Azzaro’s New Creative Directors

When Azzaro parted ways with head designer Mathilde Castello Branco in October of last year, they said they would ‘shortly announce her successor’. While the French brand may want to reconsider their definition of shortly (it’s been nearly eight months), they have finally chosen her replacement.

The fashion house has hired Spanish designers Arnaud Maillard and Alvaro Castejón to take over creative duties. The pair founded their own label Alvarno of women’s wear in 2009 that they present at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid.

As for their design ideas for Azzaro, they plan to be respectful of the brand’s history as the go-to brand for sexy party dresses while still being playful. Or, as designer Maillard said,

Not so much sexy as sensual, for instance, a wild animal’s clawed effect is embroidered on tulle meant to make a man want to rip [the garment] off.

Maillard and Castejón will make their official debut for the brand on July 5 with a pre-collection of 25 pieces that they will present at the Azzaro boutique in Paris.

This marks the first time a duo has been chosen to helm the brand; after the death of Loris Azzaro in 2003, Vanessa Seward took over as head designer. When Seward struck out on her own in 2011, Branco took over design responsibilities, but left after just one year with the house.