The Fashion Industry Mourns Bill Cunningham

On Saturday afternoon, The New York Times reported that photographer Bill Cunningham had passed away of a stroke.

Cunningham was a visionary photographer whose famous street style snaps made a profound cultural impact—one that surpassed the realms of fashion and art over the years. His photo essays in The Times proved that one didn't have to be a celebrity or a powerful influencer to have notable style; when it came to Cunningham's lens, the older woman walking her dog on Fifth Avenue in colorful prints had a story to tell with her garments as well. According to Times Executive Editor Dean Banquet, “To see a Bill Cunningham street spread was to see all of New York."

Cunningham received his first camera in 1967 after dropping out of Harvard and moving to New York. He began to shoot for the Daily News and The Chicago Tribune soon after, finding his niche at The Times in the late 70's. He was described to be one of the most humble men in the fashion industry, devoting so much of his time to breaking cultural barriers. Without Cunningham, V might not even exist; he gave editor-in-chief Stephen Gan his start in the industry.

"I'll miss you, dearest Bill," said Gan in a statement on Saturday. "This man, a real angel who fell to earth, photographed me on the street at 18 and gave me my first job in magazines."

Of course, Gan is not the only industry leader touched by Cunningham's work; the late style photographer has saddened the hearts of many in the fashion world with his passing, and now influential names in the industry have taken to social media to express their love and respect for Cunningham's art and humanity.

In his nearly 40 years working for @nytimes, Bill Cunningham was both a dedicated chronicler of fashion and an unlikely cultural anthropologist, one who used the changing dress habits of the people he photographed to chart the broader shift away from formality and toward something more individualistic. Bill put it this way in an essay he wrote for @nytimes in 2002: “Fashion is as vital and as interesting today as ever. I know what people with a more formal attitude mean when they say they’re horrified by what they see on the street. But fashion is doing its job. It’s mirroring exactly our times.” #📸 Did you ever spot #BillCunningham taking pictures of street style, or were you captured in one of his photos? We'd like to hear your story. Visit the link in our profile to tell us more. @dollyfaibyshev took this photo at New York Fashion Week last year.

A photo posted by The New York Times (@nytimes) on Jun 25, 2016 at 4:14pm PDT

Best fashion look, best pictures, best smile! RIP dear Bill Cunningham! Miss you💔💔💔

A photo posted by Carine Roitfeld (@carineroitfeld) on Jun 26, 2016 at 1:29am PDT

We celebrate the life & legacy of #BillCunningham. #RIP #FashionIcon

A photo posted by Saks Fifth Avenue (@saks) on Jun 25, 2016 at 3:05pm PDT

RIP Bill Cunningham. A legend. 💔 We are heartbroken. His creative spirit and presence has forever impacted our artistic community. 💔 NYC will not be the same without him. We will miss his laugh, smile and his ever present camera that he used to engage the world while creating something so deeply personal. 💔 We toast in his honor. ❤️ #billcunningham

A photo posted by RODARTE (@rodarte) on Jun 25, 2016 at 2:57pm PDT

"He who seeks beauty will find it." We'll miss you Bill.

A photo posted by Bergdorf Goodman (@bergdorfs) on Jun 25, 2016 at 3:04pm PDT

On the street, at those fancy occasions and part of our city an essential piece will be noticeably changed. You and your great big gorgeous smile will be terribly missed Mr. Cunningham. It was a gift to know you and witnessing you work a sublime memory. RIP

A photo posted by SJP (@sarahjessicaparker) on Jun 25, 2016 at 5:14pm PDT

I can still remember the first time I was shot by #BillCunningham. I called my boyfriend (now husband) @sxmco bellowing something along the lines of "omgbillcunninghamshotmeomg". The buzz and excitement of having his lens on you even for a nanosecond never got old. RIP to the great Bill, whose infectious and giddy love of fashion truly reflects the best of the industry, whose camera invented the street style category, and whose work ethic is a reminder to find a job you love and do it with gusto. Perfect illustration of Bill by @thingslizwants.

A photo posted by Eva Chen (@evachen212) on Jun 25, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT

I remember being almost starstruck the first time Bill stepped in front of me with his camera on the street. I was honored. He's told incredible, iconic, real-life fashion stories with his photos, and his spirit will live forever in the industry. #RIPBillCunningham - a fashion icon

A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jun 25, 2016 at 4:10pm PDT

Rest in peace to legendary photographer #BillCunningham who captured the best of fashion from the runways to the streets. Photographed here with @CarolynMurphy by @PatrickDemarchelier for Bazaar February 2002.

A photo posted by Harper's BAZAAR (@harpersbazaarus) on Jun 25, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT

"We all dress for Bill," Anna Wintour once said. The legendary @nytimes photographer was truly a national treasure, 1929–2016. Photographed by @arthurelgort, Vogue, July 1992.

A photo posted by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on Jun 25, 2016 at 2:32pm PDT

Goodbye Bill 💔

A photo posted by Emmanuelle Alt Official (@emmanuellealt) on Jun 26, 2016 at 1:23pm PDT

Sad to learn of the passing of the fashion photography legend, one of the kindest people I met, Bill Cunningham. Rest in Peace and thank you for sharing so many smiles with me

A photo posted by Miroslava Duma (@miraduma) on Jun 26, 2016 at 2:29am PDT

God bless you Bill. You will be so missed. #RIP #BillCunningham

A photo posted by Linda Evangelista (@lindaevangelista) on Jun 25, 2016 at 2:53pm PDT

"I'll miss you, dearest Bill...this man, a real angel who fell to earth, photographed me on the street at 18 and gave me my first job in magazines." — Stephen Gan.

A photo posted by V Magazine (@vmagazine) on Jun 25, 2016 at 4:19pm PDT