One of the best collections in recent years is Peter Copping’s Nina Ricci pre-Fall 2012 extravaganza of feminine chic. I go back and look at those clothes constantly for lust and inspiration. Though he was originally set to work alongside him, and presumably ease into taking over the legendary ship, the passing of Oscar de la Renta sped up the process. And when Copping was appointed to succeed his brilliance I thought it made perfect sense (still do), considering the impeccable eye and flavor both designers have for making women look gallant but not over the top, sexy but not ‘vulgar’ (though I hate that word because really… what?) and stylish without trying too hard, in a classic way with a modern edge. I really like a lot of the pieces in his first collection for the house; there are touches like the dress above that infuse both visions, and let’s be honest, it all happened quickly, amidst a ton of pressure and these are really big shoes to fill, which will take a minute to perfect.
