Colette Gets Purpled

Olivier Zahm needs no introduction as an international persona that traverses between art, fashion and also a bevy of sexy women, it seems, according to his blog Purple Diary. The founder of all Purple publications started Purple Diary in 2009 which at a glance looks exactly what it purports to be; a diary.

Daily snapshots, mainly in black and white document Zahm's travels, his jaunts to fashion week, his encounters with friends in high places (Carine Roitfeld, Terry Richardson, Anna della Russo to name a few) and a document of the nightlife. "When I started Purple Diary, I did only shoot at night because I'd be working all day and then the only time I could shoot was at night," explains Zahm. Purple Diary has gained a steadily rising following that can't strictly be called cult. You can't help but be drawn into Zahm's world where life is full of fashion shows, parties, beautiful women, beautiful objects, sexy moments, with a good dose of humour thrown into everything.

Last night, his first exhibition was feted at Colette where a selection of his images have covered the walls of the first floor whizzing through a year of moments Zahm has captured. Zahm wouldn't classify himself as a photographer as above all, he is a writer, yet now that he has been celebrated with an exhibition we wonder whether he is still just an amateur: "You should always be an amateur. As soon as you stop, things start to turn into banality."