Photo: Patrick McMullan

About a year and a half ago Gianfranco Ferré dumped Lars Nilsson as head designer weeks before the fall 2008 fashion show. Before that Nina Ricci traded him in for Olivier Theyskens in 2006. Earlier this year he was rumored to be taking over Halston — but then Marios Schwab got that job. Finally it looks like Nilsson is about to enter into a lasting relationship: The Swede is reportedly finalizing a deal with an Italian tailoring manufacturer for his own signature men's line, expected to debut at Florence's Pitti Uomo next spring. [Fashion Scoops/WWD]