“What interests me is character, I’ve always been attracted to faces with personality, strength and a unique quality. That is Beauty.” – Francois Nars
“Find your own way, have an open spirit and believe in your own beauty.” – Francois Nars
Francois Nars grew up in the South of France, where he spent his childhood exploring his fashion-plate mother Claudette’s Vogue magazines and watching classic Hollywood and European cinema. He was inspired by the exuberant sophistication of Yves Saint Laurent, the surrealist wit of Guy Bourdin, and the inimitable glamour of starlets like Catherine Deneuve. To this day, these first inspirations shape Francois’ approach to beauty, and often come to life as dramatic makeup looks or evocative, cinema-inspired product names like Dolce Vita, Strada, or Belle de Jour.
Upon graduating from the famed Carita Makeup School in Paris, Francois Nars’ rapid ascent in the fashion world reflected talent, hard work, and uncommon vision. His approach to makeup was and still is revolutionary: to use makeup to explore the depths and nuances of individual character. Designers like Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, and Versace admired his ability to create iconic looks, both highly theatrical and ultra-natural, that engaged in compelling dialogue with their designers. For photographers like Avedon and Meisel, Francois created a vast repertoire of looks that never failed to uniquely capture a woman’s individuality. He celebrates the indefinable mystique of women and the complexities of individual character with a spirited attitude that begs, “Why so serious? It’s only makeup.”
Francois’ signature approach to image making is exemplified by his close collaboration with Madonna in the ‘90s. He helped forge the star’s perpetual reinvention, uncovering aspects of her personality that no one had ever seen, conveying an innate vulnerability, sensuality and timeless glamour.
Francois Nars unwittingly revolutionized the makeup industry when he launched NARS, his cult beauty collection, debuting at Barney’s New York with 12 lipsticks in essential, highly pigmented colors. The collection immediately captured the imagination of women with its brilliantly designed packaging and rich color palette.
Discovering a talent and passion for photography, Francois shoots all NARS’ ad campaigns with an approach that is as visionary as his makeup philosophy. While his photographs are elevated, modern, and classically beautiful, his embrace of strong, unique faces and ethnic diversity has helped transform industry standards, by challenging and expanding traditional definitions of beauty. To date, Francois has published four books of his photography.
The creator of all NARS color and skincare products, Francois Nars continues to guide the evolution of NARS brand while dividing his time between New York City and his private island Motu Tane in Tahiti. And while Francois finds inspiration everywhere, his first and abiding inspiration is the endlessly captivating mystery of modern women.
“Find your own way, have an open spirit and believe in your own beauty.” – Francois Nars
Francois Nars grew up in the South of France, where he spent his childhood exploring his fashion-plate mother Claudette’s Vogue magazines and watching classic Hollywood and European cinema. He was inspired by the exuberant sophistication of Yves Saint Laurent, the surrealist wit of Guy Bourdin, and the inimitable glamour of starlets like Catherine Deneuve. To this day, these first inspirations shape Francois’ approach to beauty, and often come to life as dramatic makeup looks or evocative, cinema-inspired product names like Dolce Vita, Strada, or Belle de Jour.
Upon graduating from the famed Carita Makeup School in Paris, Francois Nars’ rapid ascent in the fashion world reflected talent, hard work, and uncommon vision. His approach to makeup was and still is revolutionary: to use makeup to explore the depths and nuances of individual character. Designers like Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, and Versace admired his ability to create iconic looks, both highly theatrical and ultra-natural, that engaged in compelling dialogue with their designers. For photographers like Avedon and Meisel, Francois created a vast repertoire of looks that never failed to uniquely capture a woman’s individuality. He celebrates the indefinable mystique of women and the complexities of individual character with a spirited attitude that begs, “Why so serious? It’s only makeup.”
Francois’ signature approach to image making is exemplified by his close collaboration with Madonna in the ‘90s. He helped forge the star’s perpetual reinvention, uncovering aspects of her personality that no one had ever seen, conveying an innate vulnerability, sensuality and timeless glamour.
Francois Nars unwittingly revolutionized the makeup industry when he launched NARS, his cult beauty collection, debuting at Barney’s New York with 12 lipsticks in essential, highly pigmented colors. The collection immediately captured the imagination of women with its brilliantly designed packaging and rich color palette.
Discovering a talent and passion for photography, Francois shoots all NARS’ ad campaigns with an approach that is as visionary as his makeup philosophy. While his photographs are elevated, modern, and classically beautiful, his embrace of strong, unique faces and ethnic diversity has helped transform industry standards, by challenging and expanding traditional definitions of beauty. To date, Francois has published four books of his photography.
The creator of all NARS color and skincare products, Francois Nars continues to guide the evolution of NARS brand while dividing his time between New York City and his private island Motu Tane in Tahiti. And while Francois finds inspiration everywhere, his first and abiding inspiration is the endlessly captivating mystery of modern women.
