Baptiste Giabiconi

He symbolizes the return of the sexy, healthy man as the core of the masculine image. Under the benevolent lens of his mentor, Karl Lagerfeld, Baptiste Giabiconi is on the way to confirming the male model esthetic revolution. The era of Hedi Slimane's androgynous and pallid boy seems to be giving over to a new wave of "himbos" (the masculine version of "bimbo"), who are monopolizing the designers' imagination.

Whereas the fashion-addicted easily juggle the names of their preferred top models (knowing perfectly well who between Jourdan Dunn or d'Agyness Deyn will be named model of the year), it is another matter when it comes to names of male models.

It is true that male models have not benefited from large-scale media coverage. Other than Jethro Cave and his legendary escapades, rare is the male model who, outside of the men's fashion weeks, have known their 15 minutes of fame. However, this has not prevented the small world of fashion from swooning when presented with Giabiconi, the new arrival. Still unknown one year ago, this young man from Marseilles is now at the head of the Models.com list.

However, Giabiconi did not plan a career in modeling. From a modest family in the south of France, the young man quit school at 16 years and became an aeronautics factory worker. He led a simple life, dividing his time between going to work and the gym.

It was in the hallway of his gym that his destiny would change: a woman, charmed by Giabiconi, advised him to have some photos made and sent him to a photographer. He made a book and took it to the Parisian modeling agency Marilyn who, appreciating his physique and his seductive Italian look, signed him immediately.

This was followed by a succession of castings, a period during which his name remained unknown. It was not until 2008 when Karl Lagerfeld saw him in a Milan magazine that he asked him to come for a screen test.

From that moment on, the "Kaiser" decided to keep his darling with him at all times. He photographed Giabiconi for Numéro, for his K line campaigns, and turned him into the ideal Ken for the famous Barbie anniversary photo shoots, in addition to having him pose for more artistic photos.

Between the good-looking manual laborer and the man-in-the-hair bow an improbably friendship was created based on mutual fascination: one being subjugated by the world that opened itself to him and the other hypnotized by the concept of youth. The two men are never apart - Giabiconi appears regularly at Lagerfeld's side, wherever on the planet he may be.

When they are not working in Venice, they live an unusual routine in Paris. Chanel's AD often demands the presence of his protégé. As for Giabiconi, his typical day is as follows: he meets Lagerfeld around 3pm for lunch, after which they go together to Chanel where each one attends to his occupations. They dine together around 9pm then go out for a drink or to see a film.

As is often the case with his protégés (click here to read more on this subject Arnaud Maillard), Lagerfeld is more than generous, asking nothing in return, creating bonds of body and soul with the person who succumbs to his extreme extravagance.

Lagerfeld in fact created the new Greek god of fashion (certain photos of Giabiconi from 2007 suffice to appreciate the relooking that was effected). He considers his darling to be the incarnation of the new rising class of models, whose obvious beauty is unquestionable. He compares him notably to Gisele Bündchen, praising her athletic body, as beautiful dressed as nude.

We can only hope that Lagerfeld will not drop his new toy too soon, so that Giabiconi can continue to savor the modern fairy tale with a fashion romance.