In 1968, American fashion photographer Bill Cunningham (March 13, 1929 – June 25, 2016) started a project to document New York City’s rich history of architecture and fashion.
Cunningham dressed his friend and fellow photographer Editta Sherman (July 9, 1912 – November 1, 2013) in vintage, thrift store clothing and placed her historic settings, often picking the model’s outfit from the same the year that the building behind her was built. Cunningham called his project Facades. It took eight yeas to make.
Editta Sherman in costume on graffiti-covered subway car. Editta Sherman riding the subway in costume to get to location for Bill Cunningham’s “Fashion and Façade” project.
Socony-Mobil Building, 140 East 42nd Street. Socony-Mobil Building, 140 East 42nd Street. Model in fashion of 1955- Givenvhy chemise.
“We would collect all these wonderful dresses in thrift shops and at street fairs. There is a picture of two 1860 taffeta dresses, pre–Civil War–we paid $20 apiece. No one wanted this stuff. A Courrèges I think was $2. The kids were into mixing up hippie stuff, and I was just crazed for all the high fashion.”
– Bill Cunningham on Facades
Guggenheim Museum (built 1959). The Guggenheim Museum. Model in fashion of 1959, by Givenchy.
“Fashion is as vital and as interesting today as ever. I know what people with a more formal attitude mean when they say they’re horrified by what they see on the street. But fashion is doing its job. It’s mirroring exactly our times.”
– Bill Cunningham
Paris Theater (built 1947). Paris Theater, 58th Street, 1947- Model wearing Dior’s New Look.
Dyckman House (built circa 1783). Dyckman House, Dutch 18th C. farm house. Model in 1770’s fashion- Calash, collapsible bonnet. Gift of Bill Cunningham, 1976
A selection of photos from Cunningham’s Facades Project series was shown in 1977 exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology. The Facades series received a full exhibition at the New-York Historical Society in 2014.The Society also holds 91 silver gelatin silver prints from the Facades series, donated by Cunningham, in their permanent collection. In 2016, the Savannah College of Art and Design FASH Museum of Fashion + Film presented “Grand Divertissement à Versailles, Vintage Photographs by Bill Cunningham,” an exhibition of Cunningham’s images of the 1973 Battle of Versailles fashion show.
Trinity Baptist Church (built circa 1931). Trinity Baptist Church, 250 East 61st St., art nouveau detailing. Model in mid-1930’s fashion – white monkey fur jacket and crepe bias-cut dress.
181 Madison Avenue (built 1914-1925). 181 Madison Avenue, Madison Belmont Building, art deco entrance- Model in 1920’s fashion.
“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life. I don’t think you could do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization”
— Bill Cunningham
Racquet and Tennis Club (built 1918). Racquet and Tennis Club, 370 Park Avenue at 52nd Street, by McKim Mead and White, Italian Renaissance style. Model in fashions of 1918.
Central Park Gothic Bridge (designed 1860). Gothic bridge at north end of Central Park bridal path, near 93rd Street. Model in 1860 crinoline taffeta skirt and cap sleeve bodice.
New York Public Library (built 1911). New York Public Library, 42nd Street entrance, Beaux-Arts style, model in 1911 fashions.
St. Paul’s Chapel and Churchyard- model wearing men’s clothes of the late 18th Century. Gift of Bill Cunningham, 1976
Cunningham donated 88 silver gelatin prints from the series to the New-York Historical Society in 1976.
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