A Tribute to Bill Cunningham

Photo by Whitney S Williams

I am convinced that Bill Cunningham was photographing me photographing him. ;) Also, that's Karlie Kloss.

Photo by Whitney S Williams

Bill Cunningham's eye is that of someone who did not judge those based on their chosen attire; he embraced the quirky, the demure, the bold, the minimal, the trendy, the elegant. He saw style everywhere in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. He himself always chose to wear the same uniform: a blue hardware store jacket that he discovered on a trip to Paris and took a liking to because of its big pockets. Once one got too ratty, he'd find another exactly like it. As a result, you could spot him from a mile away at fashion shows, and when he was around, he created this atmosphere that was so delightful that it was almost intoxicating; he brought about the realization that dressing should never be taken too seriously.

These are some photos I've taken of Bill Cunningham during various fashion weeks in NYC, like at the Carolina Herrera show where he looked so thrilled by the designs; so much so that I started focusing on him instead of the clothes. Another: He was photographing Nicole Richie and Rachel Zoe, and again, I just wanted to photograph him, because he is my hero; a true class act.

Heavy heart today. Rest in peace.