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Bill Cunningham: On the Street: Five Decades of Iconic Photography
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first published collection of photographs by the icon of street style, bringing together favorites published in The New York Times alongside never-before-seen work across five decades.
“A dazzling kaleidoscope from the gaze of an artist who saw beauty at every turn.”—André Leon Talley
Bill Cunningham’s photography captured the evolution of style, of trends, and of the everyday, both in New York City and in Paris. But his work also shows that street style is not only about fashion; it’s about the people and the changing culture.
These photographs—many never before seen, others having originally appeared in The New York Times and elsewhere—move from decade to decade, beginning in the 1970s and continuing until Cunningham’s death in 2016. Here you’ll find Cunningham’s distinctive chronicling of the 1980s transit strike, the rise of 1990s casual Fridays, the sadness that fell over the city following 9/11, Inauguration Day 2009, the onset of selfies, and many other significant moments.
This enduring portfolio is enriched by essays that provide a revealing portrait of Cunningham and a few of his many fascinations and influences, contributed by Cathy Horyn, Tiina Loite, Vanessa Friedman, Ruth La Ferla, Guy Trebay, Penelope Green, Jacob Bernstein, and a much favored subject, Anna Wintour. More than anything, On the Street is a timeless representation of Cunningham’s commitment to capturing the here and now.
“An absolute delight.”— People
“A dazzling kaleidoscope from the gaze of an artist who saw beauty at every turn.”—André Leon Talley
Bill Cunningham’s photography captured the evolution of style, of trends, and of the everyday, both in New York City and in Paris. But his work also shows that street style is not only about fashion; it’s about the people and the changing culture.
These photographs—many never before seen, others having originally appeared in The New York Times and elsewhere—move from decade to decade, beginning in the 1970s and continuing until Cunningham’s death in 2016. Here you’ll find Cunningham’s distinctive chronicling of the 1980s transit strike, the rise of 1990s casual Fridays, the sadness that fell over the city following 9/11, Inauguration Day 2009, the onset of selfies, and many other significant moments.
This enduring portfolio is enriched by essays that provide a revealing portrait of Cunningham and a few of his many fascinations and influences, contributed by Cathy Horyn, Tiina Loite, Vanessa Friedman, Ruth La Ferla, Guy Trebay, Penelope Green, Jacob Bernstein, and a much favored subject, Anna Wintour. More than anything, On the Street is a timeless representation of Cunningham’s commitment to capturing the here and now.
“An absolute delight.”— People
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2019
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599 people want to read
About the author
The New York Times
1,822 books322 followersThe New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. Founded in 1851, the newspaper has won 112 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other news organization. Its website receives 30 million unique visitors per month.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 11, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up. Bill Cunningham's candid photographs captured the fashions, trends, and real people on the streets of Manhattan from the 1970s until his death in 2016. Many were published in his "On the Street" column in the New York Times and other publications. He "wrote fashion criticisms and published photo essays in Details." As a photographic columnist who rode his bicycle everywhere through sunshine, wind, rain, and snow, he stated, "The best fashion show is on the street. Always has been. Always will be." He loved capturing people in rain and blizzards. "Things happen; people forget about you. If they see you, they don't go putting on airs. They're the way they are. Then you're in business."
Bill took thousands and thousands of pictures and was meticulous in detailing his shots from the wind speed to inches of snow recorded and keeping the telephone messages and menus of associated photographs. Most of his pictures were never sold nor published. This book was created as a legacy of his work after combing through his prolific personal archives of images and their supplemental and backup material.
He was more interested with the personal style of the outfit, how it was worn, or how an accessory was carried, than the wearer. However, he had over a dozen muses. He appreciated those who spent the money or made the outfits, not those who borrowed or showcased the apparel. "He cared for people who went above and beyond." To best catch the spirit of the moment, he preferred to be invisible.
"Fashion is a mirror reflecting the culture." The images stirred up memories of the highs and lows of decades of fashion. I went from cringing to smiling in reminiscence of shoulder pads, animal prints, gaucho pants, prints, stripes, polka dots, paisleys, wearable art, jumpsuits, suspenders, oversized shirts, denim, Madonna wear, cinched waists, shredded and distressed jeans, leather jackets, all black attire, vests, plaids, and much more. As a former milliner, Bill loved hats. The canine ensemble, whether they matched their humans or not, were humorous.
He penned, " I just try to play a straight game, and in New York that is very ... almost impossible." "To be honest and straight in New York, that's like Don Quixote fighting windmills." Another of his quotes, "Money is the cheapest thing. Liberty and freedom is the most expensive."
This book is a fitting tribute to both Bill Cunningham's work and Manhattan's street fashion.
Bill took thousands and thousands of pictures and was meticulous in detailing his shots from the wind speed to inches of snow recorded and keeping the telephone messages and menus of associated photographs. Most of his pictures were never sold nor published. This book was created as a legacy of his work after combing through his prolific personal archives of images and their supplemental and backup material.
He was more interested with the personal style of the outfit, how it was worn, or how an accessory was carried, than the wearer. However, he had over a dozen muses. He appreciated those who spent the money or made the outfits, not those who borrowed or showcased the apparel. "He cared for people who went above and beyond." To best catch the spirit of the moment, he preferred to be invisible.
"Fashion is a mirror reflecting the culture." The images stirred up memories of the highs and lows of decades of fashion. I went from cringing to smiling in reminiscence of shoulder pads, animal prints, gaucho pants, prints, stripes, polka dots, paisleys, wearable art, jumpsuits, suspenders, oversized shirts, denim, Madonna wear, cinched waists, shredded and distressed jeans, leather jackets, all black attire, vests, plaids, and much more. As a former milliner, Bill loved hats. The canine ensemble, whether they matched their humans or not, were humorous.
He penned, " I just try to play a straight game, and in New York that is very ... almost impossible." "To be honest and straight in New York, that's like Don Quixote fighting windmills." Another of his quotes, "Money is the cheapest thing. Liberty and freedom is the most expensive."
This book is a fitting tribute to both Bill Cunningham's work and Manhattan's street fashion.
November 18, 2019
It was delightful to see so many of Cunningham's photos collected in a volume like this. You appreciate not only his talent for capturing candid street style but also the fascinating journey that fashion has taken over the last several decades.
January 7, 2026
كنت شوفت من فترة فيلم وثائقي عن المصور bill ف لاقيت كتاب مجمع اهم الصور اللي مصورها ف الكتاب ده
هو كان مشهور أنه بينزل بالعجلة يصور ف الشارع
هصور الكتاب كله ع قناة عن الفن ع اليوتيوب لو حد مهتم like & subscribe 👇🙏
3nelfn@
وبصور عامة الكتب اللي بستعيرها من المكتبة ع انستجرام 👇
mai .designer92@
هو كان مشهور أنه بينزل بالعجلة يصور ف الشارع
هصور الكتاب كله ع قناة عن الفن ع اليوتيوب لو حد مهتم like & subscribe 👇🙏
3nelfn@
وبصور عامة الكتب اللي بستعيرها من المكتبة ع انستجرام 👇
mai .designer92@
December 15, 2025
Phenomenal retrospective of Cunningham's photography and the way fashion (and New York) evolved over the course of his career.
January 13, 2020
Lovely tribute to Bill and his egalitarian chronicling of fashion in the city.
January 4, 2020
A glorious paean to New York City...a love letter to its fashion-forward inhabitants. Cunningham's eye creates momentous pictures. This book made me smile. Made me consider the colors in my closet! Obviously created with an enduring deep affection for the man on the bicycle with a camera.
January 4, 2020
Outstanding collection of his photography over the decades, and the section on fashionable dogs & fashion during extreme weather were throughly unexpected and incredibly enjoyable. Bill has left an indelible mark on the New York art and fashion scene for generations to come.
February 14, 2020
Charming, witty bit of urban anthropology. 💙
January 1, 2020
The Times did an admirable job of putting together this collection from what must be a gargantuan archive of Bill Cunningham's photos. What made his photos delightful was his juxtapositions, his sense of whimsy, his personality really, and I was happy to see that here even without his words.
October 31, 2019
A true OG of all street style photographer. Prior to the decades of internet, blogs, apps, instagram, 5second fame is Bill Cunningham with his quick eyes and analog films. I especially love how he captured people during a snowstorm. “Their guards are down and you are in business”. All sorts of strange protective receptacles, jumping puddles actions, people falling over, holding onto poles, etc.
September 28, 2019
I only looked at the pictures. Totally worth it.
October 11, 2019
This man is brilliant!
November 1, 2019
absolutely AMAZING....
if you are even remotely a bill cunningham fan DO NOT pass this book up
it is a wonderful tribute to his work
enjoy!!
if you are even remotely a bill cunningham fan DO NOT pass this book up
it is a wonderful tribute to his work
enjoy!!
January 16, 2024
The ultimate people-watching book! An amazing fashion book found through a recommendation from Nicole Caruso (blog: https://nicolemcaruso.com)! This is a definitive fashion book for me. I got it from the library, but wish I owed a copy for our house.
Bill Cunningham was apparently a legionary figure on the New York fashion scene. He photographed many of the famous fashion house shows and knew everyone-who-is-anyone in the fashion world. But he also did a really cool and interesting thing... he rode his bicycle around NYC and documented fashion as it was worn on the streets for 50 years until his death. After his death, his vast collection of street photos were edited into this amazing coffee table book which documents the evolution of trends and NYC street fashion over 50 years. It is the ultimate people-watching book!
It was so interesting to see how fashion house influences (easily spotted by the knowing Cunningham) were translated into everyday wear and how things changed over time. Reading this book cover to cover, I feel like I received an education in the history of fashion.
This is a secular fashion book and there are a few photos from Gay Pride marches on the streets of NYC, so this book isn't for impressionable children. But it certainly doesn't linger there or seem to intentionally push an agenda. It just documents the more memorable fashion moments that a person would see walking down the streets of NYC.
Bill Cunningham seems like a fascinating person in his own right. I would love to learn more about him. The introduction about Bill included this limited but tantalizing background: He was beaten for trying on his sister's dresses as a child but remained a devout catholic and close to his parents all his life. He seems to have chosen austerity and abstinence as his personal path, but connected with the beauty of fashion on a profoundly deep level. In any event, he kept his private life extremely private and fashion insiders seemed to respect that and him. He saw himself as an unimportant observer and hated attention. Lots to unpack about his life and art of photography, which he himself did not consider art!
Bill Cunningham was apparently a legionary figure on the New York fashion scene. He photographed many of the famous fashion house shows and knew everyone-who-is-anyone in the fashion world. But he also did a really cool and interesting thing... he rode his bicycle around NYC and documented fashion as it was worn on the streets for 50 years until his death. After his death, his vast collection of street photos were edited into this amazing coffee table book which documents the evolution of trends and NYC street fashion over 50 years. It is the ultimate people-watching book!
It was so interesting to see how fashion house influences (easily spotted by the knowing Cunningham) were translated into everyday wear and how things changed over time. Reading this book cover to cover, I feel like I received an education in the history of fashion.
This is a secular fashion book and there are a few photos from Gay Pride marches on the streets of NYC, so this book isn't for impressionable children. But it certainly doesn't linger there or seem to intentionally push an agenda. It just documents the more memorable fashion moments that a person would see walking down the streets of NYC.
Bill Cunningham seems like a fascinating person in his own right. I would love to learn more about him. The introduction about Bill included this limited but tantalizing background: He was beaten for trying on his sister's dresses as a child but remained a devout catholic and close to his parents all his life. He seems to have chosen austerity and abstinence as his personal path, but connected with the beauty of fashion on a profoundly deep level. In any event, he kept his private life extremely private and fashion insiders seemed to respect that and him. He saw himself as an unimportant observer and hated attention. Lots to unpack about his life and art of photography, which he himself did not consider art!
January 7, 2020
Oh, Bill Cunningham! I loved his photos and columns in the New York Times - trying never to miss one. In this book I revisited his "on the street" work. He was great at fashion photography, but he appeared to find shots of people on the streets especially engaging. This book features his street photos 1970s - 2010s.
However, because of his fashion work in NYC and Paris, he knew all the designers and models and Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, many of the best-dressed women of New York City,along with famous actresses who liked couture clothes.
Why is this L.L. Bean shopper, dressed most days in a crew-neck teeshirt and my favorite L.L. Bean pants, aptly named "Perfect Pants", interested in well-known NYC fashion photographer?
Two reasons:
1. Fashion photography, both couture and ordinary, was his passion. It was not a "job". In fact, he free-lanced for most of his career and it took coaxing before he would agree to have a regular column in the New York Times. That was only because when elderly, and after being hit by a vechicle, he needed health insurance.
2. It's rare to find a creative professional as true to himself as he was. He lived extremely simply, and dressed very simply, (He wore the same blue workman's jacket most days. The fashion world folks named it Bill Blue.) He rode a bicycle, refused social invitations from the fashion world folks, many of whom liked and respected him and chose to focus his life on fashion and beauty.
If you are curious about him,, read the Wikipedia entry on him.
A favorite form of reading for me since childhood is biographies. I don't care though whether or not there is a good one on Cunningham; his photography and columns show me who he was.
This book is huge in format and very heavy because of the paper needed to show the photos well.
However, because of his fashion work in NYC and Paris, he knew all the designers and models and Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, many of the best-dressed women of New York City,along with famous actresses who liked couture clothes.
Why is this L.L. Bean shopper, dressed most days in a crew-neck teeshirt and my favorite L.L. Bean pants, aptly named "Perfect Pants", interested in well-known NYC fashion photographer?
Two reasons:
1. Fashion photography, both couture and ordinary, was his passion. It was not a "job". In fact, he free-lanced for most of his career and it took coaxing before he would agree to have a regular column in the New York Times. That was only because when elderly, and after being hit by a vechicle, he needed health insurance.
2. It's rare to find a creative professional as true to himself as he was. He lived extremely simply, and dressed very simply, (He wore the same blue workman's jacket most days. The fashion world folks named it Bill Blue.) He rode a bicycle, refused social invitations from the fashion world folks, many of whom liked and respected him and chose to focus his life on fashion and beauty.
If you are curious about him,, read the Wikipedia entry on him.
A favorite form of reading for me since childhood is biographies. I don't care though whether or not there is a good one on Cunningham; his photography and columns show me who he was.
This book is huge in format and very heavy because of the paper needed to show the photos well.
January 17, 2021
My rating has more to do with my bias: fashion photography isn't terribly appealing to me, though I do enjoy street photography. The book itself is beautifully executed. So kudos to the folks who put this hefty baby together. I love that there isn't a ton of text, that the captions actually explain the photos.
The photos themselves, like I mentioned, are not to my taste. However, I have great admiration for Bill's enthusiasm: he spent decades building a portfolio themed to the odd and extravagant fashions he spotted on the streets of New York City. The man sure was dedicated. Too, I appreciate his sense of humor. Surely, he saw how silly people's fashion sense can be, when they have too much money and too few sensibilities.
I kept thinking if they truly wanted to stand out AND look fantastic, they should have gone to tailors who specialized in constructing reproductions from the 1890s through the 1950s. Vintage -- now that's where it's at!
If you're into fashion, this compilation will easily be a 4.5/5 for you.
The photos themselves, like I mentioned, are not to my taste. However, I have great admiration for Bill's enthusiasm: he spent decades building a portfolio themed to the odd and extravagant fashions he spotted on the streets of New York City. The man sure was dedicated. Too, I appreciate his sense of humor. Surely, he saw how silly people's fashion sense can be, when they have too much money and too few sensibilities.
I kept thinking if they truly wanted to stand out AND look fantastic, they should have gone to tailors who specialized in constructing reproductions from the 1890s through the 1950s. Vintage -- now that's where it's at!
If you're into fashion, this compilation will easily be a 4.5/5 for you.
June 7, 2022
A huge tome of photography by the fashion documentarian Bill Cunningham, this book contains many previously unpublished photos, and unretouched photos of those he previously published but cropped. I was a fan of his photos for years, always looking for NYC fashion on the streets as seen through his eyes. He was once a hat maker, always a fashion enthusiast, and a relentless photographer. NY women always posed for him, often dressed for him in hopes he would spot them and feature them in his NY Times column. This book is a treasure trove of fashion through the decades, on the streets of New York.
January 1, 2022
A delightful compilation of Bill Cunningham's photographs, mainly from him New York Times column but also including some from his own archives. Each section begins with an essay from someone with whom he interacted, such as Anna Winter or Guy Trebay, and provides an interesting commentary on the decade and its fashion and cultural stand outs.
I loved looking through the photos and reading about New York City as it evolved throughout the years.
I loved looking through the photos and reading about New York City as it evolved throughout the years.
February 15, 2022
The shoes! The hair! The colors! Do people really dress like this? Apparently, in NYC they do (Paris, too, I guess). This was a fun book to peruse while having my morning coffee. It was interesting to see all the styles starting with the 70's. You can tell many of these people have a lot of dollars to spend on fashion while others are just putting together whatever they have lying around. I especially loved seeing a very young Anna Wintour. She looked so happy in the 70's!
February 2, 2020
I love Bill Cunningham's photography; his attention to detail, the humor in his shots are wonderful. I pored over every page!
If you like him too, check out the documentary about him with the same title as this book (released in 2011).
The world lost a special person with a keen eye and a humble spirit when he died.
If you like him too, check out the documentary about him with the same title as this book (released in 2011).
The world lost a special person with a keen eye and a humble spirit when he died.
February 19, 2021
Confession - I was totally ignorant about who Bill Cunningham was. I saw "street" and assumed he was a street photographer. And he is. After a fashion. More accurately, he is was a NYT fashion columnist who took pictures. Must admit that most of the pictures were not super appealing to me. Those interested in seeing NYC fashion in the street should grab this book; I shouldn't have.
May 10, 2021
I loved the pictures in this book and I seem to know many of the names mentioned. All I knew about Bill Cunningham is some of the photos in Vogue would be credited to him. He was a street photographer, worked for several magazines and papers over his lifetime. His mode of transportation was his bicycle and he lived simply. He did not mix with the glittery world he often photographed.
May 17, 2021
People always say "no one is irreplaceable" but in this case, they would be wrong.
Bill Cunningham was and is irreplaceable. The NY Times and Manhattan are not the same without him, his jacket, bicycle, and camera, and most of all his photos.
This book is just wonderful...and divided into sections that are compiled just the way Bill would have done with his photos.
Well done.
\
Bill Cunningham was and is irreplaceable. The NY Times and Manhattan are not the same without him, his jacket, bicycle, and camera, and most of all his photos.
This book is just wonderful...and divided into sections that are compiled just the way Bill would have done with his photos.
Well done.
\
July 28, 2021
a deep dive into one of the best to ever do it. Includes some never-published photos, contacts showing full images before his obsessive cropping, insights Mr. Cunningham was quick to develop. The emergence of the sneaker in high fashion is a big one that gets written about a few times through the book. interesting stuff.
October 12, 2021
Loved this anthology! Bill has a really fun perspective in his street photography. The material is unexpectedly joyful with a sense of humor tempering the vivid colors, compositions, and eye-catching styles across the years. Maybe the first time I’ve ever actively engaged with fashion as a subject, and for that I’m grateful to this book and artist.
December 10, 2025
I happened to come across this in my library where they had a selection of oversized books pulled out. I'm so glad I did - I think this is my most joyous read of 2025. Who doesn't love Bill Cunningham, but this collections is particularly lovely and well curated. It's so fun to see his eye and attention, but I also adored the genuine joy so often captured on his subject's faces. Truly a delight.
December 28, 2025
So...fashion hasn't changed much in Bill's lifetime. This has convinced me that a time-traveler should head immediately to NYC to remain undetected. I love how dynamic Bill's photos are, and how ordinary the people captured are. There is a sense of beauty in quotidian movement which is good inspiration.
December 31, 2019
I miss Bill. The NY Times did a really great job putting this book together. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fashion, or who just wants a visual roadmap to how things have changed (and stayed the same) over five decades.
February 10, 2020
A half century of street fashion occasionally (& too often) interrupted by fashion fashion. It is lavish in presentation and light on praise from others for what is obvious to the eye: Bill's curatorial sense
April 9, 2020
This made me want to see more, I am such a fan of his and this book feels like something is missing. The images are great but out of context of his layouts and he wrote a memoir? I’d love to see more...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews