough, warm, 'chalky' and unrelenting hard texture, ironically, equally as durable as the before mentioned. This is slowly turning into a Builders Warehouse blog, let us move along onto the next.

# data[].attributes.body
What is interesting to me about my lounges leather couch is not its comfort or homely aesthetic, it is times ability to craft texture and dimension where there was previously none. Through years of use, beverage spills, dog scratches and sun exposure, my lounges couch has a wrinkly, grainy and roughish feel to it, that when treated with leather food feels softer to the touch. It feels warm and cozy too because it is a natural material. I chose this fabric and texture because I love how, at different points in this couches life, it will take on many life forms- its textures changing with the seasons.

# data[].attributes.body
When I look at my rooms rug that's splayed comfortably across the floor, I'm reminded of cold winter nights and a hot cup of coffee. What I find most alluring about this texture is that, in a sense, the little strings of soft, fluffy, warm cotton- shown in the corners of the picture- kind of look like they are moving away from the screen- like a cluster of tiny, moving living organisms. I love the way that texture here not only evokes an emotion of warmth and comfort, but also one of movement and dynamic.

# data[].attributes.body
An ode to uncomplicated and bashful textures- this vibacrete wall feels cold, hard, sharp and bumpy to the touch with tiny, prickly shards of concrete sharp enough to cause internal bleeding if punched (highly recommend). I appreciate when things are left in its original state and form- like exposed brick with no paint on it, timeless wooden beams that are exposed and celebrated- and I appreciate how the raw, rough and unfiltered texture of this brick was left untouched by the hands of those who have built my home.

# data[].attributes.body
Texture can sometimes be felt by the eye long before it is touched by the hand. This wooden plank on campus feels to the eye like it would be course, rigid and grain-y at points where the natural fibers make indentations and ridges, however, ironically, this piece of wood feels like the complete opposite. To touch the texture of the wood is smooth and glossy, and the only point of 'rough/course' texture is found where my fingers glide over the scratch caused by damage or default- a quality that is, within itself, not a quality of the woods texture itself. Have we been bamboozled? I think yes.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi, dear readers! I'm Mikaela, a first year fashion design student studying at CPUT in District Six, Cape Town. Personally, I take a strong dislike to introductions so for the sake of my- and your- sanity, I'll keep it short and sweet. I plan on being completely unfiltered on this app, so prepare to read some thought- provoking and slightly sarcastic commentary on everything Design and the world around me. Walk with me as I navigate my way through four years of studies, pressure, knowledge and multiple breakdowns.

Love and light,
Mikaela.

# data[].attributes.headline
The use of tone in conveying mood and meaning in Naomi Campbells Vogue cover

# data[].attributes.subject
The use of tone in conveying mood and meaning in Naomi Campbells Vogue cover

# data[].attributes.body
A stark contrast to the before mentioned- Naomi Campbells powerful Vogue cover with her baby. Everything from Naomi being foregrounded wearing a very saturated color of black and being centrally framed, to the juxtaposition thereof with the dull, light grey tones around her screams power, assertiveness and dominance. Naomi has been around since the 80's- she is an international powerhouse and very established supermodel- I would be surprised if the artistic direction of this cover aimed to foreground anything else. Naomi is also being foregrounded through the subtle use of shadow- a darker grey shadow recedes slowly behind her- indirectly putting the crisp, clean and starkly bright image of her black outfit and smooth brown skin to the forefront. In this issue of Vogue, power and strength is the undeniable feeling being evoked- the strength of being a mother, and in a sense, the authority and power being taken back by her as a black supermodel and mom in an industry saturated with whiteness. It is as if, through the use of foregrounding with shadows and stark tonal contrasts, Naomi is being shown as a mother, and woman, who is taking up space and claiming it as her own. A queenly cover for a powerhouse of a woman, this is a Vogue cover done right!

# data[].attributes.headline
I bet you're just dying to know which cover I prefer? 🤔

# data[].attributes.subject
I bet you're just dying to know which cover I prefer? 🤔

# data[].attributes.body
The decision was a difficult one, I tossed and turned in my bed all night at the thought of it. My next trip to therapy will include the beforementioned. And by this I mean- it took me a full nanosecond to decide. A clear winner- Naomi Campbells Vogue cover. I applaud the way in which the director gave her autonomy, a voice and power. She was 'the moment'. It celebrated womanhood and motherhood in all it's glory- strength, resilience and tenacity. It's nothing too deep, the editor just done his job correctly- he used shadow, tone and the juxtaposition thereof to communicate this effectively- there was no nuance or room for interpretation. I appreciate the simplicity, Mr. Director( you're also making my job easier to analyze for university but nobody needs to know). I appreciate the artistic flair that Edward Enninful graced the February issue cover with, but it was just a miss for me. I feel like the message of power, autonomy, and giving a voice to black women, was wholly lost in translation. In order to celebrate blackness, it needs to be foregrounded, but it was not. Instead the ever iconic 'Vogue' was the star of the show, leaving the girls blending in with the brown background behind them. Celebrate blackness, don't dull it down. Splatter it with bright paint, juxtapose it with something so dull and dreary that we have no other choice but to pay attention- but whatever you do, don't sacrifice meaning for 'artistic flair'.