Smile i-D

The year 2000 marks issue 200 and year 20 for i-D magazine. What better way to celebrate than make a book? As founder and editor-in-chief Terry Jones writes, "A cross between a menu and a diary, Smile i-D maps the magazine's journey beyond the veneer of regular fashion." Now that most of us consider i-D a household name, it's interesting to be reminded that 20 years ago, street fashion was a nascent concept. Finding music and street culture more interesting than the traditional fashion world, Terry Jones abandoned his post as Art Director at British Vogue in 1977 to embark on a journey that has revolutionized not only the world of fashion magazines, but arguably fashion itself. Blending fashion and social documentation, early issues of i-D (major collector items now) were 40 pages stapled together which sold for 50p. Journalistic in spirit and revolutionary in form, the magazine sought to show the world the gritty, real side of fashion as seen in the streets of London- kilts, mohawks, safety pins and all. When newsagents hesitated to sell i-D because of finger injuries resulting from the staples, early supporters helped by selling issues from the trunk of a Cadillac. Lots of teamwork and innovation brought i-D to the forefront of contemporary fashion culture and today it can be found at newsstands practically everywhere on the globe (minus the staples). Smile i-D incorporates a single spread from each issue of the magazine thus far. Watch out for the stars who appeared here before the rest of the world even knew who they were. And don't forget to check out the Madonna cover from issue 14: why is the mole on the wrong side of her face? You'll have to read the book to find out.