The Last Emperor and his loyal adviser: Valentino & Giancarlo

The thing with powerful women behind successful men is that it applies to the other sex too (although we love to think that the world spins around us). There are strong, brilliant men behind male icons. Take for example – Valentino.

On one side, The Emperor; on the other side, his loyal Adviser, Giancarlo. A man who wasn’t just his right-hand, but also the one who put the fashion house in motion.

Much like Atlas, the titan who hold the world on his shoulders, Giancarlo Giammetti carried the entire economical and strategic burden of an empire. More than a manager, he was the brother of an artist.

Giancarlo and Valentino have known each other for 45 years (!). In half a century, they spent less than a week apart – it’s no wonder Giancarlo came to know every habit of the peculiar, stubborn and pretentious designer.

Undoubtedly, you have to be extremely well-intentioned and patient to work along such a person day after day, for so many years.

Giancarlo Giammetti is a special person, I’ll tell you that. I’ve found he believed so much in Valentino, from the very first moment, that he abandoned his architecture studies and helped him build one of the first fashion houses named after its designer, one of the few houses led for decades by its founder; a couturier nonetheless (!).

While Valentino made the hearts of thousands of women beat faster with each dress, Giancarlo found places of display for his collections, spoke to investors, fought for media attention, sponsors and made contacts. Pragmatic yet creative, he combined the best of two worlds: beautiful scripts and places and necessary bugets to make them a reality.

Valentino was, like every artist, a dreamer, an idealist, a creator. All that mattered to him was to create works of art, better and different designs and to transform all women into beautiful sculptures, filled with grace:

An evening gown that doesn’t cover the ankles is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen

While Valentino gave interviews, held receptions, received public acclaim, after hours and hours spent in the workshop, Giancarlo hid behind the curtains. He was the invisible man, for ordinary customers, that gave strength, courage and patience to Valentino.

He was the man who arranged every setting for a fashion show, who tried to keep the peace between the owners of the company and the designer, the one who “kept [the problems] from him”.

Smart, creative and dependable, he had won Valentino’s respect and friendship from day one – that’s why, even in his worst moments, Garavani knew he had someone by his side. That’s why he never missed the chance to thank Giancarlo publicly, if the opportunity arised.

Ultimately, that’s why he announced he was retiring, looking at Giancarlo with teary eyes. He barely finished his sentence of gratitude to his life-long friend… one last hug and Valentino & Giancarlo said goodbye to the fashion world.

*source: The Last Emperor