Vision Quests.(optimism amidst the world crises, consumer spending, and fashion industry)

There's no doubt that we live in the toughest and most trying of times: wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Gaza; a global economic recession of historic proportions; and a planet whose physical and biological health grows more imperiled by the day. These are the facts, and we are forced to face them whether we like it or not. However, there is another fact that bears mentioning: We are a resourceful and resilient people who have survived far worse. I feel the need to stress this because, as I talk to fellow members of the business and fashion communities, it seems that we can too readily succumb to doom, gloom, and fatalism. I'm not a Pollyanna. But it is critical that we not exchange one bubblethat of euphoric consumerismfor another, that of funereal pessimism. The truth is that we are as blessed as ever with drive and talent, and practical, proactive measures can be taken to improve our lot. It's to this spirit of clearheaded, forward-looking realism that VOGUE dedicates this annual Power Issue.

Before we come to the world leaders, let's talk about clothes. A word in defense of the fashion industry, if I may: When people stop shopping, other people lose their jobs. So there is no moral high ground to be gained by abstaining from felicity. That said, shopping differently is a wise response to the current landscape. Our editors have been thinking about the one or two (or three) items that a woman can buy and wear multiple times a week and for years to come. This is the season to buy a single, perfect pair of shoes, or a khaki jacket that sneaks you through to next fall. It's a time to sharpen your personal aesthetic and discover your innermost notions about your style, and a perfect moment to dwell on value and values: how garments are made, where they are made, and why they cost what they cost. A Fendi python bag in a classic shape made in Italy? The high price tag makes sense. An organic seersucker suit from a company based in upstate New York? Worth every penny.

The politics of fashion are among the many things that our new First Lady must bear in mind. It's no coincidence that Michelle Obama favors emerging, independent American designers and mass U.S. brands, because she accepts the iconicity that has been thrust on her and has thought carefully about how to use it responsibly and productively. She's also concluded that the White House can and should be more inclusive, a place equally welcoming to military families, intellectuals, and industrialists. Both the president and his wife brim with a can-do determination: How else would they have overcome the special hurdles that they had to face to reach the White House?

Queen ...