March 28, 2025

[EN] Fabien Baron | Creative Director & Photographer : Reinventing the Fashion Narrative [REDIFF]

2 hours 16 minutes

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Today, I am thrilled to welcome "the one and only", the pope of art directors, Fabien Baron. In this episode, we explore his extraordinary journey, from his studies at the School of Applied Arts to his departure for New York, where he established himself as a creative director for renowned publications such as Vanity Fair, GQ, Self Magazine, and Interview Magazine.

Fabien guides us through his remarkable professional path, from his work for prestigious fashion magazines as a creative director to his ventures in advertising alongside names like Steven Meisel or Peter Lindbergh, up to becoming the art director of Vogue Italy alongside Franca Sozzani and the creation of his own company, Baron & Baron — a distinguished design and advertising agency. Among his notable collaborations, he worked with Calvin Klein, where he crossed paths with model Kate Moss, launching her career. His portfolio also includes projects for Issey Miyake’s perfume line, Madonna’s Sex Book, advertisements for Barney’s, and many more.

Our conversation also delves into the importance of cultivating a distinctive point of view and narrative in your visuals, the need for coherence in imagery, what makes a great creative director, how to create something new each time, and reflections on the future of fashion imagery and advertising.

Join us for an inspiring and fascinating two-hour conversation with a pioneer in the fashion industry, offering insights that will captivate and inspire, especially those aspiring to a career in the creative industries.

➜ TheBoldWay Newsletter: https://www.theboldway.fr/newsletter

What you will learn in this episode:

00:07:20 - Who is Fabien Baron ?

00:08:18 - How he started his career

00:14:30 - His decisive encounter with Alexander Liberman leading to a job at Vanity Fair

00:18:05 - The importance of words in image

00:19:21 - What he learned through working in newspapers

00:22:37 - The importance of having an image that tells a story

00:25:12 - His need to give meaning in images

00:28:40 - How he brought something different at New York Woman Magazine

00:31:10 - Working in advertising with Barney’s and Steven Meisel

00:33:45 - Being the Art Director of Vogue Italia

00:45:10 - The one lesson he learned from Franca Sozzani

00:46:50 - His shift to Interview Magazine

00:59:10 - Being at the service of photographers through art direction

00:59:45 - His definition of a good creative director

01:02:26 - His obsession for newness in his work

01:04:06 - Creation of Baron & Baron’s company

01:09:26 - Working for Harper’s Bazaar and introducing Peter Lindbergh

01:14:45 - What makes a good photographer in fashion

01:18:21 - The challenges of being a photographer in today’s world

01:23:20 - His approach to orchestrating a successful shoot and being in the moment

01:27:09 - How does he create something new each time

01:31:33 - Collaboration with Calvin Klein and Introducing Kate Moss

01:36:46 - What he’s the most proud of in his career

01:39:49 - How to sell a product in the right way - “Repetition builds Reputation”

01:48:40 - His strategy for maintaining relevance

01:59:00 - What’s the future of fashion image & advertising

02:06:23 - What he would do differently if he could start all over again

02:13:26 - His book recommendation

02:13:52 - Who he would like to hear in this podcast

➜ Find all the references and photos taken during the recording at www.theboldway.fr

Nb: TheBoldWay ou The Bold Way, anciennement connu sous le nom de Entreprendre dans la mode ou EDLM , est un podcast produit et réalisé par Adrien Garcia.

Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

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By Adrien Garcia

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