Famed photographer lays bare New York City's wildest, wackiest, and sexiest street fashions - revealing looks that even Gigi Hadid turns to for inspiration (and can you guess which former child star takes center stage?)

New Yorkers are notorious for their uniform of black clothing.

Christine Baranski, as the highly-strung producer of a morning news show in Welcome to New York, bitingly commented: 'This is New York... we wear black; and that's only until something darker comes along.'

But street photographer Johnny Cirillo's new book, Watching New York, proves there is a world of crazy color on the city's sidewalks - from Harlem to SoHo and Greenpoint to Williamsburg - with the outfits on offer proving so unique that even supermodel Gigi Hadid confesses she uses them to inspire her own style. 

Known as 'The People's Paparazzi', he began capturing street fashion as a tribute to Bill Cunningham, the legendary New York photographer known for his blue raincoat, bicycle, and must-read column in the New York Times.

'Initially, Watching New York was only supposed to be a one-day project,' says Cirillo. 'Before there was a name, or any structure or interviews, I just wanted to honor a man whose work I admired for many years.

'When Bill Cunningham... passed away on June 25, 2016, I felt a void. I had never met him but oftentimes felt his presence while walking down a busy NYC street.'

Street photographer Johnny Cirillo has laid bare the wild and wacky fashions that are paraded around the streets of the Big Apple every day in his new book, Watching New York

Johnny saw this colorful trio walking along Spring Street in SoHo on Valentine's Day - they were on their annual Galentine's outing, celebrating their friendship

Dev (left) created her outfit out of old seatbelts from her grandma's minivan; her necklace was made from a vintage watch. Right: A futuristic blue faux fur scarf and metallic leggings combo

Johnny ran into Corey Feldman - the star of The Goonies and Stand By Me - walking with his wife Courtney and a friend down 34th St

A podcast gave birth to an Instagram account and a local news site column in Brooklyn. Then, after a 2021 interview on NBC with Joelle Garguilo, he woke up to 100k followers - at the latest count, he had 1.2M followers - as well as celebrity fans.

In her foreword to the book, Gigi Hadid says: 'If you ask me when I first started following Johnny Cirillo’s Watching New York account, I don’t remember the exact moment, or how many years I’ve been following it. 

'I do remember that his photos sparked the same joy that walking through the city and people-watching does for me. 

'We all tend to see a repetitive group of public figures being photographed and published in their well-known style, but to me it’s refreshing to scroll through people I don’t know who are so clearly expressing themselves in their own way. 

She adds: 'Every time I see a Watching New York post, I am inspired by how the people of New York City find their own language in how they dress and tell their story. It inspires me to do the same. 

'From seeing someone wear a piece in a new way, taking that concept to the design office with me, or someone just carrying their style so well that it makes me smile, I am constantly enjoying and studying what people are saying with what they wear.'

Johnny even ran into Corey Feldman - the star of The Goonies and Stand By Me - walking with his wife Courtney and a friend down 34th St. He stopped and chatted - 'and genuinely seemed like a real nice fella,' says the photographer.

'I asked him, "where do you get your fashion inspiration from?" 

Feldman replied: 'Everywhere. To me you're a living piece of art, right? We all our. Our fashion gives us individuality. I think everyone should dress to impress.'

Johnny believes that, in some way, Watching New York is an extension of Bill Cunningham's work. 'I pretend he nods at meat times and gets behind me with a nudge when I'm feeling tired, as if to say, "Don't give up now, kid, one might get away."'

Excerpt from Watching New York: Street Style A to Z by Johnny Cirillo. Text copyright © 2024 Johnny Cirillo. Photographs copyright © 2024 Johnny Cirillo. Used by permission of Abrams Image, an imprint of ABRAMS, New York. All rights reserved.

Johnny Cirillo started photographing street style as a tribute to Bill Cunningham. The result is his new book, Watching New York: Street Style A to Z

Gigi Hadid says, in her foreword to the book, that it's 'refreshing to scroll through people I don’t know who are so clearly expressing themselves in their own way'

Ari Serrano is a New York one-of-a-kind. The designer doesn't drink, but likes to smoke, so made a hookah hat in the style of the infamous beer helmet

Darnell is one of Johnny's regular photography subjects - often standing out from the crowd in his cowboy boots and statement hats

'Hey Twink, what's happening?' asks Johnny. 'Just being iconic, nothing new, just ruling the streets,' they say

Yellow overalls and a Gucci two-piece (plus mismatching shoes). And every modern dandy needs a cane

The New York all-black rule is broken with a splash of color courtesy of a cup of matcha to compliment a full-length fishnet dress - catching the eye of at least one passerby

Musician Julian - who describes his music as a 'giant rainbow' - wears a full KidSuper outfit, complete with Cookie Monster bag

Gizmo wraps up in crochet pants and coat and a leopard sweater. 'I feel everyone is entitled to their opinion. I cast no judgment and allow folks to express themselves any way they want'