Peter Copping

>> INSIDER WIRE —It looks like Olivier Theyskens and Nina Ricci owner Puig are continuing to play nice — just a couple of weeks after Olivier was seen sitting at the Nina Ricci table with the brand's president Manuel Puig during a charity event, the Paris Fashion Week calendar has been released, and Nina Ricci is on it, business as usual.  It looks like Theyskens might stay on until his contract ends in October — but sources say that Peter Copping is indeed in line to replace him after that. [WWD]
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>> The Olivier Theyskens-Nina Ricci saga continues: Sources are saying that Peter Copping, who met with Ricci owners two weeks ago, is in place to succeed as designer at Nina Ricci.  No details could be determined on when the switchover would occur — Olivier is contracted until October, which means he could show up to two more collections for the label, but rumors of clashes between the designer and management also imply that he might leave sooner.

The main point of disagreement is understand to be management's expected commerciality of Olivier's designs — apparently his Spring 2009 collection didn't sell well, but Olivier still seems blase about paying attention the bottom line.  The designer has a history of designing expensive pieces that, while eliciting editorial acclaim, don't always sell well — this was the case at Rochas before Nina Ricci.

Copping, on the other hand, hails from Louis Vuitton, where if nothing else, he's guaranteed a pedigree in how to make money with fashion — Louis Vuitton is not exactly known for losing money as both Ricci and Rochas did with Olivier at the helm.  Copping sounds exactly like what the brass at Nina Ricci would be looking for right about now — plus, he's Marc Jacobs's right-hand man, and has the Central Saint Martins degree.

In the midst of all this mess, Olivier still appears blase — he was spotted out partying Monday night, a big smile plastered across his face.  Maybe he knows something we don't know?
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Peter Copping, longtime designer for Louis Vuitton under the leadership of Marc Jacobs, is poised to take Oliver Theysken's position at Nina Ricci. Wait, what?

WWD recounts the celebrity presence at the Spring 2009 Chanel Haute Couture show, like everyone else, completely ignoring the fact that Kayne West was in every picture. 

Alexander Wang is jumping on the bandwagon and launching his own men's range which will debut this Spring 2010. But where will he show? 

Plenty of new Urban Outfitters collaboration announcements thanks to Stylefile, who refers to those particular consumers as "tightwads". Classy.

>> If the couture show rumor mill is to be believed, Olivier Theyskens has officially left Nina Ricci.  Rumors of clashes between the designer and management have been around for over a month — management wanted to go more commercial, while Olivier is known for sticking to expensive craftmanship and creative vision over all else — part of the reason he was let go at Rochas in 2006.

Olivier's contract at Nina Ricci is up in October, and just two weeks ago, both brand and designer reiterated their commitment to each other through the term of the contract.  Apparently, Nina Ricci's Spring 2009 collection is failing to sell, however, and recently, Olivier still didn't sound ready to worry about the bottom line:

“When the economy changes, it’s not like you want to start eating bad-tasting chocolate.  You have to stay true to what you’re doing, and the house of Nina is about luxury.  I think it’s important to study the market and to feel you are right with it.  But if I felt we had to start doing simple clothes, I’d be doing them.”

There's no official confirmation yet about the departure, but this could explain why Ricci owners Puig were meeting with Peter Copping, Marc Jacob's right-hand man at Louis Vuitton, two weeks ago.
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>> INSIDER WIRE —Marc Jacobs might be losing his right-hand man at Louis Vuitton, Peter Copping, who recently met with Mario Grauso, president of Puig.  This could mean Grauso is thinking of replacing Olivier Theyskens with Copping when his Nina Ricci contract runs out in October, or he could be looking at him as a successor to Carolina Herrera. [WWD]