Passion for New York and Fashion

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I stumbled across an amazing documentary a couple of weeks ago, Bill Cunningham New York.  Long before there were blogs filled with ‘real people’ fashion, Bill Cunningham was cruising the streets of New York with his bicycle and camera for his “On The Street” for the New York Times.

Check out the online video edition here. 

We ladies of Woman King have always been inspired by the creativity and energy of the City That Never Sleeps, Ange lived there for 3 years and Megan and I went there together after Graduation. Mr. Cunningham has been capturing the vision of quirky, fabulous, and trendsetting New Yorkers for decades.

Fashion is a huge influence on our work.  Megan uses the forms and handwork of haute couture in many of her pieces.

Stretch

Megan A. Skyvington

Wearable Sculpture - aluminum mesh and wire, handmade kozo paper, silk roving, metal fastenings, cotton ribbon
Dimensions vary
2011
Model: Shelli Wild
Photography: Adelle Rae Taylor

Trend forecasting is also really important to designers of all kinds, and Mr. Cunningham’s ability to pick up on what’s going on using his natural instincts and by keeping himself around inspiring people and connected to the streets is a lesson to us all.

I think what struck me most about Bill Cunningham is his all-consuming passion for what he does.  He has such pride in his work and has such an idealistic vision of fashion; that it should be about embracing people and their creativity and not about exclusivity, judgement, and ridicule.

May we all be lucky enough in our eighties to still have the drive to look, learn, and share with the world.


-Tara Lee