A tale of two covers.

Having worked in publishing I know it’s critical to be one step ahead of the competition. Daily newspapers in the same town with similar or – gasp! – identical headlines spells trouble, and weekly magazines with the same celebrity photo on the cover is an equally egregious error.

But as far as I know it’s a horse of a different color when two catalog covers are total doppelgangers. Like the latest Pottery Barn and L.L. Bean catalogs to arrive at the shore house:

While I expect a sort-of homespunny lilt from L.L. Bean, I was surprised to see Pottery Barn following suit with their fall line. Looks like my recent foray into the world of patchwork quilting is totally en vogue.

I am so darn hip.

I’m going to guess that this whole quilt theme is a result of the sagging economy. People are looking to return to a kinder, gentler time when things were made of fabric scraps and not, say, leather imported from Peru and carried on the back of a Sherpa directly to a Madison Avenue designer showroom.

Sales of cosmetics also tend to increase during times of uncertainty. “The Lipstick Index” describes this phenomena of eschewing designer duds and other costly purchases in favor of a ten dollar tube of fabulous that leaves less of a dent in your wallet and a colorful smile on your face, empowering you pucker up and say, “Look at me! I look great! What recession?!”

Designers tend to work in shades of purple at times like these – deep amethysts and vibrant orchids symbolize regal piety, so perhaps it’s done to distract us from our otherwise humble existence.

What do you think? Are PB and L.L. Bean responding to the economy, albeit in uncanny synchronization?

I do know this: If the next Pottery Barn catalog features a purple hand-made quilt with a complementary hued lipstick, be afraid. Be very afraid.