Daily Times

Legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham passed away at the age of 87 on Saturday, confirmed the New York Times.

He had recently been hospitalised after suffering a stroke. An employee of the Times for nearly 40 years, Bill Cunningham was best known for his column On the Street, in which he documented rapidly changing fashion trends by photographing the outfits of New Yorkers from all walks
of life.

A fixture at fashion shows, galas and other industry events, Cunningham became a celebrity in his own right, easily recognizable in a crowd thanks to his signature blue French worker’s jacket, khaki pants and, of course, bicycle. He chronicled the changing trends and players with a more casual approach than previous photographers, making fashion more accessible and democratic along the way. Considered by many to be the original street style photographer, Cunningham paved the way for a lucrative industry that has become a cornerstone of the broader fashion landscape. In the process, he turned into something of a celebrity himself.

Nothing escaped his notice: not the fanny packs, not the Birkin bags, not the gingham shirts, not the fluorescent biker shorts. In his nearly 40 years working for The Times, Cunningham snapped away at changing dress habits to chart the broader shift away from formality and toward something more diffuse and individualistic.

In the words of journalist Anna Wintour in the 2010 documentary film ‘Bill Cunningham New York’, “I’ve said many times, we all get dressed for Bill.”