Rico Puhlmann (1934-1996) is considered one of the greatest fashion photographers of the 20th century. He shot photographs for popular magazines such as Constanze, stern, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Fashions of the Times, and GQ, shaping the image of fashion in the national and international press for over four decades. His work features legendary models such as Gloria Friedrich and Gitta Schilling, Cheryl Tiegs and Jerry Hall, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell. Countless magazine covers showcased his photos, and numerous double-page spreads presented his compositions on glossy paper.

Puhlmann began his career as a fashion illustrator before transitioning to photography in his hometown of Berlin. Alongside F. C. Gundlach, Regi Relang, and Helmut Newton, he was one of the key figures to put the “Berlin chic” of the post-war period into images. In 1970, he moved to New York, the bustling metropolis with its trendsetting fashion editors. From there, he reported on the “American look” of the 1970s, continuously capturing changing dress codes and poses, and evolving images of both women and men. A fatal plane crash ended his career in 1996. His fashion images exhibited a plethora of original ideas in staging upcoming trends—right up until his final days.

This publication, the result of several years of research, pays tribute to Puhlmann’s career, with a special focus on his work for fashion magazines. It explores various aspects in the development of fashion, photography, media, and cultural history, shedding light on fashion journalism from the 1950s to the 1990s.