Veteran Times Fashion Photographer Bill Cunningham Is No More

Bill Cunningham, the legendary fashion photographer from The New York Times who is single-handedly credited with capturing the changing social scene and fashion trends of the streets of New York – died on Saturday 25th June in Manhattan at the age of 87.

He had recently been hospitalized after suffering from a stroke. The terrible news of his demise was confirmed by the New York Times spokesperson Eileen Murphy on Saturday in an announcement.

“His company was sought after by the fashion world’s rich and powerful, yet he remained one of the kindest, most gentle and humble people I have ever met,” the publisher and chairman of the New York Times, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr, said. “We have lost a legend, and I am personally heartbroken to have lost a friend.”

He arrived in New York at the age of 19, after dropping out from the Harvard University, working as a hat maker before he joined an ad agency. For a short period of time, he was even enlisted in the Army. He turned towards fashion writing by writing reviews for the Chicago Tribune, before he joined the New York Times as a fashion photographer. In 1978, he published a series of street style candid shots called ‘Facades’ which were positively received, turning him into a regular for the Times and led to him staying with the Times until his death.

Named as a living landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2009, he was a constant presence on the streets of the City, his wiry frame clad in his pragmatic Blue jacket, khaki pants and black sneakers, perched on his bicycle with his 35-mm camera slung around his neck, busy clicking the passersby whose fashion sense intrigued him. Nothing escaped his lens- not the street trend that would be the next rage and certainly not the stylishly draped scarf that showed the individualistic take on fashion.

Although considered to be a very influential and revered figured in the fashion industry, he was miles away from the limelight of the industry, living an ascetic life in his one-room studio and having his breakfast of sausage and egg sandwich and a cup of coffee in the same deli – Stage Star Deli on West 55th Street every day.

The fashion world came all out to pay tributes to the eccentric genius, sharing pictures of him on his trademark bicycle on the social media.

Nothing can sum up the significance of him as this quote by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief, ‘I’ve said many times that we all get dressed for Bill.’