>> 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.
*image: source
>> INSIDER WIRE —Peter Som already 
>> Leave it to Fashion Week to turn up a juicy rumor or two. Currently being served up? The future of 
