If the handful of typeface you regularly use were to be described as 'the little black dress' (many thanks to Chanel) what would be your top ten of tried and tested fonts? And why?
Typophile
Little Black Dress
The thing about a "little black dress" is that (a woman) can wear it anywhere.
Today, there are pretty well two typefaces that belong in that category.
Times Roman.
Helvetica.
But the sense I get of the mood of this forum is that most of the people here are down on the use of overused faces. Even good ones. (After all, Papyrus isn't Comic Sans.)
Even though its subtle flaring is unsuited to even medium-resolution digital use, one might add Optima to the list.
The little black dress analogy is about a black cocktail dress which can be worn anytime and is easy to accessorize. Anytime means cocktail parties. When I've heard it referenced in chick flicks and makeover shows it always about evening wear. The LBD makes you look good but doesn't need to be robust. The little black dress isn't daring or creative, it's a safe fallback. The typographic equivalent of the ritzy cocktail party? I guess: somewhat highbrow design. Times New Roman is out because it's now considered lowbrow. Helvetica, maybe but doesn't pair well with other sans like Franklin. Maybe Futura. It's versatile and looks classy. There's no other font more LB than Futura. Case closed.
^^^ HOTT!
Well, in a pinch, since it's black, it can even be worn to a funeral. So I had always understood anytime to mean anytime.
Kepler is my little black dress.
Whitney.
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