A legend in the world of fashion and what seemed like a permanent part of New York's streetscape is gone. Bill Cunningham, who photographed fashion on the streets for decades, died in a hospital at age 87 on Saturday, according to his longtime employer The New York Times. Cunningham had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, the Times said.
Cunningham was best known for riding the streets of New York on his bicycle, wearing his signature, blue French workman's jacket, while taking photos that appeared in regular spreads in the Times' fashion section titled "On the Street" and "Evening Hours." While Cunningham had photographed plenty of fashion icons over his more than 40-year career with the Times, it was his photos of regular people in the streets, and his ability to spot a trend, that he was legendary for. He continued riding his bicycle and working through his 80s.
A critically-acclaimed documentary about Cunningham's life titled Bill Cunningham New York was released in 2010 and documented Cunningham's technique, as well as his somewhat mysterious lifestyle and quirky home in a rent-controlled apartment inside Carnegie Hall. You can stream the entire movie on Hulu for free, right now.
Related Stories
Bill Cunningham Thinks Celebrities Are Ruining the Fashion Industry
Bill Cunningham drops knowledge on the current state of fashion.
Bill Cunningham Talks About His Custom Rolls-Royce and Why He Hates His Signature Blue Jacket in a Rare Interview
Bill Cunningham finally opens up and talks about his custom Rolls-Royce and his signature blue jacket.
