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Loris Azzaro was born on February 9, 1933, in Tunisia to a Sicilian family. He spent his early years there, taught French and Italian, and moved to Paris in 1962. His entry into fashion began with the accessories he made for his wife and muse, Michelle Carsy.

In 1965, Azzaro opened his first workshop, where he created bags, belts, and embroidered tops. In 1967, he opened a boutique at 65 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. He presented his first couture collection at the Grand Hôtel de Paris. His fluid, shimmering dresses offered a sharp contrast to the little black dress that dominated fashion at the time.

Recognition came in 1968, when Marisa Berenson wore Azzaro’s Anneau dress on Elle’s cover. His clothes were later worn by Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, and Raquel Welch. In the 1970s, Azzaro became known for evening dresses with revealing cuts, metal chains, and rich embroidery.

The brand entered fragrance in 1975 with Azzaro Couture, followed by Azzaro pour Homme in 1978, a major men’s scent built around lavender, sage, and basil. In 1996, Chrome strengthened its fragrance business. It competed in a market dominated by brands such as Chanel, Dior, and Giorgio Armani’s Acqua di Giò. Loris Azzaro died on November 20, 2003. Compagnie Frey acquired the fashion house in 2002, Reig Capital Group bought it in 2006, and L’Oréal agreed to buy the Azzaro and Mugler fragrance brands from Groupe Clarins in 2019. Maxime Simoens became artistic director in 2017, followed by Olivier Theyskens in 2020.