What Fonts Pair Well with Bodoni 72 Oldstyle? Serif Pairing Tips for 2025

What Fonts Pair Well with Bodoni 72 Oldstyle?

Elegant Serif Pairing Tips for 2025 Designers and Brands

If you read our recent post “Popular Adobe Fonts for 2025 for New Business Branding”, you already know that Bodoni 72 Oldstyle is one of our top picks for standout branding in the new year. This timeless serif font brings sophistication, contrast, and personality to both print and digital design.

But as beautiful as Bodoni 72 Oldstyle is, pairing it with the wrong secondary font can throw off your entire design. So let’s explore some of the best font pairings for Bodoni 72 Oldstyle, and how to use it effectively in your branding, website, and marketing materials.

Why Bodoni 72 Oldstyle?

Before we dive into pairings, here’s why Bodoni 72 Oldstyle is so loved by designers:

• It’s a classic serif with high contrast and sharp vertical stress, making it ideal for headlines and brand marks.

• Designed to echo the original work of Giambattista Bodoni, it's refined but not overly ornate, which allows it to flex between editorial, luxury, and modern aesthetics.

• It’s available on Adobe Fonts, making it easily accessible and safe for commercial use.

It’s no surprise that it made the list in our top fonts for 2025 — especially for businesses wanting to build a professional, stylish, and elevated brand identity.

Best Font Pairings for Bodoni 72 Oldstyle

1. Bodoni 72 Oldstyle + Futura PT

Why it works: Futura’s clean, geometric lines contrast perfectly with Bodoni’s traditional form. This pairing is frequently used by luxury fashion and lifestyle brands because it balances elegance with modern minimalism.
Best use: Use Bodoni for headlines and Futura for body copy on a chic, editorial-style website or brand collateral.
External inspiration: Similar pairings have been seen in fashion lookbooks and in branding for high-end wellness brands like Aesop or Everlane.

2. Bodoni 72 Oldstyle + Source Sans Pro

Why it works: Source Sans Pro is a neutral, approachable sans serif that doesn’t compete with Bodoni’s high contrast. This pairing feels trustworthy and grounded.
Best use: Try this duo in service-based businesses like coaching, consulting, or wellness. Bodoni gives polish, while Source Sans Pro keeps it warm and clear.
Pro tip: Adjust tracking (letter spacing) slightly in longer text blocks to ensure readability.

3. Bodoni 72 Oldstyle + Altesse Std

Why it works: If you're going for romance, whimsy, or a touch of flair, Altesse’s handwritten curves offset Bodoni’s structure beautifully.
Best use: Wedding industry, feminine boutiques, or personal brands. Great for using Bodoni for headers or product names and Altesse for accents or quotes.
Caution: Use Altesse sparingly — a little goes a long way!

4. Bodoni 72 Oldstyle + Montserrat

Why it works: Montserrat is versatile and bold enough to hold its own next to Bodoni, but still highly readable. This pairing works especially well for modern websites that need strong hierarchy.
Best use: Tech startups, creative agencies, and online shops.
Pro tip: Use Montserrat in all caps for nav menus or CTA buttons for extra polish.

Real-World Examples

Many top-tier branding agencies and designers use Bodoni-style fonts in high-end branding. For instance:

• Pentagram and Studio HMVD have both incorporated Bodoni or similar serifs in editorial and hospitality branding.

• Brands like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Giorgio Armani all utilize variations of Bodoni to communicate refinement and legacy.

How We Use Bodoni 72 Oldstyle at Bear Design Company

At Bear Design Company, we often use Bodoni 72 Oldstyle when building brand identities for women-owned businesses, boutique shops, and service providers who want a polished but welcoming look.

If you’re looking for San Diego website design, or branding for mom entrepreneurs and small businesses, we can help you implement this font beautifully and strategically into your visual identity. Our custom branding packages and Squarespace website templates often include pairings like this to help elevate your brand from day one.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right font pairing can make or break your brand. When done right, a pairing like Bodoni 72 Oldstyle + a clean sans serif can communicate clarity, elegance, and professionalism — all in one glance.

Want help choosing fonts for your brand or building a strategic design system?
📩 Reach out to Bear Design Co — we’d love to help you bring your brand to life with fonts that fit your style, story, and audience.