Serge Lutens Beauty

A glance at Serge Lutens' incredible history would be enough to make you think he'd lived several lives. Born in Lille in 1942, in the midst of the Second World War, he spent his childhood far from his mother and the separation would mark him for the rest of his life. In 1956, at the age of 14, he set out on the path that would lead him to redefine femininity as we know it. Abandoning his hopes of becoming an actor, he would begin working at a hair salon where he would learn the basics of the craft. It was here that he began to forge the aesthetic for which he would come to be known: short, sharp hairstyles, smokey eyes, flawless skin, and a love for the color black that would never leave him. When he moved to Paris in 1962, it was in the hopes of imposing his style in a big way. After approaching Vogue magazine, he would begin working for the publication a mere three days after his first interview. It was an experience that would open doors to the young creator, who would go on to collaborate with the likes of Harpers Bazaar, Elle, and Jardin des Modes. His ascent reached its acme in 1967 when Christian Dior contacted him in the hopes of working together on a line of cosmetics. The multi-talented creative conceived the collection from A to Z, all the way down to the associated ad campaigns and their photography. His vision was an instant hit, and the project became an international success that would also cement Serge Lutens' worldwide reputation. Starting in 1980 he would begin collaborating with Shiseido, where he established the visual identity we're familiar with today. Never one to quit while he was ahead, in 1992 he took it a step further in becoming one of the most refined and mysterious perfumers of his generation. That year, he opened the famous Palais Royal boutique in Paris, an architectural jewel within which to house his scintillating fragrances. Naturally, the time had come for him to launch his own eponymous label. Established in 2000, Serge Lutens has become shorthand for the kind of enigmatic elegance that's always in style.