i don't even know.

WTF IS THIS.Vogue Paris, September 2009.

THAT FONT. I MEAN..WHAT. It's called Curlz. With a z. It's almost as bad as Comic Sans and is infamous for its many appearances in numerous MS Word documents and 8 year old birthday party invitations. I used it for my 8 year old birthday party invitation. I could pull up GREETINGS WORKSHOP and show you.

Also, I am certain this is not something that the people over at The Fash Pack pasted onto the photo, because, being the hard-hitting journalist I am that will not rest until the truth is revealed, I googled the name of the editorial (Googled, you guys. I don't mess around.) and every scan I've seen has this terrible writing in that terrible Polly Pocket shade (ok, I actually love Polly Pocket, but there is a time and a place.)

And I know Vogue Paris loves being controversial but this is not even supposed to be bad, I don't think. It's not like they did the whole model-giving-the-finger-to-a-sign-protesting-fur thing. They just think it's ~bitchin, I suppose. Or edgy or sexy or whatever else they always aim for.

I don't know you guys. I just. don't. know.

And because I am basically Jim Henson in 13 year old girl form without the puppets but DEFINITELY WITH THE SAME OPTIMISM (sarcasm, though the following is 100% genuine,) I will say that Sasha looks ACE. As always. She should've decided on the font. She should've BEEN the font. It would just be a Bye Bye Birdie lyric made out of little Sashas, like that book we have somewhere from the 90's about The Human Body where the title is a bunch of kids in primary colored tshirts and jeans and converse and they all make up the title.

photo source thefashpack

113 comments:

Meaghan Kelly said...

bahahah i know exactly which book about the human body you're talking about, and i think i might have a copy in my basement!

is that font for real? jeez!

Anonymous said...

CARINE CARINE CARINE WHAT HAVE YOU WROUGHT??? I trusted you so wholeheartedly before, followed you without fail, WORSHIPED at the lofty temple of your Alaias AND FOR WHAT? SO YOU CAN GO AND USE THIS BUBBLE-GUM SORORITY SOCIAL FONT IN AN EDITORIAL???? whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!


...UM yeah. I totally agree with you. i hope it's a one-time typographical misstep.

Sailor Jamee said...

i'm pretty sure that i can't even believe this is real.
it looks fake. i want to believe it is a funny joke you are currently playing.

Tavi said...

I swear it's frealz!

Anonymous said...

Also neither Sasha nor manfriend is making a face I'd call happy. Hmmmmmmm.

Amanda said...

way to call it out!! this is so wrong and not even in an ironic way. that font is death.

demilo said...

i thought the same exact thing about the font when i saw it!
but apparently sasha is supposed to be liza minelli/lucille II from Arrested Development. thats what one mag-scan blog i read said anyway (the fashion rogue). and if that is true, that is amazing and fantastic and crazy and the shit and beyond. in which case the font might make sense? i don't know, i don't think anything can make up for curlz. not even lucille II.
who knew the french even watched Arrested?

demilo said...

now that i look closer it is most def liza. it says "liza" "mama" "andy" and "bob fosse" within the spread. that just spells L-I-Z-A. liza with a Z. and that spells craZy. and curlZ i suppose?

CHKN-CHKN-KTTN said...

you are hilarious!

Kate said...

um, o.m.f.g! what is this fuckery? that's almost as bad as papyrus.

i just don't even know what to say. i wish i never saw this. that breaks my heart.

indigotangerine said...

i thought that font was cool when I was seven. But NO! and vouge paris! sacreligious.
-indigo

FIVE ZERO NINE said...

wow. horrid.
i don't understand...

FIVE ZERO NINE said...

wow. horrid.
i don't understand...

Claire said...

whoaa. i thought someone had put the words there with photoshop for a sec.

Maddie said...

weiiird... I guess they wanted to make something ugly, not ugly.. it didn't work xD

Luuk said...

hahah i know GREETINGS WORKSHOP MAJORED IN CURLZ. It's full name: Curlz MT haha

Luuk said...

hahah i know GREETINGS WORKSHOP MAJORED IN CURLZ. It's full name: Curlz MT haha

The Voguette said...

that font is disgusting. you are so right tavi. i cringe looking at it.

<3 The Voguette

josephine said...

wow that looks like crap. haha

thequeenjosephine.blogspot.com

laia. said...

good job! haha

Leah said...

That font has always made me want to vomit a little in my mouth.

Unknown said...

holy hell-
totally agree. this is extra wack and not controversial, its tacky.

+christinadee.
nobodyknowsyou.net

vainlikeyou said...

The ad is trying to look very American in a FRENC magazine. From the sound of everyones posts, it did the trick. It's so 'American" we all hate it. It looks cheap and played out and all of us have a rotten memory of that font and that nasty pastel.

I would be interested to know what a frenchy has to say about it.

Louise said...

ahaha that reminds me of this http://xkcd.com/590/ D:

penandview said...

LMAO as I read your post. I'm a 40 year old mother of two and everyone is asleep and I'm cruising through my fave blogs--of which you are on--and about peed my pants.

Kylie said...

Umm yeah, I don't get this AT ALL. It looks like a joke to me... it's srsly legit?? Okaaay then. Just reminded me why I never buy vogue...

<3<3<3

Arushi Khosla said...

WOAH BABY. WHAT THE HECK DID THEY DO RIGHT THERE?
I have hated this font since the day I learnt what a font is. AND IN FRIGGIN BUBBLEGUM PINK.
Cannot. Believe. Vogue.
I loved you, and you betrayed me. I want you to know that if we never see each other again, you're the one to blame.

Enough said.

SJ said...

Curlz with a 'z' ...should have been a red flag...

sofiasophie said...

Vainlikeyou wanted to know about a french point of view.....
Well.... I am french and I don't think this font deserve all that energy.... Yes it is ugly (as a lof of font) but somehow, I like the contrast of the drama of the photos with the lightness of the pink colour and the "frivolity" of the font.
And I do really like the right shoot, this girl looks like MEdusa, with a very heavy look in her eyes.

I hope I explain myself cause my english it is not that good!
Have a nice day all of U.

Jenna said...

Haha!
I love your blog :)

THEGIRLWHOCRIEDWOLFE.BLOGSPOT.COM

Unknown said...

hopefully the person who used that font got fired for their dodgy design skills. seriously, i do amatuer graphic design and use better fonts than that.
fools.

Marie said...

Oh I am soo happy I found someone who also hates comic sans!!! ^^

Bisous Natasha said...

I LOVE your blog. and to think you are just 13?!! good for you. i wish i were like you at that age. will be reading you from now on ;-)

snoblak.blogspot.com

Isabel said...

Dear God, I thought you photoshopped that font on as a bad joke!

How horrible!

Tara said...

NO NO NO it IS as bad as Comic Sans. What is this? I want to cry.

avputries said...

i really think this should be on failblog. and i also was one of the people who thought you photoshopped it. i would never. ever. use that font in a fashion editorial. EVER.

somebody fire someone!

Tavi said...

I thought I'd be the only one that cared!

Oh dudes don't get me wrong, I thought the photos were great! And the Liza thing is genius! Plus they did have one photo that had handwriting all over it that I did think was cool. The only prob here was that...THING.

The Zsa Zsa Zsu said...

eugh hideous. maybe they dont't think so over in paris? how that is possible i dont know!

Emily Wilkerson said...

It pisses me off so much when people use stupid fonts like that unless they're little kids. Especially when they use them in publications that are supposed to be adult and dignified. I can't even tell you.

thevamoose said...

oh dear lord, words escape me.

Stacey said...

That font does not even deserve to be on the same page as such a beautiful human being. Or deserve to exist, ever.

Anonymous said...

yeah, so what. reminds me of tim burton letters or something.

Hek said...

Haha, you are so funny! But that font is so not funny though..

Can't believe I haven't found your blog before now, you are amazing. Will follow!:)

Annemiekje said...

hahahaaaa i couldn't agree more =D

Anissa said...

why don't they just do their whole front over in comic sans hmmm

AX80 said...

It looks a bit amatuer, I have to agree. Yet I really enjoy the mixing of the black and white with such a bright colored font.

mleeoliver said...

Hah, I think it's funny. Irony at its best. :D

Maddy said...

That is exactly fucking what I thought. Curlz MT man. Not right, just not right.

Maybe Roitfeld lost a bet to Wintour.

Flavia Flanders said...

I really don't like it, it takes all the theatrical scene that image portrays.

Unknown said...

good call... that shit is WHACK

HumanAdult said...

I think what Carine and team is trying to imply that sometimes childish fancy can be fun and the world doesnt need to be so serious all the time..put on a happy face..coz what is cool anyways if not just a concept. cool doesnt even physically exist. so is fun. but at least, fun you can feel and touch your most basic instinct and make u happy...

so does fashion makes you happy coz its cool or its fun?

im reading waaayyy into this..but I think its rather sweet to not be so cool sometimes, so im behind this font 100% hehe

Polly said...

scary!!

s. leopard said...

tavi, you're brilliant.

MM said...

NO FUCKING WAY!
no no no no.
I do not believe this!
Is this shit real?
no no no no no no no


http://fashion-intervention.blogspot.com

sofiasophie said...

iç saw your photo in the POP cover magazine and you are gorgeous !
congrats, the photo is great.
You are very near to be a big star!

Fashion Hungry said...

frankly that font makes me want to gag...who the hell would allow that..i mean it's vogue paris not discovery girls magazine.

trilby said...

I did some snoopin'.

They actually used Curlz. I would check Vogue, but it's not available in Ireland yet.

You instantly lose all credit if you use a Microsoft word font in any recognised publication. Either make your own, download one or engineer a font creating robotic monkey.

Unknown said...

Awfullll!!!!!!

http://lipstickboudoir.blogspot.com/

x's

J.Dimps said...

holy hell i thought it was fake... is it fake? let's just pretend it's fake.



barefootdiarygirl.blogspot.com

Jess said...

wow... what the heck, that is seriously so ugly. Ew, it's just so bad, i don't even want to look at it.

.G ui ll au me said...

I've got the september issue (yes i'm french :) ), and this is real...but i don't know, at first, it doesn't appear so awfull...well i have to admit that this kind of writting is not really vogue's style, but you know, you don't always pay attention to such details, especially when there is sasha on the same page! OMG she's sooooo gorgeous

Fannah said...

i sure as heck hope this is not the original. i mean, there's a slight different between 'standing out' and just plain crazy.

Emma Lavelle said...

that is pretty shocking. not what i;d expect from paris vogue at all!!

just seen you in uk grazia, congrats on the Pop cover, thats amazing and i will definately be buying it! x

Sarah said...

ew yeah, curlz was awful back then and it's awful now. a million points for your superb font rant.

keira antoia rose said...

How rediculously disappointingly bizarre.

xoxo Isabella Clarisse xoxo
www.tasteoffashionkar.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

u r amazing girl ! (: , i'm from argentina anda is the first time that i see your blog , you rock !kiss

Anonymous said...

u r amazing girl ! (: , i'm from argentina anda is the first time that i see your blog , you rock !kiss

Anonymous said...

This post made me laugh so much! Brilliant x

K said...

My EYES!!!!!

Paige said...

Dude, but can you imagine if it HAD been Comic Sans? Lest us count our blessings whilst we caneth..

Leah said...

that font is tacky as shit.

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Robin said...

O.M.G when i was in primary school we always used that font for projects because we thought it looked pretty! i cant believe they put it in VOGUE! of all magazines thats the one i expect ti from least! shocking!

Hanna said...

CHILD. We need to have a serious heart-to-heart, ASAP.

PS- WTF is with French vogue?

Anonymous said...

They should have spelled "Sasha is Bossy" in human font not unlike the "YMCA" jig. That neon mess of shapes is distracting me from the force that is Sasha Pivovarova...not okay!

Anna said...

Tavi I couldn't agree more with you about the LAME curl type.

I mean SERIOUSLY, REALLY?!?!?!?!

It's funny to think how many people okayed that font. The designer, thier superior, associate editor, etc. I mean someone in that office had to think it was TERRIBLE.

hahhahahhahah I love your blog!!

Anonymous said...

Wow. I thought that you wrote over the editorial yourself, Perez Hilton style! Can't wait to show my graphic designer mother that a real magazine actually used Curlz.

Katy said...

That font was on my 12th birthday invitation: [in curlz]
You're invited to our groovy MACRAME AND PING-PONG PARTY! [in a helvetica or what have you] JUST KIDDING! We're going to the aquarium!
What? It was funny at the time!

TheShoeGirl said...

OMG I'm so glad you feel the sam way about fonts. I get like- REALLY irritated when people use Comic Sans in documents and/or emails. Like- psycho irritated. Like I want to destroy.

PS- did you see Imelda's new post. Too funny.

M. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
n/a said...

'pollypocket shade' lolz.

Leighton (demuele)Meester said...

comic sans! haha! I heard from a graphic designer friend in Puerto Rico that Papyrus is all the rage on the island.

Sarah said...

I love that you can't even read the smaller information under the happy face text. Isn't that the important information about the photographer? Seriously someone didn't object to this?

Unknown said...

I totally agree... the font looks like made by TOTAL amateur, not to say a child, it so doesn't go with the photograph (which is quite good) but this font - specially the name with Z - gives my goosebumps - not in a good way - I'm SO surprised Vogue actually decided to publish it, ok, someone paid them to do it, but there should be some things money won't buy, and that's good taste :D

nana said...

i just stumbled across your blog a few days ago, and i just have to say, you're all kinds of amazing. i'm absolutely envious of how fabulous you are, and oh oh oh! your writing is wonderful and so entertaining!

Tavi said...

Hanna-YES we haven't talked in forever.

KD-It still sounds cool to me!

should be on the nanny-Oh no! Papyrus? The worst.

anitaquist-I know, and freaked out for about all of last night/today over it. Still in disbelief!

M. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

that font should die a fiery death along with the likes of papyrus and the font that looks like "girl" writing.

kate cait sith said...

This is amazing only for the fact that it gives me an excuse to now endlessly taunt French Vogue.
I still don't understand Carine. And I mean that both figuratively and literally. I think a bob and cute bangs would look chic on her though. Maybe then I might consider.

method girl said...

That is my second most disliked font - again, I'm with you, I can't stand Comic Sans. When I see it on restaurant or store signs, I get heated. Very disappointed in this font. VERY. They must have been drunk when they final proof was occuring.

Anonymous said...

haha oh my god, this made me laugh so hard.

anyhoodles, bob dylan's one time apartment was at 4th street (hence the song "positively fourth street" methinks) and 6th Ave. to his credit, the sex shop had a nice awning...i mean it wasn't terribly tacky....okay i'll stop.

Unknown said...

If I am not mistaken, Bruce Weber always chooses a typeface for his editorials. If you look at his past stories in French Vogue, they never follow the other editorials typographically.

Unknown said...

If I am not mistaken, Bruce Weber always chooses a typeface for his editorials. If you look at his past stories in French Vogue, they never follow the other editorials typographically.

Charlotte-Louise said...

Eurgh yes, comic sans is possibly the worst font in the world. I'd rather use webdings.

Lindsa Burck said...

This is the best blog post ever written by a 13 year old. You rule!

Sophia said...

*CRINGE* oh dear goodness...is this for real??? this is way way worse than the time i saw comic sans in a pharmacology textbook i was studying from. way worse.

this is making me feel all kinds of discomfort..

Felicia said...

Seriously. You are the coolest person ever. It's a fact.

martha said...

Hi Tavi
My names Martha. I really admire your work and style. In fact you were the one that promted me to create a blog like you except mines crap. I saw you in Grazia, you seriously rock. Dont really know my way round Blogger, but if you can, would you mind visiting my blog, i feel lost, and would appreciate your help.
I loved the way you donate money through the Lucky Packs; it sucks that im in England. Plus you are totally right about the Curlz font, it sucks dearly and makes me feel sick. See you around then, i gotta go throw up . . . x

Anonymous said...

hey just read the article about you in LOVE...it was awesome man! i prefer the pics they didnt put in tho but all the same they are pretty good :D
I'm surprised how tacky that ad is even for classy parisian vogue! wat a crash and burn for trying to be cool or wateva..
oh well im tired now so bye :D

between peace and happiness said...

haha i thought exactly the same thing about the font

reckless daughter said...

yeah, that's beyond awful - way to ruin a beautiful ed :(

Maria said...

only papyrus would have been worse.

Unknown said...

How to make a nice fashion spread look tacky. Is a three yeaar old editing the fashion pages? Seriously looks like it! Lol.

Heather said...

Wow, I would never expect that font from Vogue. I remember using that font on Mother's Day poems in grade 4. And the colour: Yuck! Bright fushia? nuh-uh.

jennamariia said...

eeks! i hate the font and i hate the color. i never wanna see that editorial again T__T my little sis used to get this Sisters Club magazine and i think their titles looked like that. tacky.

Pietro Gregorini said...

what the fuck.. i'm completely agree with you.. i'm an art director and that was one of the awful things i ever seen.. and we're talking of vogue.. :/

Elizabeth, Delightfully Tacky said...

OH MY GOD. Curlz???? I can't decide if Curlz is worse than Papyrus and Comic Sans, or if they all hang out in the same Worst Fonts Ever Created club.
My disappointment in Vogue Paris is PALPABLE.

Emma Louise Layla said...

I agree: Curlz, or any other jazzy font, should be banned from any serious publication.

Move said...

Im agree with you!, ur briliant!

xx

Unknown said...

YOU LIKE JAKE AND AMIR?? they invented ACE

frocksmethinks said...

I agree! Whoever created that font should be flogged.

Ricky B said...

"She should've BEEN the font." Oh good lord...Tavi G, you have a new reader in me. Whatever they are in sum (your readers - 4 million or not) you can now, with confidence, number me among them.