>> INSIDER WIRE —Narciso Rodriguez is joining the likes of J.Mendel, Yigal Azrouel, and Tommy Hilfiger in returning to the tents.  For the past six seasons, he has chosen to show elsewhere, but for Fall 2009, Bryant Park is his venue.  Perhaps he's aiming on having First Lady Michelle Obama, who's a fan of his work, as a guest, and wants the security the tents provide?  They've had experience hosting former First Lady Laura Bush, plus Secret Service, last February, after all.  [WWD]
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>> INSIDER WIRE —Now that the New York Fashion Week dates have been pushed back to Feb. 13-20, the London Fashion Week organizers aren't the only ones feeling the time crunch.  With the Academy Awards just two days after the conclusion of Fashion Week on Feb. 22, red carpet-friendly designers like J.Mendel, Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa, Proenza Schouler, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Zac Posen, L'Wren Scott, and Ralph Lauren — all of whom show on the last three days of Fashion Week — are going to have a doozy of a time getting samples from runway to red carpet for the big night.  [FWD]

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>> INSIDER WIRE —In this money-crunching time, major designers are expected to scale back their Fall 2009 shows come February, whether by returning to the Tents or by exchanging their $100,000-$500,000 runway shows for presentations.  Already, Donna Karan is downscaling her DKNY show to a presentation, and both Vera Wang and J.Mendel are looking at a runway alternative; more will likely follow suit. [WWD]