Editor’s note: This article was first published in January 2011. The fee levels are as reported then: an average of €6,000 a day for the top makeup artists and about €400 a day for others.
Versace, Armani, Chanel, Dior… These are names you surely know. They need no introduction, since they rule the catwalks and have established themselves as luxury brands. But as in any business, behind the scenes are some of the people responsible for these brands’ success, with names like François Nars, Michelle Peck, James Kaliardos and Peter Philips…
You probably don’t know these names, but they are in great demand among celebrities, especially at the world’s most important fashion shows, at the Oscars and at any event where famous people appear.
Even if you don’t know their names, these people are more famous than the celebrities themselves, since it’s the celebrities who call them, and they can afford to turn down some more than tempting offers.
They all started out with a strong passion, and talent did the rest. They live behind the curtain of fame, anonymous as far as the public is concerned, but they know what they are: artists of the fashion world, since they are the ones who make up faces that will be seen by millions of people around the world.
These makeup artists charge an average of €6,000 a day, although it is said that Naomi Campbell once paid François Nars as much as €10,000 for his services.
Michelle Peck, the star makeup artist of the catwalks, once earned more than €150,000 in a week for leading the makeup team at a fashion show.
They enjoy the same luxuries as celebrities and spend their days with the world’s top film stars and models, which makes it a luxury profession these days.
Of course, we’re talking about the most sought-after ones, but more and more often, makeup artists who turn this business into an art end up earning an average of €400 a day, which isn’t bad at all either.
The fashion world, on a larger or smaller scale, is a very profitable business.
Further reading
- Business ideas in body care and personal grooming
- A profitable business: personal shoppers
- Personal trainer: a profitable business
- How to be a successful entrepreneur
- If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived
Featured image: mandiberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
