>> Mario Grauso Moves from Nina Ricci and Carolina Herrera to Vera Wang —Mario Grauso, former president of Puig Fashion Group overseeing Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, and Carolina Herrera, where he was credited for forging the Renee Zellweger-Herrera red carpet relationship, has moved on to Vera Wang.  He appeared at Wang's show last week, and will allow the designer to focus more on the creative side of her business while he reexamines her contemporary Lavender label, which is currently on hiatus, develops the label's shoe and jewelry businesses, and works to dress more celebrities on the red carpet.  As Grauso put it, "Now there are two crazy control freaks making sure that everything is perfect." [WWD]

>> Is Renee Zellweger's Red Carpet Partnership with Carolina Herrera Over? —Last week, sources told WWD that Mario Grauso, president of Puig Fashion Group who oversees Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, and Paco Rabanne, has submitted his resignation and will step down after New York Fashion Week.  The exit is said to be amicable, but it is speculated that he was unhappy with Olivier Theyskens's ousting at Ricci.  Now, a source tells Page Six, Grauso, who introduced Renee Zellweger, Amy Adams, and Reese Witherspoon to Carolina Herrera, may be taking his celebrity followers with him: "None of them will wear Carolina Herrera on the red carpet now that he's gone. Mario paved the way for the brand by putting Renée in Herrera for award shows and carpets. He made it youthful." [WWD, Page Six]

>> Nina Ricci is currently in a state of transition — Olivier Theyskens officially left the house earlier this month, and although Peter Copping's name has been thrown around as the replacement of choice, nothing has been made official.  Apparently several staffers, including PR director Kate Etter, also left the brand with Theyskens.

Today, Mario Grauso, president of Ricci owner Puig, verified that there are "no plans [for] a hiatus at Ricci," adding that the company "will announce a new designer within the next few weeks."  According to Fashion Week Daily, a well-placed industry insider is "99% sure" that Copping will be tapped, but Grauso would not confirm anything, and when prodded about a possible Copping appearance at the Costume Institute Gala, replied, "I have not yet invited people for the Met."

As for Oliver's legacy, those towering shoes he created for Fall 2009 will not be going into production — no surprise, but still, a comment on the ever-present misalignment between the brand and its former designer.
*image: source