Bill Cunningham New York a
documentary directed by Richard Press follows the life of William J.
Cunningham a fashion photographer for the New York Times. He
is best know for his candid street style photos and weekly features
On the Street and Evening Hours. Mr. Cunningham is a
fashion world icon, if you get photographed by Bill you know you have
done something right! As Anna Wintor, editor- in-chief of American
Vogue, says in the film “I’ve said many times that we all get
dressed for Bill.” At 82 years old Bill Cunningham still rides his
Schwinn bicycle all over Manhattan snapping shots of the current
style trends of the street. He is more interested in what people are
wearing over “who” is wearing it, which is evident in his weekly
article in the Times.
Bill started his career in fashion as a
milliner under the label William J. He was then drafted to the army
and after serving his country came back and worked for the Chicago
Tribune, Details Magazine, Women's Wear Daily, and
now the NY Times. He lives a simple life living alone above
Carnegie Hall in the residences most of his adult life, he recently
was evicted and now lives overlooking central Park. His tiny studio
apartment is filled with filing cabinets keeping every photograph and
negative he has ever taken. Despite being the man who says what
trends are hot to be wearing now he has a simple wardrobe consisting
of the same royal blue work jacket that is worn by Parisian street
sweepers.
“Fashion is the armor to survive the
reality of everyday life. I don’t think you could do away with it.
It would be like doing away with civilization.”- Bill Cunningham
Photos courtesy of zeitgeistfilms.com
and nytimes.com
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