50/50 – Azzaro

 A selection of archived pieces have also been recreated in celebration of this half-century milestone.

As the world celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the House of Azzaro, fine publishing house Assouline releases a tome penned by fashion historian Jéromine Savignon, to take a decided glance back at the life of famed French fashion icon Loris Azzaro. A true sense of the luxury and sensuality of the sixties and seventies was the driving force behind Azzaro’s genius from the onset, making him a favorite of such bombshells as Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren and, of course, Jane Birkin. Today, those principals are still in place, making Azzaro pieces coveted collectables of late. And as if the coffee table book wasn’t enough of a nod to the brand’s success, a selection of archived pieces have also been recreated in celebration of this half-century milestone. Amongst these, the Clémentine, a sheer, nude sheath dress covered in beautiful appliqués, made famous by Birkin in 1972.

Clémentine sheath dress, $18,580; available exclusively in Florida at Oxygene, Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour Shops, 305-864-0202. Loris Azzaro by Assouline, $25; available at Assouline boutiques worldwide and www.assouline.com

In front of Jean Castel’s famous bar, a favorite haunt of the Paris elite, Jane Birkin sparkles in gold sequins over the transparent flesh-colored chiffon of “Clémentine,” her Azzaro sheath dress. She and Brigitte Bardot, both in Azzaro, will soon be the stars of Roger Vadim’s Don Juan. Jours de France, December 26, 1972. © All rights reserved.
Two beautiful women eye each other wickedly, wearing the famous Lurex pullover with chains that the young Azzaro created for Rika Zaraï. The woman in the white pillbox hat has just thrown her drink into the face of her rival in the black pillbox hat! Nova, April 1973. Photograph by Helmut Newton. © The Helmut Newton Estate/Maconochie Photography.