Bill Cunningham, Editta Sherman on the Train to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, ca. 1972. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill CunninghamBefore starting his now iconic "On the Street" column for the New York Times, visionary street
style photographer Bill Cunningham explored the fashion history and architectural riches of New York City from 1968 to 1976 through a personal project entitled Facades. Running through June 15 at the New-York Historical Society, Bill Cunningham: Facades will showcase 80 photos from the black-and-white film series. Hunting vintage finds at thrift stores, auction houses and street fairs, Cunningham dressed models in period costumes before snapping their pictures at quintessential New York sites like outside the Guggenheim and inside a grafittied subway car. His most notable muse was his Carnegie Hall Studios neighbor Editta Sherman. Capturing more than 500 outfits and 1,800 locations, Cunningham's photos are a visual trip down memory lane.
Bill Cunningham, Guggenheim Museum (built 1959), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, St. Paul's Chapel and Churchyard (built ca. 1766-96), ca. 1968- 76. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Unknown artist. Bill Cunningham Photographing Three Models at New York County Court House, ca.1968-76.Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, General Motors Building, ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Club 21 (founded ca. 1920s; costume ca. 1940), ca. 1968- 1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Grand Central Terminal (built ca. 1903-1913), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Federal Hall (built ca. 1842, costume ca. 1910), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Bowery Savings Bank (built ca. 1920), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Associated Press Building at Rockefeller Center (built ca. 1939), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Gothic bridge in Central Park (designed 1860), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph.
New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham, Paris Theater (built 1947), ca. 1968-1976. Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham photos courtesy of New-York Historical Society gift of Bill Cunningham.