In the middle of our exclusive photo shoot withValentino PR genius Carlos Souza, he moves some of his most precious possessions — a meditation shrine of fresh flowers, powerful crystals, and photos of his two sons — to the floor to help arrange a shot. The small vase with the peonies spills and water floods the home photos and the carpet. "That shot's done!" he exclaims, "We move on!" And, that's just the way he is: efficient, easy going, and energetic.

 

To Valentino Garavani (and now creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli), Carlos Souza is a right-hand man, a PR genius, and a friend. To us, he's an outgoing Brazilian-New Yorker man-about-town who graciously invited us in for a morning of impecable outfits (and equally chic eclectic home decor). True, walking by the U.N. on Manhattan's far East side, you'd never guess a fun yet calming abode lay just steps away, nor that Valentino's voice and visionary, Carlos Souza and his drop-dead gorgeous wife, live in the hood. But, now you can tour inside their pad and peek Carlos' newest jewelry designs which, you guessed it, are as laid-back bad-ass as his designer digs. A testament to travel and an oasis of serenity, Carlos' home may be a far cry from the crisp Valentino garments he loves, wears, and helps send down the runway, but, promise, it's no less breathtaking.