Website developed on behalf of
the Frans Molenaar Foundation
Texts
Story design & development
All rights reserved.
The Frans Molenaar Foundation has
sought to identify and mention all rights holders.
@ 2025
Website developed on behalf of
the Frans Molenaar Foundation
Texts
Story design & development
All rights reserved.
The Frans Molenaar Foundation has
sought to identify and mention all rights holders.
@ 2025
A Master's
Portrait
Frans Molenaar has had a sixth sense throughout his professional life: he follows and has an affinity with developments in the visual arts and fashion photography. He is also emphatically the director of the image and marketing of his fashion company. The figurehead of that company is Molenaar himself. The couturier is regularly seen next to his models in photos and in advertisements
In 1986 he designed a yellow-black coat with his face in profile along one sleeve, like a king's head on a coin: Molenaar as the fashion king of the Netherlands. He uses that reference at every opportunity, alternately seriously but also with a smile.
Through the years he is often portrayed himself, images that only seem to underline his self-proclaimed status as fashion king. Always recognizable as a stylish couturier and sometimes with the necessary bravado, through tantalizing details such as patent leather boots, his French bulldog Coba or pumps with stiletto heels.
The 2004 series Rude / Portraits of State by Ruud van der Peijl features a self-confident and almost majestic Molenaar. This masterful state portrait with the melodious title Emperor symbolizes his many years at the top of Dutch couture.
Credits
1986 – Couture collection
Autumn/Winter 1986-1987
Photo: Paul Huf
1980s - Frans Molenaar
with dog Coba
Photo: George van Herwaarde
2004 - 'Emperor Frans Molenaar'
Photo: Ruud van der Peijl
2004 - Frans Molenaar & Kai
Photo: Ruud van der Peijl
1974
Photo: Jaap de Graaf
1970s
Photo: George van Herwaarde
1970s
Photo: Bertien van Manen
1970s
Photo: Paul Huff
1996
Photo: Sean MacAndrew
1980s
Photo: Paul Blanca
1989
Portrait by Marte Röling
1963
Photo: Olaf Veltman
1977
Photo: Nen Roeterdink
1960s
1970s
Photo: Frits Schroeder
2008
Portrait by Jasper Krabbé
1968
Photo: ANP - Jacques Klok
1974 – Couture collection
Autumn/Winter 1974-1975
Photo: George van Herwaarde
1992
Photo: Nat Finkelstein
Couture 1973
1974 - Portrait in oil paint
By Sylvia Willink
in Wassily chair
1970s
Portrait by Jan Aarntzen
A Master's
Portrait
Frans Molenaar has had a sixth sense throughout his professional life: he follows and has an affinity with developments in the visual arts and fashion photography. He is also emphatically the director of the image and marketing of his fashion company. The figurehead of that company is Molenaar himself.
Read more >
A Master's
Portrait
Frans Molenaar has had a sixth sense throughout his professional life: he follows and has an affinity with developments in the visual arts and fashion photography. He is also emphatically the director of the image and marketing of his fashion company. The figurehead of that company is Molenaar himself. The couturier is regularly seen next to his models in photos and in advertisements
In 1986 he designed a yellow-black coat with his face in profile along one sleeve, like a king's head on a coin: Molenaar as the fashion king of the Netherlands. He uses that reference at every opportunity, alternately seriously but also with a smile.
Through the years he is often portrayed himself, images that only seem to underline his self-proclaimed status as fashion king. Always recognizable as a stylish couturier and sometimes with the necessary bravado, through tantalizing details such as patent leather boots, his French bulldog Coba or pumps with stiletto heels.
The 2004 series Rude / Portraits of State by Ruud van der Peijl features a self-confident and almost majestic Molenaar. This masterful state portrait with the melodious title Emperor symbolizes his many years at the top of Dutch couture.
Credits
1986 – Couture collection
Autumn/Winter 1986-1987
Photo: Paul Huf
1980s - Frans Molenaar
with dog Coba
Photo: George van Herwaarde
2004 - 'Emperor Frans Molenaar'
Photo: Ruud van der Peijl
2004 - Frans Molenaar & Kai
Photo: Ruud van der Peijl
1974
Photo: Jaap de Graaf
1970s
Photo: George van Herwaarde
1970s
Photo: Bertien van Manen
1970s
Photo: Paul Huff
1996
Photo: Sean MacAndrew
1980s
Photo: Paul Blanca
1989
Portrait by Marte Röling
1963
Photo: Olaf Veltman
1977
Photo: Nen Roeterdink
1960s
1970s
Photo: Frits Schroeder
2008
Portrait by Jasper Krabbé
1968
Photo: ANP - Jacques Klok
1974 – Couture collection
Autumn/Winter 1974-1975
Photo: George van Herwaarde
1992
Photo: Nat Finkelstein
Couture 1973
1974 - Portrait in oil paint
By Sylvia Willink
in Wassily chair
1970s
Portrait by Jan Aarntzen
A Master's
Portrait
Frans Molenaar has had a sixth sense throughout his professional life: he follows and has an affinity with developments in the visual arts and fashion photography. He is also emphatically the director of the image and marketing of his fashion company. The figurehead of that company is Molenaar himself.
Read more >
A Master's
Portrait
Frans Molenaar has had a sixth sense throughout his professional life: he follows and has an affinity with developments in the visual arts and fashion photography. He is also emphatically the director of the image and marketing of his fashion company. The figurehead of that company is Molenaar himself. The couturier is regularly seen next to his models in photos and in advertisements
In 1986 he designed a yellow-black coat with his face in profile along one sleeve, like a king's head on a coin: Molenaar as the fashion king of the Netherlands. He uses that reference at every opportunity, alternately seriously but also with a smile.
Through the years he is often portrayed himself, images that only seem to underline his self-proclaimed status as fashion king. Always recognizable as a stylish couturier and sometimes with the necessary bravado, through tantalizing details such as patent leather boots, his French bulldog Coba or pumps with stiletto heels.
The 2004 series Rude / Portraits of State by Ruud van der Peijl features a self-confident and almost majestic Molenaar. This masterful state portrait with the melodious title Emperor symbolizes his many years at the top of Dutch couture.
Credits
1986 – Couture collection
Autumn/Winter 1986-1987
Photo: Paul Huf
1980s - Frans Molenaar
with dog Coba
Photo: George van Herwaarde
2004 - 'Emperor Frans Molenaar'
Photo: Ruud van der Peijl
2004 - Frans Molenaar & Kai
Photo: Ruud van der Peijl
1974
Photo: Jaap de Graaf
1970s
Photo: George van Herwaarde
1970s
Photo: Bertien van Manen
1970s
Photo: Paul Huff
1996
Photo: Sean MacAndrew
1980s
Photo: Paul Blanca
1989
Portrait by Marte Röling
1963
Photo: Olaf Veltman
1977
Photo: Nen Roeterdink
1960s
1970s
Photo: Frits Schroeder
2008
Portrait by Jasper Krabbé
1968
Photo: ANP - Jacques Klok
1974 – Couture collection
Autumn/Winter 1974-1975
Photo: George van Herwaarde
1992
Photo: Nat Finkelstein
Couture 1973
1974 - Portrait in oil paint
By Sylvia Willink
in Wassily chair
1970s
Portrait by Jan Aarntzen
A Master's
Portrait
Frans Molenaar has had a sixth sense throughout his professional life: he follows and has an affinity with developments in the visual arts and fashion photography. He is also emphatically the director of the image and marketing of his fashion company. The figurehead of that company is Molenaar himself.
Read more >