Serge Lutens 

“Kitten in leotard” Beatrice Brandini

When I was younger, flipping through fashion magazines to which, I have always been passionate, some pages intrigued me, others left me indifferent, but what surprised me most of all, literally, fascinate me with their magic, were those of a well-known Japanese cosmetics brand, Shiseido, whose shots were “pictures”, images of rare beauty … behind all that there was a man: Serge Lutens.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens for Shiseido 

Character eclectic, indefinable with a single adjective, Lutens was born in Lille, France, and already as a child manifests a rich imagination, which feeds on the exotic, eccentric and dreams. Make-up artist, creator of fragrances, photographer and art director, we could define it as the man who revolutionized the concept of beauty.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens 

He started in a beauty salon (the road was already written), in his own city a place where probably limited his creativity and originality,  for this still young he decided to go to Paris with bravado, recklessness and certainly aware of his means, is presented to Vogue and where, ça va sans dire,  he was immediately hired.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens for Shiseido 

In these years he works for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, the most you could dream of a young creative. Shortly thereafter begin to work for Christian Dior, for this historic luxury brand will create exciting and innovative make-up, lipsticks as unusual colors for the time (we are at the end of the 70s), the famous smoky eyes, eye shadows from rich colors and dramatic,  and from there begin to complete his aesthetic vision through photography.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens for Shiseido 

Diana Vreeland (I have already spoken widely, I am madly in love especially for her free spirit revolutionary, as well as her sense of flair to discover talents), adored him, describing him on Vogue: “Serge Lutens, the revolution of the make up “.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens for Shiseido 

In 1980 he started working with Shiseido, for which becomes a sort of creative director, he will not only create the products, but will follow the brand image, advertising and packaging. He will realize the photos for the Japanese cosmetics, these were elegant, powerful, different, remained imprinted in the head (at least for me it was) and to allow the brand, then little known to outside national borders, to conquer the scene and the international market. Will enter the legend Nombre Noir, a perfume created by Lutens in 1982, a bottle valuable made of black glass (color beloved by the artist), very thick (to protect the essence), as well as unusual and searches were the ingredients of the fragrance, as osmanthus.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens 

In 1992 he created two fragrances, “Féminité du bois” and “the Salons du Palais Royal”, which established him as an olfactory talent, innovative and dreamlike, in the field of perfumes.

Serge Lutens perfumes 

Is natural that in 2000 feel the need to create his own brand, imposing its own unique style, in total freedom. Its aromas, distributed selectively, will enable him to win numerous awards in the field of cosmetics and fragrances, as many FIFI, the Fragrance Foundation awards.

Photos and Make-up by Serge Lutens 

I think the approach creative of Lutens is exactly like that of an artist about to create a work of art, but not only that, I also believe that his creations are the result from such strong emotions become all-encompassing, as if Lutens become  one thing only, he and his fragrance, his creature , for this reason are so sensual melancholy, personal and magic. Are part of him.

Portrait of Serge Lutens 

   

Mood inspired S. Lutens by Beatrice Brandini

   

Mood inspired S. Lutens by Beatrice Brandini

Mood inspired S. Lutens by Beatrice Brandini

Serge Lutens, through makeup, his photographs and his perfumes, has always tried to tell a story, that could be tragic, comic, funny or sad … but the important thing is that it’s always been a personal history, his story told through the smell and senses.

The beauty hates the rules.

The only rule of art is not to have rules to give life to beauty. Serge Lutens

Good life to all!

Beatrice