Chicago - January 10, 2006

The Forbidden Cute

Zuq and Zoe Paper Goods

Once upon a time, the word “cute” only befit puppies and babies.

Nowadays, everything (from your BF’s haircut to your new badass boots) elicits the same hackneyed label.

Soooo cute.

It would, therefore, be a pity to saddle Zuq and Zoë’s paper creations with such a descriptor. But we’ve tried dainty, precious, charming, and adorable, and our fingertips keep pounding out the same four letters. So freakin’ c-u-t-e!

There’s stationery: fabric love notes hand-stitched with images of bunnies or cupcakes, as well as pretty patterned numbers with skinny stripes, baby-blue jacks, and overlapping bubbles. And then there are the darling dangling automobile air fresheners, mirror charms that come in scents like green apple and lilac and are much more attractive than the typical car-wash variety.

Just the stuff sure to make you gaga.

Another word once reserved just for the kiddies.

Available online at femminastyle.com. To see designs, go to zuqandzoe.com.