Typophile

Looking for 1960s-style Carnaby Street Font

BrooklynRob

Hello

I’m working on a women’s fragrance project and the theme is a swinging 1960s mod-girl kind of Carnaby Street look. Twiggy, vibrant colors and patterns, etc. Part of the packaging features Op Art patterns. I’m looking for a typeface that reinforces this theme. The research I’ve done has uncovered surprisingly staid and low-key typography on the actual graphics from the era, at least connected with fashion, and none of it seems right. I’d like something mod and idealy feminine/girly and fun, energetic, that evokes the era and its spirit. Maybe a script. Any ideas? Thanks much for any help you can offer.

Rob

I’m not completely sure what you mean, but have you checked out House Industries?


“...look pretty young but I’m just back-dated yeah”
— Pete Townsend, “Substitute”, 1967

Looks real mod Nick :-)

ChrisL

You could look at Candice - I know it’s from 1976 but might have the look you’re going for.

http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/candice/

Looks real mod Nick

Well yeah I was a Mod briefly, although by the time I was old enough for a Vespa I’d discovered peace love etc.

I still fondly recall my favorite outfit of orange wide-wale cord flared hipster trousers (3” belt with round brass buckle), and a Regency-style green jacket, double-breasted, 5-button, flap vent at back. I must of looked a real Kinky burk, but me mum didn’t say owt, bless her heart.

Ah, Nick, you were a real stud then :-)
Luckily there is no photographic evidence of either my 50s Black leather motorcycle jacket phase or my 60s peace-love bandana bell-bottom thing.

ChrisL

I think the hard part is that so much of that era’s stuff was hand drawn. There was a return to hand-made craft (anything from bead making to macramé[sp?] and bread). The original practitioners were young and free from convention but soon Madison Avenue found something fresh to mimic. The result was kinda’ almost but did not have the personality of the hand-made originals.

ChrisL

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