printed matter

Get ready for some seriously chic printed matter!!!

idil vice fashion rocks items will be accompanied by all kinds of limited edition printed matter of the newly concepted 2008 ad campaign by "ueber" talented photographer Carl Posey. Labels, postcards, posters, hangtags, print ad's, etc. Below a sample of what's to come...


Depicted here, on a late night in NYC's Meatpacking District, idil vice wearing her own Jimi Hendrix Hoodie and her Keane Soldier printed tunic, paired with silver spandex leggings by American Apparel.

I would like to give a shout-out to the renowned Restaurant Florent (just across the fabulous mural depicted in our campaign), a long appreciated French Diner who served early breakfast, (you risked to be spoiling the party to show up here before 4AM) to countless night birds throughout the 1980's and 90's.



It is sadly closing it's doors and serves it's last Eggs Benedict on Saturday, June 28th, 2008. If you can, pay tribute to this NY institution, yet another one disappearing, making way for the commercialism controlling the Big Apple. Au revoir!

sewing machines are back in fashion

JC Reports most recent newsletter contains an article from Telegraph UK about the comeback of sewing machines - not that I ever thought they were out of fashion, as they generate my income over the past decade! What would I do without them??!


Sewing machines are back in fashion:

Environmentally conscious women are buying more and more sewing machines as they turn their backs on disposable high street fashion in order to "make do and mend", according to retailers.

It has put the boom down to an increased awareness of social and environmental issues and the desire to stand out from the crowd. The chain described the revival as a backlash against a "throw-away" society.

Woolworths reported a similar trend, with its sewing machine sales growing by 258 per cent between 2006 and 2007, but offered a different explanation for the increase.

A spokesman said: "We think it's down to more home economics classes being taught in schools, the increasing popularity of fancy dress parties and the death of the high street tailor."

Reports of a sewing machine revival come ahead of Alternative Fashion Week, which starts tomorrow in London.

Josie Nicholson, founder member and project manager of the Ethical Fashion Forum, said: "Fast fashion has meant consumers have lost some of their individuality but customising your own clothes means you can create your own unique style."

Wow, "yeay" I'd say, "this is the spirit"! Maybe this new found interest in the crafty side of ones personality is also being somehow related to the equally recent found ability to be able to independently sell carefully handy-crafted goodies over the internet and is probably being promoted to originally creative individuals by the popping-up of yet more e-shops and - malls all over the world? Whatever the reason for this comeback- it is a great development!

Although I still swear on my Bernina. It's the best sewing machine in the world and I do NOT recommend any other, especially for home use. (I wish they'd finally made their embroidery elements be compatible with Macintosh however!!) Designers do RARELY use Microsoft. We design on Mac baby.

I'll attach one of my old pics (once I dig it out of my vast archive of deteriorating press clips) of when I received my "Artisa", which was sponsored by Bernina, back in 1998 - or was it 1997? - all I remember it was a X-mas present. Hope this advertising will lead to an upgrade to the newest model "wink", "wink"!

But honestly, a revolution should be on the calender! What is going on in this world? We all damn near look alike and destroy the planet by doing so - how stupid! Death to all China made garbage fashion. I like Uniqlo, sorry! Yeap, a contradiction and some may call me a hypocrite.

There is however a need for casual pieces at low prices in tough economies and that is why we frequent a store like this, but it does not mean we have to live by them and hopefully one completes his basic look with individual pieces made somewhere locally or like this post is trying to suggest hand made by yourself! Try it! I'll supply knowledge and advice in case you need it! Let's bring manufacturing back to the US.

Long Live Individuality! Go get your own machine and fix your style up and make a mark! It's about damn time!

swiss press

Below is the current weekly issue of Anzeiger, the magazin of the Eastern region of Switzerland, which includes my hometown and Kanton St. Gallen. I am especially proud of this article (It's all about me!!) because during all these years in the fashion business, I was reminded and learned, again and again, that St. Gallen, besides being one of the most beautiful towns in the world, is also the place of origin of the most pricey and highest quality fabrics in the entire world!

"This one is expensive, it's Swiss!" I hear from countless fabric dealers in NYC's Garment District. And whenever I came across a piece of Swiss fabric, it was true: The do not compare to anything. They are smooth, crisp and mostly detail oriented.

Some of the most regarded St. Gallen textile firms are Jakob Schlaepfer, Bischof Textil and more..

Examples of Haute Couture designs by Jean Paul Gaultier and others using Jakob Sclaepfer textiles from St. Gallen.

Can you imagine that I, growing up there was not aware of this world famous export? It shows in a way the character of the people in St. Gallen and maybe in the rest of Switzerland as well: The got it, but they don't flaunt it! Well, it's served them well so far and they have been the quiet leader in all things design and manufacturing.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

People like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspire me. It's been 40 years since the day he's been assassinated. He is an icon and his legacy lives on...

R.I.P

idilvicefashionrocks MLK tribute skirt honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 4 - Gerry Hudson, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement today:

“As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, it’s time for an honest assessment of just how far we’ve come to achieve his dream of freedom and justice for all."

"A quick snapshot of today’s income inequality and continued health and educational disparities suggests that we haven’t come far enough."

“Economic disparities alone are higher today than it’s been in this country since 1928. Today’s minimum wage is just $5.85 an hour, which buys significantly less than the minimum wage of King’s time."

"Health disparities are also grim. More than one in five African Americans are uninsured and they have the highest rates of death due to diabetes, heart disease, and breast, lung, and colon cancer than any other ethnic group. And perhaps most sobering—segregation and inequality continue to define our public school system. Most recently we learned that in 17 of the nation’s 50 largest cities, less than half of the students who entered high school in 2003 graduated."

“We’ve got lots of work to do."

adidas cowboy boots

What in the world were they thinking??



Something really cool!!!! Has anyone seen these? I want them, badly. To give my outfit the last dot on the i. Anyone knows how important that is... so please keep your eyes open!

my favorite piece of clothing

idil vice shirt with bow tie

During my years of designing clothes, there is one piece that I make the most use out of. It comes back every season: THE BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT. I ask: What better frock can resolve more fashion issues at once than "The Classic Button-Down Type"?

idil vice shirt with embroidery

Most of the time it is made from woven 100% cotton (stay away from polyester and such - unless it's a rare and unbelievable cool vintage), some are even upgraded with the softest weave called Pima.

vintage shirts in fashion

The button-down, button-up or button-front Shirt (The analogous garment to a men's dress shirt for women is a blouse but I like to call mine "shirts", "blouse" sounds a bit "old-lady", and that is NOT what I am aiming for) is the most comfortable piece that also makes you look swell and well dressed in an instant.
You are tired, did not get enough sleep? Just put on a great crisp white and gone are the visible signs of exhaustion!

idil vice in one of her favorite shirts

idil vice bow tie shirt with "Oh!" embroidery



a cool wide version by luise markey as seen on style bubble

A shirt also looks great under almost everything... a T-shirt, a v-neck sweater, a crew-neck sweater, a sports coat, a blazer, etc. and it looks great with almost ANYTHING: Jeans, slacks, skirts, shorts... you name it!

girls who like their own styles


idil vice wearing her shirt underneath her waxed denim top

I personally go nuts for great button downs and do hoard them (some of my favorite basic shirts, besides my very own, are from agnes b). There is nothing wrong with a everyday white button-down shirt, I use them on regular days and wear them for work (and I am NOT a banker).

Below are a few variations of shirts which are sure to give you a lift!

idil vice mickey mouse cotton s/s shirt & idil vice pima bow tie shirt

two idil vice "Mother Teresa" style panel shirts with variations


idil vice powell perlta bones skateboard outfit feat. a white shirt
idil vice patchwork shirt w/ James Dean and Marilyn Monroe

two idil vice police/military inspired versions of shirts

a idil vice shirt which is a cross between a simple T-shirt and a shirt with giant puff sleeves,

it's a 2-piece set which comes with a zipped s/s jacket

idil vice Monroe tribute button down pima shirt with separate pink satin tie

a button-down detail by baron baronne as seen on style bubble

Oh well, I hope you enjoyed the shirt tribute edition! I am working on a lot of new styles at the moment, some black one's, which are very exiting and some more with bow ties and regular ties, etc. So I will keep posting them as pictures become available...

yes, and we love her too!

AGYNESS DEYN - Height: 5'9", Bust: 32", Waist: 24", Hips: 34", Dress: 8, Shoe: 7, Hair: blonde, Eyes: blue, Agencies: New York DNA, London: Models 1, Paris: Viva Model Management.



I am always on the lookout for the model which represents my vision at the present time... thinking about my collection "Fashion Rocks", I definitely feel Agyness, because she punk rocks!

amy winehouse style

Hey -just thought you'd appreciate this fashion spread in the February Edition of French Vogue, Amy-Style modeled by Isabelli Fontana.

photo credit French Vogue

politics and fashion

We do always question what fashion is most inspired by and whether it is art or if it is just commercial, etc. I personally think fashion is, besides being commercial art, also a opportunity for political statements.

I for example rebel against establishment, against what people think one should look like, etc. with my collections. When I design a skirt with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s picture on it, I state that I find his personality and message important and I pay tribute to it and when I put a substance abuse party print t-shirt under a police officers jacket I expose the corruption of certain authority figures, etc.

It is a fundamental desire of people to be able to express themselves and that is the reason for sales of merchandise with a political statement factor. Of course all fashions are here to make statements because even the guy that sports a classic outfit from Brooks Brothers, makes the statement that he believes in a more conservative approached style. Style can also be used to mislead peoples perception of ones self.

The most recent political fashion accessory (be it worn consciously or unconsiously) is the Shemagh ("kufiya", "keffieh" or "kaffiyeh", "hatta","yashmag" the Arabic terms).


Seen on every street corner for sale in New York, Tokio, Berlin and other major cities around the world and worn by all kinds of people as reported on many fashion/style blogs, etc. The typical fashionable person wears the Shemagh "street style", simply tied around the neck like this:

In the Arab world the scarf is either worn "Kufiya"-Style (A Kufiya is part of the formal Arab attire and is bound by a "aqaal", the cord that goes around the wearer's head)...


...or it is worn like this, "Shemagh-Style"...


Here are a few ways to tie a Shemagh scarf:






Now, my opinion is that the latest popularity of this scarf (originally an 80's trend which started popping back up in 2003 after the US lead invasion in Iraq and by now has become a widespread fashion trend) - also worn by the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat (The Kaffiyeh is the most recognized symbol of support for the Palestinian intifada) - is rooted in the desire of the Western world to balance out the injustice that is being done by our President, namely George W. Bush and his administration, in the Arab world.

At a time when most Americans wish for the troops to come home and the war in Iraq as well as the Israeli and Palestinian conflict be ended, it is only fitting that people show their colors (and patterns) by wearing this unmistakable political accessory.

The trend has become so huge though that there is a vast amount of youngsters now wearing it, while having no clue about what this scarf stands for and why it has become a trendy fashion accessory, and they simply don't care (!) which is too much of course... and it is also the reason why many people have different ideas about this new trend.

Below an opinion about it from Germany (NOT my point of view however).





And finally here some variations: The collection of the official brand and the matching video...





....by the way here is my way of wearing the Kufiah... after all: I got to show my Turkish roots once in a while!

idil vice vintage

Hi! I was thinking about how great it is to have the opportunity to have a blog and upload whatever we want and write about what inspires us - or not - and basically in a few years have this great archive of thoughts and images about what is our passion!
And, most importantly: The whole wide world can access it and indulge, which is a far cry from the old paperback diary we used fill back in the day.

I have been in the fashion business for more than a decade now and was just reminiscing about what my blog would look like today, if I'd started it in 1994....

Well, therefore I though it was necessary to have a look back, especially since I do see many of the early 1990's trends come back with a vengeance. The whole 80's thing, (as put together by stylist Richard Shoyemi or worn by Rapper NiYi) with all the deglo colors and the "technoy" accessories? Been there done that - but I don't mean this to sound cocky or bitter - not at all - as life goes on, we realize: everything always, all the time, rotates and, although reinvented and hopefully updated, it all comes right back around, every time!

It's just like history, it repeats itself, and sometimes even the saying: "We will never learn" resonates factual in fashion... and another thing is true: Never throw away a good piece of vintage. It will be back in fashion.

Anyway, enough preaching! I won't bother you with everything at once, but will throw a few pieces in here and there and date them. After all I need to catch up with my lost years in blogging!

Disney's Aladdin spandex gold printed strap dress Idil Vice 1995.

It's me rapping (New York, NY big city of my dreams/The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five) on stage at
Kaufleuten in Zurich, 1995.

....and here some more outfits from this show dated 1995...








...o.k. 'nough said!