Garance Doré's snap of a "nine-year-old" attendee at Junya Watanabe's fashion show. Photo: twitpic

There was a time when my biggest fashion week concern was finding something to wear, and not fainting from sucking in my stomach when I was around the models. Now it's showing up to the tents and being handed a walker.

Of course, that was back in the olden days when the other fashion journalists had driver's licenses... and, you know, had lost all of their baby teeth.

But the trend of schoolgirl sartorialists appears to have hit a new low (in age) judging by the Twitpic posted by street style goddess Garance Doré of of "nine-year-old" with a editor-like notepad at Junya Watanabe's Autumn 2010 show during Men's Fashion Week in Paris.

Someone hand 13-year-old Tavi -- whose bow hat recently obstructed Dior's couture show -- an AARP card!

"Bloggers have broken the double digits," Garance tweeted. "9 year old now front row! (And working!)"

Sheesh! When I was nine, I was writing "Mrs. Zack Morris" over and over in my Lisa Frank notebook, not weighing in on the hemlines at Dior.

What's next? Highchairs in the front row?

So should pint-sized fashion pundits be lauded for their Doogie Howser-ness? Or is this obsession with youngsters just a gimmick to get designers and publications press? Does the industry really take these kids seriously?

Here's my take: I'm all for nurturing talent in youngsters (cue the Whitney Houston). I think it's fabulous that they're passionate about fashion. But I don't think it's so fabulous that the industry sweeps them up, hands them backstage passes and basically treats them like elfin rock stars.

It can't be healthy for the kid (who needs to be jaded by 14?), and it's certainly not healthy for those who have fought tooth and nail to make it in this industry. Let's face it -- a fashion-savvy kiddo may be charming, but they lack the qualifications of a professional journalist -- at least, for now. What's their frame of reference? Hannah Montana's stage outfits don't count.

"I have a journalism degree and over 10 years of experience, yet Tavi will have a better seat," says one fashion journalist. (Tavi, the industry's teen darling, blogs for fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar.)

A fashion PR executive seconds the frustration.

"My job has always been making sure the right folks come to our shows," she says. "But now I have to know who these little kids are? It's ridiculous!"

As for the little girl at Junya Watanabe? Though she was taking notes in a reporter's notebook, Watanabe's PR reps claim she's simply a client's daughter placed up front so she could see. Stay tuned!

Do you think the fashion industry should celebrate child bloggers, or do you think it's a joke? Leave a comment!

Meanwhile, read our interview with this (grown-up) homeless blogger.