Vogue editor Anna Wintour is quoted as saying she always gets dressed for Bill, and you’ll want to too after watching this cinematic profile about New York Times fashion and society photographer Bill Cunningham.
While it’s clear from the documentary Bill Cunningham New York (screening Thursday 5th July, 8.30pm) that octogenarian Cunningham would prefer to remain behind rather than in front of the camera he graciously allows us into his unique private and professional world; a world fueled by his genuine passion for fashion.
The documentary, produced by Philip Gefter and directed by Richard Press also features interviews and comments from various designers, media colleagues and fashionistas including the charming Patrick McDonald, known as the Dandy of New York.
Patrick has been at the top of the fashion scene since he arrived in New York in 1978, and is regarded as a style icon and one of New York’s best dressed men. It’s no wonder then, he’s been one of Bill’s favourite subjects for over 30 years. Patrick kindly took the time to share with us some of his personal thoughts on the legendary Bill Cunningham.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour is quoted as saying she always gets dressed for Bill, and you’ll want to too after watching this cinematic profile about New York Times fashion and society photographer Bill Cunningham.
While it’s clear from the documentary Bill Cunningham New York (screening Thursday 5th July, 8.30pm) that octogenarian Cunningham would prefer to remain behind rather than in front of the camera he graciously allows us into his unique private and professional world; a world fueled by his genuine passion for fashion.
The documentary, produced by Philip Gefter and directed by Richard Press also features interviews and comments from various designers, media colleagues and fashionistas including the charming Patrick McDonald, known as the Dandy of New York.
Patrick has been at the top of the fashion scene since he arrived in New York in 1978, and is regarded as a style icon and one of New York’s best dressed men. It’s no wonder then, he’s been one of Bill’s favourite subjects for over 30 years. Patrick kindly took the time to share with us some of his personal thoughts on the legendary Bill Cunningham.
I started off by asking how Patrick what his reaction was to being asked to be part of Bill Cunningham New York.
Well I have to say that I was very honoured to be part of his legacy…He’s such a wonderful person, that just to be part of that, I was so thrilled, I was very thrilled.
Tell us a little about yourself. You are known as the Dandy of New York, you’ve had a long illustrious career in the fashion industry and you’re one of the most photographed people in New York. What does it mean to be The Dandy of New York?
You know what, I have to say that people always ask me, “what do you do?”, or “what is your style?” and I’ve always said I’m a Dandy because I love the duty of dressing, and dressing up and acting appropriately and good manners. It means a lot to me because I feel that its kind of a lost art in a way, and there are other dandy’s but we’ve come into a time where for people the whole idea is casual, and I think the word casual-dress should be banned, personally, especially in a big city like NY…
I think that being the Dandy of NY, I hope I set an example, especially for young men that love dressing its fine to dress up and be yourself and not be afraid of what anyone else thinks, and the best example is that someone like Bill Cunningham who has been in the industry for a long, long time, an amazing photographer who started out as a milliner, saw something in me, and photographed me for years and appreciated my style. And I felt that that was, from him, just almost kind of like acknowledgment that you’re doing good. And I hope that’s an acknowledgement to other New Yorkers, don’t be afraid and expresses yourself the way you want too.
What were your first impressions of him when you met Bill?
I though he was gentle and kind. I loved that he loved his life the way he wanted to live his life. And he’s so respectful and I think a lot of people could learn from that. He’s a very private man obviously, but his work ethic is impeccable, his way of being is old school but I shouldn’t say old school because it should be what it is all the time, and I try to be the same. And I think everybody can learn from Bill and I think he’s one of the most interesting, when I’ve talked to him, and his history of fashion, he knows everything. He’s an encyclopedia of fashion, he knows everything. It’s his passion as it is mine and I understand it, and he’s just a wonderful, wonderful person.
It’s interesting in the film, you do get the feeling how private he really is, and I was surprised that even people who worked really closely with him didn’t really know him that well - does anybody really know him?
I think he’s incredible private, I’m sure he does have a few close friends, I’m sure he does I’m positive of that but I think it’s nice that he has his privacy, I think he likes that. I think that he‘s driven by his work and I think that’s ok and I think that’s fine. And you know what, I think people would be better off to be a little bit more private than they are now. I watch the news and I read magazine and I read books but sometimes it gets out of hand, I don’t need to know every detail of someone’s life. That’s there business and its their live….and I think there are people who have stepped over that boundary and I think Bill is perfect in keeping his privacy and that you know he is Bill Cunningham, and I think people want to know more but they don’t invade his privacy, sometimes I think they do, but not all the time - which I am happy for.
In the documentary he comes across as so humble, and keen to downplay his contribution to the fashion industry, but just how important is his work? Check
Oh my gosh. I think that when Bill is gone, I think his work will be extremely important in the history of fashion. I think that when we see what he’s done, all the decades he’s been photographing, and we see the filing cabinets in his apartment, these are history, He’s documented the history of fashion like no-one else. And I think it’s going to be so amazing when everybody can see it.
How do you think fashion bloggers could learn from Bill and the way he see’s the world?
I think they can learn his integrity, I think they can learn not to sell out. I think they can learn when they blog, cover what’s important. If you’re a fashion blogger, cover the fashion, cover the history, talk about the designer, what he’s showing, the inspiration. Don’t talk about so and so was sitting in the front row of so and so’s show. Who cares? It doesn’t matter if a celebrity sitting in the front row, it has nothing to do with what the show is about….If you’re a fashion blogger you need to report on what you’re reporting on, if you want to be a gossip columnist, and you want to report about celebrities then do that.
I’m sure this has never happened before, but has Bill ever snapped you in the same outfit twice?
Oh, I’m sure. You know people always say to me ”Oh my gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the same outfit twice, but I say, that’s nonsense, that’s nonsense, I don’t have the bank account for that, that’s nonsense!….
I do repeat a lot, and if I went back and I had every article of when I was in the Times I’d probably see and get a chuckle about the fact I wore that in 98 and I wore it in 2008 again. But I do it in a different way. Every time I dress it’s like a canvas I say - like I’m painting myself. So everyday, I don’t put the same outfit together again, so it’s never the same, but it could be the same clothes.
Do you know what Bill thought of the documentary?
I don’t think he’s ever seen it. I honestly don’t think he’s ever seen it! And I don’t think he has any intention to see it. I think he thinks that it’s fine and [producer] Philip Gefter and [director] Richard Press are fabulous guys, they’re very nice and he agreed to do it, but I don’t think he has an interest to see it, he doesn’t it. He’s very well aware of what was filmed.
Patrick thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us, we’re thrilled to be playing this documentary.
Bill Cunningham might not have seen this documentary, but you should. Charming, intelligent, humble and passionate; it’s hard not to fall in love with Bill Cunningham.
Catch Bill Cunningham New York featuring Patrick McDonald on Thursday 5th July at 8.30pm.