Typography tells a story: What do these rich font examples say?
Well-designed, rich fonts are beautiful to behold. Their angles and forms are an inspiration.
Fonts have a “personality,” and if you tune into what their shapes are trying to say, you can make those traits work for your business.
Let’s say on the other side of your town a company is developing an upscale neighborhood high on a hill overlooking the ocean. They’ve decided to call it “Grandview Estates.” Their tagline is “Rising Above the Rest.”
[Pretty snobby, right?]
Now let’s say you’ve been asked to design the sign that will sit at the entrance to the neighborhood.
You’ve been told that the sign needs to “reflect the caliber of people we want to attract to our estate properties.”
You know what that really means.
You need to attract rich people!
Time to break out …
Type styles of the rich and famous
Because you know, dahling, the rich and famous won’t be seen with just any old font.
Only the best will do!
Here’s what to look for when you need rich fonts to speak to an upscale audience.
1. Rich fonts with classic forms
The rich and famous would like to think that they’ll always be that way.
Using fonts with classic forms that have been around since Roman times will help them perpetuate the illusion!
Even though the font should look like it’s been around since Roman times, you should stay away from Times Roman.
Why? Because it’s overused. The rich and famous want to be distinct.
That eliminates the Georgia typeface, too, and any other typeface that’s on the standard system menu when you first fire up your computer.
Instead, try serif typefaces that have some personality, like:
Crimson Pro on Google fonts
Gentium Book Basic on Google fonts
Libre Baskerville on Google fonts
Cormorant on Google fonts
2. Rich fonts with a calligraphic feel
Classic typefaces include those that look like they’ve been penned by the hand of a distinguished calligrapher.
What better way to say “I have so much money I don’t know what to do with it” than to look like you have a personal scribe who addresses all your correspondence?
These typefaces have the swashes and flourishes that will do the job:
Dancing Script on Google fonts
Great Vibes on Google fonts
Parisienne on Google fonts
Tangerine on Google fonts
Allura on Google fonts
Alex Brush on Google fonts
3. Set your rich font loose and open
Now that you’ve chosen rich fonts from the lists above, let’s look at how we can set them so they communicate the upscale vibe we’re looking for.
One way to accomplish this is to set the serif typeface in all capital letters, and open up some space between the letters. You’ve seen this before:
For maximum effect, don’t spread the letters out too much. You want the words to be readable.
4. …or tight and solid
You shouldn’t spread out the letters in a script font at all. They’re designed to look like a calligrapher has written them in one sitting, sometimes in one continuous stroke. So set the script letters tight together so they flow from one to the other.
The idea below uses a script font set nice and tight, and a serif font on the second line. Fancy, schmancy, huh?
Our little secret
Here’s a surprise for you.
Every rich font mentioned in this post is available at Google fonts for free. Links to the fonts are under each image.
I promise not to tell the rich and famous you used a free typeface to attract them to their overpriced neighborhood!
This post was first published on January 26, 2011, and has been updated with all-new fonts in December, 2019. Enjoy!
24 thoughts on “Type Styles of the Rich and Famous”
Wonderful Pamela! You’re right of course but I’d never considered there would be a set of ‘wealthy’ fonts!
And needless to say they’re lovely! I’ve bookmarked this one so I can choose some nice fonts for future products.
These are the kinds of fonts I look for when I have to design for this demographic group, so I thought I’d share them with all of you!
I’m glad you found it useful, Rachel. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
I find this quite interesting considering I’ve been looking at fonts for cufon and @font-face replacements on websites for the last three days. I firmly believe that fonts with personality and pizazz are the final finishing touch for any site, or brochure. Thanks for the list!
I’m glad it was helpful, Kaelin. I don’t know how many of those fonts are available on web font servers, but as long as you know the basic traits to look for, you’ll be able to find some that work.
Have you looked at Typekit for font replacement? That’s what I use on this blog, and I’ve been very happy with it.
How neat was that, looking through all those fonts. Thanks for the Squirrel site. Now, if I can only figure out how to make changes to my blog header….Wish Id had this feature when I was taking typed pages to the printer, trying to get them to do what I envisioned.
That fontsquirrel.com site is the best! I have to stop myself from downloading everything on there. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I visit. 😉
I’m in negotiations with one of the font authors for the use of his font as a web-font. It’s possible to turn any ttf or otf font into a web font, but you have to get permission. TypeKit however…. gosh that’s nice. That’s exactly what I’ve been coding by hand- and they already have author permission. Thank you!!
Pamela,
Another great typeface article. I have loved fonts for a loong time – my library is huge. It is so nice to see a series for articles just on this topic!
Also, thank you for the link to Font Squirrel – this is a new one for me.
Thank you again,
Theresa
You’re welcome, Theresa! I wrote a post about handling a large type library (a “problem” I share) here: https://www.pamelawilson.com/font-addicts-unite/ It talks about software that helps you to manage a large collection of fonts.
Thanks for your comment!
Pamela,
I just found that article after I left my comment – lol!
Thank you for providing the link.
Theresa
I’m working on a piece targeting personal injury attorneys. I can’t even begin to image what kind of font would resonate with them. Yikes.
Love the view from the tub at your mountain home.
I think there’s a good chance some of the serif fonts would appeal. They look very lawyerly and upscale…
Thank you for sharing such an amazing selection of typefaces. On top of all they are also free.
Very well written Pamela. The example you relate is awesome. It helps us understand and relate better.
Now we know why we need to choose typefaces.
I can only say Simply Superb.
Hi Pamela
Love your stuff. I forward it as often as I can.
Fonts…some real beauties for sure.
What’s the scoop on receiving these fonts as set up in e-letters?
If I use one, does that mean they will display as such on recipient’s screen or do some systems transpose them to another default system font? Perhaps you’ve covered that in a previous post…if so, can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.
Well hi there, Dawn!
Unfortunately e-mail is still in the dark ages when it comes to typography. You have to stick to the basic 8-10 fonts everyone has installed on their computers.
I did write about web typography in general though here: https://www.pamelawilson.com/typeface-combinations-that-work-on-the-web/
You can use custom typefaces on your website now, but they have to be “served” up by a third party. I use Typekit, which is a paid service. The Google Font API is free, but has a smaller selection to choose from.
It’s good to see you here! Thanks for the comment. 🙂
Oooh, the fonts! 😀
Yes, as a fellow font addict, articles like this are wonderful to see.
They let me expand my collection intelligently and help me to control my own ‘download everything NOW!’ desires.
Thnx so much! 🙂
Am also including this in this week’s Roving Robin for EugenOprea.com – gotta share the love, ya know! 😀
Thanks for sharing, Birdy! 🙂
Hey, is it coincidental that the title makes me think of the Good Charlotte song- Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous? 😛
Are there any sans-serif fonts that would work for high-end / luxury clients?
I think those can work as well. Just look for letter forms that mimic the shapes of the classic serif fonts mentioned here.
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