Real - Magazine

Real magazine is aimed at the "stylish, thinking woman," so when seeing it in the supermarket I thought I'd give it a try (well who wouldn't want to be considered a "stylish, thinking woman", I thought I might get a few tips!)

Real comes out fortnightly and costs £1, which I didn't think was bad. Other reviews have stated that this was pricy but when you work it out it's still cheaper than fashion mags such as vogue or cosmopolitan even when you buy two copies a month.

THE COVER
The cover of Real is always designed well, it usually features a 'pretty' woman and gives article teasers such as "I was paid £1000 to swallow £50,000 of drugs," teasers that make you wonder why someone would do that and make you read on.

CONTENTS
The contents page is very detailed, not like in cosmopolitan. This makes it wasier to locate specific stories, and they even highlight the cover stories in red so there's not to much frustration when trying to find articles.

Sections include, Trends, Features, Lifestyle Focus, Style Directory, Vital self, Food & Interiors and Regulars. I will explore these for you in turn.

To immerse the reader in the Real world, there is a fortnightly review. This covers new releases of music, books films, etc and features competitions and gossip (a girls best friend!). Following on from this is the letters page where readers can share thoughts on previous articles and general rules or opinions.

You will notice in this magazine straight away that it is not crammed with fashion advertisements like its counterparts. The advertisements it does contain all appear to be relevant to the target audience, instead of designer labels that we all wish we could, but can't, afford!

TRENDS
This section focus on the seasons styles and what influences designers are taking their ideas from. For instance in the current issue they are exploring surf-chick looks and pastel shades. This section covers almost everyone's tastes, I'm sure you will find something you like on these pages, I know I have!

CELEBRITY WATCH
These pages show images of celebrities looking their best and worse (this section reminds me a bit of Heat magazine).

BEAUTY COLLECTOR
A simple, stylish page that shows a makeup product that the Real editor thinks her readers will like, it tells you how much the product is and where you can buy it.

STYLE COLLECTOR
Along the same lines as the beauty collector bbut this time clothing or accessories. The good thing about Real magazine is that they are not afraid of endorsing supermarket label clothes. The current issue shows a Florence and Fred top which looks great.

REAL WORLD
Now an escape from fashion and celeb land for some real life articles. The articles are laid out really well. The pictures are clear and relevant and key comments are highlighted in the text. Real always provide a variety of comments on the subject in question, likely to cause heated debates amongst your friends.

LIFESTYLE FOCUS
This section covers home decor and shows how the latest fashion trends can be transferred to decorating your home. All the products listed are priced, and don't say 'price on request,' something I hate so much in magazines, just tell us how much it is! (Although this probably means I can't afford it!). Anyway back to Real, this is a lovely section and covers a multitude of tastes.

REAL LIFE
Now back to the serious stuff, another detailed article about current issues. The articles are always interesting in Real and are the perfect length to read with a cup of tea. You feel that the articles are real, they are believable unlike in some magazines. When reading this issue, I feel myself drawn into the peoples experiences, the articles are written so you really feel for what that person has been through. It is often thought provoking stuff.

INSIDER BEAUTY
The beauty section. This covers latest makeup trends, where to buy the latest products and tips on applying the makeup. This is a great section, I remember a previous issue exploring how to look like a Bond girl, which I thought was a great section.

REAL OPINION
This is an article about a celebrity. Instead of focusing on their showbiz career it focuses on their home life. This is a good section and makes the reader believe that celebrities are just like us. It removes the unaccessible aura they possess.

STYLE DIRECTORY
This section feature the latest fashion trends and where to buy them. The photographs are always in lovely locations that make you wish you were there, and show the clothes really well. Helpful tips are interspersed amongst the pictures, like "Choose sexy shoes with kitten heels or ankle straps."

REAL CONFESSION
This is an article by a Real reader who has chosen to confess something about their life. It is a helpful section as other readers may be experiencing the same problems such as tracking down birth parents, etc and not know which route to take for the best. A detailed, and thorough piece.

STYLE DIRECTORY (CONT'D)
The style directory contines here with a different fashion trend being explored.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
This is an opinion-based article about emotional decisions women may have to make at some point in their life, whether it covers fertility, or money matters it is a useful article to read and expand your general knowledge in a specific area.

INTERIOR MAKEOVER
This section shows how a reader has changed their house for the better. It shows before and after pictures and plans of the room. The reader explains how it was achieved and there is a directory stating where all the materials were purchased from. A little section at the end shows readers how they can recreate the style using accessories.

INVESTIGATOR
This section explores something like increasing your memory and covers different techniques on how you can achieve such things. People have tested out the different therapies on offer for the problem and give them marks out of ten. A useful guide to browse every fortnight in order to pass information on to others and benifit you own lifestyle.

HEALTH NEWS
This is the beginning of the health section and gives readers information on breaking health news. The sections gives inforamtion on what certain vitamins and minerals are used for and has a section where questions on subjects such as cold sores are answered by a qualified doctor.

Don't worry, we're nearing the end now, see you get a lot for your £1

VITAL SELF
This is an article covering a health issue such as detox or plastic surgery, etc. It gives the pros and cons, and gives details of who to contact for more information. A good debate-orientated article that you will either agree with or will get your blood pumping!

Next follows the standard agony aunt pages...

FOOD
The food section features gorgeous photography (which seems to be standard in Real magazine). The recipies are presented in a clear format and are easy to read.

FOOD NEWS
This features latest product and gadget developments in the food world, a nice little section with a quick and easy receipe at the bottom of the page.

FAMILY LIFE
This is a section about family life, and covers children, schooling, bullying and the like. It has the usual news section, and a more detailed article on a relevant subject. Products are reviewed. This is a really helpful section, especially around Christmas and birthday times.

TRAVEL
This covers one particular destination per fortnight, and features information on the resort in question, "fab" (their word not mine!) things to do, where to eat, getting there and accommodation options. A detailed section, and a helpful one too.

Nearly done!

HOROSCOPES
The usual horoscopes section, with a little piece linking your horoscopes to what you would take on a desert island, etc. Mine says "toolkits and a shower are imperative" which is probably about right for me!

REAL HUMOUR
The final section, a little humourous story by Damon Syson talking about life in general.

Real is a good magazine, it stands out from its competitors and is definately worth a look for the price. I would say it targets professional women with families, and probably covers ages of 25+

A great read, well designed and quality articles. I have no complaints!