Baron was born on July 5, 1959 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France, the son of a Parisian newspaper designer. Baron went to the École des Arts Appliqués where he studied design, sculpture and painting.

In 1982 Baron moved to New York and became an art director for Barneys.

Baron joined Harper’s Bazaar in 1992 as creative director working with editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis. He was brought on to revamp the magazine. According to UK’s The Independent, Baron’s work “took Bazaar’s competitors by storm” and “created a truly distinctive look, clean, clear, elegant, modern.” It was quickly dubbed “the world’s most beautiful fashion magazine”. That same year Baron began working with Calvin Klein for what would be the next 20 years as creative director for the brand.

Also that same year in 1992, Baron designed Madonna’s Sex book photographed by Steven Meisel. Baron shot and directed the documentary, Sex featuring Madonna. The documentary was released alongside her album Erotica, Baron directed the music video for the title track that was banned by MTV.

Baron would continue to direct commercials for Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi and Guerlain and in 2003 joined Carine Roitfield at French Vogue, she brought him on as creative director to redesign the magazine and “it became perhaps the most influential fashion publication in the world.”

In 2008, Baron was asked to become editorial director and re-envision Interview when Peter Brant took full control of the magazine. Baron’s controversial first cover of a “silvery Kate Moss as the devil” in a studded face mask shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott garnered attention. The “metallic” cover was an homage to The Factory, Warhol’s New York studio. Interview made worldwide headlines in December 2013 for Claire Danes’ topless cover photo, shot by Baron. The accompanying article was written by Dustin Hoffman. Baron’s decision to put Kanye West on the cover in February 2014 stirred up controversy again with a raw blend of dark imagery and religious undertones shot by Steven Klein. West’s cover story was written by Steve McQueen. Other notable Interview stories photographed by Baron include, “Honor” (November 2012), “Done Undone” (August 2013), “The Beauty Within”, (September 2013), “Giorgio Armani la Femme Bleue”, (March 2011), and “The Goddesses” from The Model Issue which released eight different covers, (September 2013).

In 2008 Baron directed a commercial for Calvin Klein’s Secret Obsession fragrance featuring a nude Eva Mendes. U.S. TV networks refused to air without edit changes, and after revisions it still could not air on TV until after 9 p.m. Mendes was reportedly “thrilled” to be too “saucy” for TV.

In 2013 Calvin Klein aired its first Super Bowl ad. Baron directed the commercial that featured underwear model and the “young face of Calvin Klein”, Matthew Terry, who became an overnight sensation. Later that year Baron collaborated with David Fincher on the Calvin Klein ‘Downtown’ Campaign featuring Rooney Mara.

In August 2019, Fabien Baron and Karl Templer became the new creative directors of Ports 1961.