The industry has taken to social media en masse to remember and pay tribute to the street-style photographer:
The fashion set and celebs alike are feeling the loss of an icon following the passing of the legendary Bill Cunningham on Saturday.
Thank you for capturing the magic of fashion. #BillCunningham
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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
“Fashion is quick to judge. Criticism drives sales. Trends come in, styles go out. Taste — that you either have it or you don’t — is part of the appeal. But ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ never held more weight than when Bill did the holding.” @amilli0naire remembers Bill Cunningham, who died today at 87.
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he found the extraordinary all around him, every day. and he captured the vibrant, collective individuality of our city like no one else. bill, we’ll miss you.
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.
Heartbroken. Rest in peace to a true legend, Bill Cunningham. : @bfa
RIP #BillCunningham. A true gentleman and wonderful artist. You will be missed xx
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“He who seeks beauty will find it.” We’ll miss you Bill.
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Rest in peace, Bill. Here you are at the Met Ball a couple of years ago. Always the sweetest. Xxxxx
RIP Bill Cunningham ❤️ #legend #inspiration
“I just loved to see wonderfully dressed women, and I still do. That’s all there is to it” Bill Cunningham. After working for the New York Times, I had the courage to introduce myself to him. I’m Lee Oliveira. He simply tapped on my shoulder and said “I know kid, you do wonderful photographs” I was honoured to receive a compliment like that from such an artist – RIP #billcunningham
“Those who seek beauty in the world will find it.” R.I.P. to the OG, Bill Cunningham. @drawbertson
Just arriving in Paris this morning to open Instagram and find out Bill Cunningham has passed . This pic of us says it all. Bill not only interpreted the fashion world through his lens, he represented it. He was a gentle and kind spirit most of all… #billcunningham
“The best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been, and always will be.” – #BillCunningham. Today we remember the #NYC legend and pioneer of #streetstyle photography. #RIPBillCunningham
He called me a child every time I saw him. He will be missed! RIP Mr. Cunningham #billcunningham @workforbillc rg: @deenathe1st
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
Child.
Honored to have known and been photographed by a true legend. RIP #billcunningham
Rest in peace my dearest Bill. We had our special little thing you and I and it meant the world to me. We flew to Paris together, I loved all our conversations. I loved making you laugh (like in this photo). I had a wall of photographers the opposite direction and I turned around and did some silly jumps. I will miss you Bill. I hope the attire in heaven is varied enough for your discerning lens. Heaven lent the world an angel, but even 87 years wasn’t enough
#rip a lovely soul and a great eye. thank you for the beautiful pictures. #billcunningham
Another legend left! Bill Cunningham , always a smile, night and day, you inspired all of us!!!!you called me “my child” goodbye mister Cunningham
Best fashion look, best pictures, best smile! RIP dear Bill Cunningham! Miss you
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Snapped this pic of the camera shy Bill Cunningham at the Met Ball. The first in NYC to always see what was truly ‘trending’. #maestro #restinpeace #streetstyle
“The best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been. Always will be.” -Bill Cunningham Today we’re saddened to lose the sweet, legendary, pioneering Bill Cunningham. “He occupied a unique place in the fashion firmament. He was a humble guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of La Mode,” says Simon Doonan. “Irreplaceable.” We will miss him dearly. Let us celebrate his work and life.
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The industry will never be the same, RIP Bill. Saddened by this news, and also thankful for the one moment I got to talk with him this past Feb. at a show. I was seated next to him at a show, and actually kept saying to myself, this must be a mistake, how did this happen, how is it possible I was seated here. I sat in silence because of my nerves and he started talking to me about the shows and went on about his feelings on the industry and street style for the entire time up until the show started, he also asked me questions about myself, what a kind human he was. I’m so thankful I have that one moment to remember. I’ve never felt impacted by the death of an icon, until now. Your blue jacket, photos and cheerful spirit will be missed forever ✨ he also would probably not approve of this social media post, but…. I wanted to share this!!!!!!!!
To the man who saw it first. #billcunningham @thecartorialist
Another Soul has passed. I love you so very, very much. I cannot imagine after 20 years of seeing you that you will not be there somewhere quietly clicking away. Thank you for capturing our lives and my youth until adulthood. You were THE one and only. God Bless You.
#billcunningham used his lens to transform the way we saw New York and fashion. His talent and focus will be missed.
I’ll miss you Bill…❤️
Bill Cunningham was as delightful and fascinating a person and colleague as he was as artist. An independent mind, big heart, no airs.
— Frank Rich (@frankrichny) June 25, 2016
RIP #billcunningham very sad to hear about Bills passing.
I consider myself truly lucky to have met Bill throughout my career-he was energetic, inspiring, and always passionate. His extraordinary work ethic and dedication to his craft inspired me to work harder everyday. Today we lost a true fashion icon. Bill, you will be missed by us all. #ripbillcunningham
Bon Voyage Bill! A true Icon… #BillCunningham (Repost @ricobk )
We celebrate the life & legacy of #BillCunningham. #RIP #FashionIcon
Hail to an original pioneer. Our respect goes out to you, Mr. #BillCunningham
We lost a great one today. Thank you for sharing your authentic vision with us, Bill Cunningham. RIP
God bless you Bill. You will be so missed. #RIP #BillCunningham
Some legends walk by you and you hardly notice them because that’s exactly what they want. Bill Cunningham was like this, and all his life he was able to keep that fire and the perfect distance from his subject, distance that allowed him to do the work that he did. He was always going, going, going, rain, snow, heat, always smiling. He is a role model for many photographers, and definitely for me, though I always knew I could never touch that level of dedication – and of selflessness. So at the shows, I used to let him go go go and just tried to not get in his way, that was the best way to show him all the good things I thought about him… Because as you can imagine, he didn’t care for a selfie. Goodbye Bill, you will be missed. Photo by @thesartorialist who loved taking photos of Bill… #BillCunningham
BILL Sketch by @drawbertson
I so truly enjoyed watching Mr. Cunningham work as he did it so joyfully. More then on the catwalk or at fancy events, I always loved seeing him randomly on some corner of NYC, riding his bicycle and snapping away at anything and everything fashionable. Such a legend, sweet and happy man. May we all love what we do that much. #BillCunningham #NYC #RestInPeace
Rest in peace Bill Cunningham you were a legend behind the camera. You stood out amongst the rest.
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#RIP #billcunnigham. A true and pure talent. I was lucky to sit next to him but mostly behind him at shows over the years. Once at a show in Paris the photographers went crazy for an “it” celebrity . He turned to me with his camera firm in his lap and said ” I’m interested in the clothes not celebrities.” All the photographers went crazy shooting her but not Bill.
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
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ALL HAIL BILL CUNNINGHAM! He was a legend. One of a kind. Beyond special and unique. Watch BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK, the incredible documentary on his life. Every time I would see him at an event with his camera I would watch him and marvel. He put so many beautiful images into the world and saw people and fashion in a way that will always be iconic to him.
#RIP #Billcunningham The most gentle man and incredible talent.
I will never forget this kind beautiful soul who snapped my pic outside my first fashion show in 1993 and introduced himself and said “well hello child I’m Bill Cunningham may I take your picture? ” All I recall is asking him why? And then wanting to give him a hug because he was so sweet. I will always remember him in his blue jacket on his bicycle and just for being the one and only unforgettable Bill Cunningham #truestlegend #beautifulman #RIP
New York will really miss you, Bill Cunningham. X
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) June 25, 2016
Saw Bill out and about doing his thing for the first time when I was 7- I didn’t know who he was but I knew he made everyone important stop and adjust. It was the exact same vibe when I saw him a month ago, fancy people suddenly unsure in the presence of this special eccentric. He was powerful but he was gentle and kind. He had vision and he will be missed. Drawing by @joanaavillez
Dear Bill Cunningham got to know you since #1986 , you always had the biggest smile that would light up a city, always called me kid when I was way beyond one . And So elegant you always was . So sad to lose you such a great man with a beautiful soul . Going to the Metball and any other big fashion red carpets will not be the same without you . I love you always , condolences to your family #RIP ❤️❤️
#RIP Bill Cunningham pic.twitter.com/kGGqYeI9ml
— Marc Jacobs (@marcjacobs) June 25, 2016
RIP Bill Cuningham legendary NY Times photographer loved by all in fashion & beyond #rip #BillCunningham pic.twitter.com/Z3DBTUT2OS
— Iman Abdulmajid (@The_Real_IMAN) June 25, 2016
This is so sad. Please watch Bill Cunningham New York, such beautiful documentary about this sweet brilliant guy. https://t.co/8HvTnnFtG5
— josh groban (@joshgroban) June 25, 2016
At Cindy Sherman’s MOMA opening, Bill Cunningham swooped in snapped my gloves saying “Oh aren’t these marvelous!” Never felt so well dressed
— Molly Ringwald (@MollyRingwald) June 25, 2016
RIP Bill Cunningham. He had the eye & style. The wonderful combo of sight & shutter. An original. Was photographed by him once. #legend
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) June 25, 2016
I took this photo of #BillCunningham in 2012- Rest in Peace legend ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hZ38efYr6y
— Bryant Eslava (@BryantEslava) June 25, 2016
So sad to hear about Bill Cunningham passing away. He was a special man with a great talent and a love of all things fashion. A true legend.
— Brad Goreski (@mrbradgoreski) June 25, 2016
He defined much of what we call #NYStyle. He was a devoted artist and style icon that will be missed… #BillCunninghamRIP
— Mr. Kenneth Cole (@mr_kennethcole) June 25, 2016
As someone who was always supportive, kind, elegant and brilliant, I will miss your enormous… https://t.co/mSKbSVn6oC
— Vera Wang (@VeraWangGang) June 25, 2016
RIP Bill Cunningham, the #legend and OG street style photographer. We will always remember you by your passion in your photographs.. ❤️
— Martha Hunt (@iammarthahunt) June 25, 2016
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