In a time of increasing competitiveness in the contemporary marketplace retailers and license holders are looking for every possible edge or marketing opportunity at their disposal, the fact that certain startlets exist to help further these dreams and perhaps split the largess does not surprise us. Of course deigning to mention this unfortunate reality of the fashion industry is something we have avoided for nearly our publishing existence.

But pander we must as the times get tougher and thus we see fit to mention that a contemporary legging collection called 6126 launched as a holiday collection and fuller clothing line exclusively at Henri Bendel. We will now mention the details in the tag in order to lure in idle gossip googlers but won't sully our dedicated reader by being too explicit. But kudos to Montreal's Manhattan Industries for scoring such a lucrative production contact from the perverse branding entity that is Stay Gold LLC.

If you too wish to make money of the insatiable appetites of the idle generation may we suggest going to the Licensing Expo taking place in two weeks in New York? This particular starlet is apparently too hand's on to trust a licensee but we can guarantee most aren't. You too can profit from fame mongers and their enablers. Perhaps in order to maintain our credibility we will do an indepth analysis of the best performing liscense options for the future.

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Speaking of Spring 2009 campaigns, here's a fun, but totally unverified rumor circling around today: "For Calvin [Klein Collection] they originally wanted Kate Moss to do it, she obviously refused to wear those clothes.  So then they asked Christie [sic] Turlington, she also refused.  So they got Anna Selezneva to do it." Anna did have a Calvin Spring 2009 exclusive, and the campaign is supposed to be one girl . . . [TI]

>> Spring 2009 campaign season is upon us, and everyone's dying to know who's going to be paired with what, but there's also something else to keep in mind — hard economic times mean the return to "commercial" models — models who can sell product.

Budgets are already being slashed, and as Wayne Sterling, Editorial Director at Models.com points out, "Last season saw the much vaunted 'Return Of the Supermodel' for brands ranging from YSL (Naomi) to Chanel (Claudia), Prada (Linda), Ferragamo (Claudia again), and Vuitton (Eva). Will Spring 2009 see those icons in a return engagement, or will they be simply too expensive for the budget?"  It will certainly be interesting to see if brands go for the new model faces "who may lack recognizability but boast affordability" or if they'll go for celebrities who are "guaranteed to bring a certain degree of media heat," as Wayne puts it.

But most interesting will be who survives — economic times like this have a way of separating out the models who can weather the business, the weak from the chaff: "Tough times will thin the herd. May the fittest survive."
*image: source

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —That mystery Prada campaign Ymre Stiekema was talking about shooting?  It might have been Resort 2009, because here she is, donning those Prada Resort jewels.  Or maybe it was the Spring 2009 campaign, because when she was interviewed less than a month ago — it seems like a quick turnaround for print.  Plus, she's building quite the foundation at Prada — opening the Spring 2009 show as an exclusive, the Linea Rossa campaign . . . [TFS]

>> It's clearer and clearer that fashion magazines, labels, and personalities are looking to television to strengthen their brand — The Rachel Zoe Project, Project Runway, Stylista, The Hills, and upcoming Hills spinoff The City are all proof — so why would Kelly Cutrone of People's Revolution get off the train and let Diane von Furstenberg pick up where she left off?

It was Teen Vogue which was originally tied with The Hills — they employed two of the show's stars, Whitney Port and Lauren Conrad, until they decided they wanted out, no reasons given, in January.  That's where Kelly Cutrone came in: "[Senior West Coast Editor] Lisa Love called me at Vogue and when I talked to them, I thought, There has to be a reason why Anna [Wintour]'s doing this. You know?"  She has employed both Lauren and Whitney for the past two seasons of the show, the first of which started airing in March 2008, but now, "I feel like I maximized that."

Whitney Port is getting her own show, but Kelly isn't coming with her: "I didn't really feel like it was a great idea to be on a spinoff of a spinoff of a spinoff. I felt like I already rolled the dice."  Plus, she has another show in the very early stages in the works, through the William Morris Agency: "I have another deal that I'm going to be an exec producer on — that I'll own part of.  I know some real talented people, and we want to be able to produce a show that we're not on as well.  I'll be the Ryan Seacrest of fashion."

And that's where Diane von Furstenberg comes in: She's employing Whitney on her new show, The City.  Will it pay off?
*image: source

>> IN PRODUCTION —Who is D.I.P.?  A completely anonymous design team — but they are the newest up-and-comers tapped by Topshop to produce an eight-piece collection of slashed-back or ink-spattered dresses and cobweb-detailed tops, set to debut Oct. 21. [Vogue UK]

The blogosphere didn't take the day off for Columbus Day (and neither did we) which means there are plenty of interesting posts worth reading before you go order your chicken wings and ogle Eli Manning (oh wait that's us) on Monday Night Football.

Lace and other feminine frippery was on the minds of more than just us. I Am Fashion has a new guest blogger (welcome!) who explores her new found obsession with lingerie.

The Coveted introduces us to Swedish designer Lamilla

Kingdom of Style continues to astound with her crocheting skills as she debuts her homemade Rodarte knit tights.

Debutante Clothing found a lace black dress on Ebay for $16. Go on and get it!

And because we have to include just a few general interesting posts andSheFinds asks what went wrong with Sigerson Morrison for Target and The Beauty of Life has a Yes to, well, lots of varieties of Produce, giveaway