Film Forum is just showing the documentary Bill Cunningham New York. First time I have ever seen a fashion related documentary focused so much on a passion for somebody's daily occupation not the gloss and glamor of high net worth fashion industry. It is a portrait of a true New Yorker who at the age of eighty two, being honored with the French Order of Arts and Letters, still rides a bike along often mean streets of New York and has the most amazing eyes for new trends in street fashion, confirming the statement that "he who seeks beauty will find it.” As he finds it in the darkest corner of the city, days when it rains and snows and when pedestrians do not feel fashionable at all. He catches those moments with the camera and never hurts anybody with the final result, never diminishes any style, contrary he is always able to notice something practically unnoticeable.
He charms with his smile, sharp sense of humor, very aristocratic manners and absolutely unusual humbleness and simplicity in the world of fashion, . He keeps on wearing simple cobalt uniform for years; he lived in a tiny studio with many books and simple bed most of his life. What is striking is how honestly devoted he is to his art. When he laughs, all the movie audience laughs and when he cries talking about more serious aspects of his personal life there is a morbid silence in the movie theater. He is a true photographer of fashion, not really aware of the celebrity craziness and importance of Hollywood stardom but on the other hand, deeply familiar with old NYC society and all its complicated hierarchy.
His column in NYT shows new NYC street styles every week and I would like to repeat after Anna Wintour, having watched this documentary, every day when I walk streets of Manhattan, I will feel like I'm "dressing for Bill", a true artist of his trade.