Fashion climbing: a New York life

Bill Cunningham's first love was fashion but the big city came a close second.

He left for New York aged 19, losing his family's support but enjoying the infinite luxury of freedom.

Living on a scoop of Ovaltine a day, he would run down to Fifth Avenue to feed on the spectacular sights of the window displays - then run back to his tiny studio to work all night.

Working as 'William J' (to spare his parent's blushes), Bill became one of the most celebrated hat designers of the 1950s, creating elegant town hats for movie stars and playful beach hats for the summer set. 'Fashion Climbing' is the enchanting memoir he left behind, capturing the madcap times of his early career and the fashion scene of the mid-century.