Born and raised in France, Ungaro was interested in fashion from a young age as he comes from a family of tailors. He launched his own fashion house in 1965 and in a few years his designs were preferred by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Catherine Deneuve in the film ''Le Sauvage''. His designs are known for the elegant draping and eccentric use of fabrics while keeping the piece easy to wear and flatterng to the female silhouette.