The man behind Purple magazine is the chronicler of his generation, exposing the lifestyles of the creative elite through his intimate, autobiographical photographs. Purple magazine has gained cult status during the span of its twenty-year history, and its editor Olivier Zahm has become a celebrity in the international fashion world. Notorious for his obsessive photographic documentation of his life and surroundings, which he shares daily with a huge fan base on his blog purple DIARY, Zahm said to the New York Times in 2010, Even in the bedroom I have my camera, I sleep with my camera, I have lunch with my camera, I go to dinner with my camera and I'm recording my experience. Presented in the form of a free-flowing personal scrapbook, the book follows Zahm through a fantasyland populated by the artists, socialites, models, and celebrities who regularly appear in his magazine, such as Terry Richardson, Karl Lagerfeld, Andre Saraiva, Dash Snow, Lindsay Lohan, Chloe Sevigny, Daphne Guinness, Carine Roitfeld, Nate Lowman, Leigh Lezark, and Kate Moss. His idealistic belief in creative and sexual freedom is made evident in the many nude portraits of female friends and lovers. This voluminous book is an important historical document of our times, exposing the lifestyle and inspirations behind Purple magazine, which has had a profound influence on the approach to contemporary fashion photography.

When those in the magazine industry need inspiration, they look to Purple. It has influenced countless other magazines and spawned trends that have trickled down through all levels of culture. To celebrate its fifteenth anniversary, this volume brings together the best in fashion, art, and culture from Purple's illustrious history. Purple revolutionized fashion photography in the nineties by commissioning fine artists to shoot fashion editorials. What resulted was a raw, improvisational aesthetic, which continues to exert its power today. Many of our most promising artists contribute to Purple's pages, including Terry Richardson, Juergen Teller, Jack Pierson, Richard Prince, John Currin, and Vanessa Beecroft. Among the celebrity muses who appear regularly are Kim Gordon, Chloe Sevigny, Kate Moss, Catherine Deneuve, and Vincent Gallo. Along with images, the book also presents essays by such renowned writers as Glenn O'Brien, Gary Indiana, and Dave Hickey. These texts further the book's larger purpose: to chart the development of art and fashion during the past fifteen years. This is the ultimate deluxe collection for serious fashion, art, photography, graphic design, and magazine aficionados.