L’Oeil de Beaute: A Retrospective Honoring the Photographic Work of François Nars opened on Tuesday evening to a sea of fashionistas and industry types swarming Henri Bendel. A red carpet welcomed VIPs and media, while curious tourists surrounded the entrance to the store, craning their necks to get a quick peek at the glitterati in attendance.

Hosted by Lydia Hearst, Amy Wesson and Dayle Haddon - fresh off an upcoming New York Times Magazine shoot - the fete celebrated the photography of makeup master François Nars, who arrived early looking chic in a slim fitting suit and bold black glasses.

Lydia Hearst, Dayle Haddon, François Nars, and Amy Wesson at Henri Bendel

It’s a little known secret beyond the immediate beauty world that Nars shoots all advertising campaigns for the eponymous brand himself, in addition to shooting for top tier magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and French Vogue. His photographic work has also been showcased in the 1999 book X-Ray and the 2001 Makeup Your Mind, which utilized larger than life photos with clear inserts to demystify the makeup artistry featured. Both books are available for purchase at www.amazon.com

L’Oeil de Beaute includes fifteen supersized images and will be on display on the first floor of Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Avenue, through Monday, April 16.