Refreshing!

Without self-renewal, culture dies. This month, we celebrate those who, with daring and determination, are rethinking some of our most cherished institutions and brands. So this is a makeover issue, on a grand scale.

Which brings us to DesirA[c]e Rogers, the new social secretary of the White House. We first wrote about Rogers five years ago, when she was running a Midwestern utility company with unusual style. We think that she will be a terrific custodian of the presidential tradition of entertaining, yet will also give us the coolest White House since Camelot and the most inclusive ever.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, meanwhile, Thomas Campbell, a 46-year-old Englishman and tapestries expert, has been handed the thrilling if challenging responsibility of steering the world's greatest museum onward and upward. He arrives at the post at the shakiest of times: The economy is in crisis, and so is museumgoing. If anyone can chart a thoughtful and relevant course, it is this scholarly, forward-thinking man.

Isaac Mizrahi has never had a problem with looking ahead. In this issue, Lynn Yaeger goes on a hilarious road trip with the designer and learns what American women want from Mizrahi in his position as the creative director of Liz Claiborne. It soon becomes clear that every woman, however fancy her closet or taste, is hungry for a bargainso long as it's well designed and well made. Over to you, Isaac!

G ossip Girl is not exactly noted for its economic realism, and why should it be? As our cover girl, the impressively ...