VANITY FAIR

“DIRECTOR Martin Scorsese is the icing on the Boardwalk Empire cake.”

SEPTEMBER 2010 NO. 60 1 | VANITYFAIR.COM

FEATURES

LADY GAGA’S CULTURAL REVOLUTION | 280

Grappling with mega-stardom, Lady Gaga literally drops the veil—and opens her purse—for Lisa Robinson. Photographs by Nick Knight.

WASHINGTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM | 288

Is Washington broken? Todd S. Purdum gets taken through a typical day in the West Wing—besieged by a frenzied press corps, venal lobbyists, and a deadlocked legislature.

HAYLEY’S COMET 293

Krista Smith and Michael Roberts spotlight Hayley Atwell, heroine of this month’s cable event, The Pillars of the Earth.

BABES IN MOBLAND | 294

Peter Biskind and Ellen von Unwerth spotlight the female stars of HBO’s upcoming Mob drama, Boardwalk Empire.

ALL THE BEST VICTIMS 296

Financial adviser Kenneth Starr stands accused of swindling as much as $59 million from some of his stunning lineup of celebrity clients, among them Uma Thurman, Bunny Mellon, and A1 Pacino. But, as Michael Shnayerson reports, where the money may have gone is just as surprising.

THAT GIRL, THIS WOMAN | 301

Barry Diller and Gasper Tringale spotlight Mario Thomas, who has evolved from “That Girl” into “What a Woman.”

CASSINI ROYALE | 302

When Oleg Cassini died, in 2006, many were shocked to learn the playboy designer had been secretly married for 34 years—not least his daughter, who is battling his widow over the estate. Maureen Orth investigates.

THE UNCOMMON WRITER | 309

John Heilpern and Ben Hoffmann spotlight Alan Bennett, who touchingly recalls his family in A Life Like Other People’s.

THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM | 310

In a mere 14 months, financier Steve Rattner went from being President Obama’s auto-bailout mastermind (and starting a long-sought D.C. career) to facing an S.E.C. investigation. William D. Cohan examines a stunning reversal of fortune.

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“I’M GAGA and I live and breathe it every day."

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UNEASY PIECES | 315

A. M. Homes spotlights Alex Prager, whose loaded photographs of L.A. are being featured at MoMA.

THE LAST QUEEN OF PARIS | 316

French style icon Jacqueline de Ribes—who inspired Saint Laurent, Pucci, and Valentino—gives Amy Fine Collins a gown-by-gown tour of six glamorous decades, revealing how a wartime duckling became an internationally admired swan.

FAN FAIR

30 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE | 165

Ryan Bingham’s crazy heart opens up | 165

Marc Newson’s mode of transport; J. Crew banks on its new men’s store; Missoni’s bold hotel | 166

My Stuff—Rag & Bone; the John Dory restaurant, version 2.0 | 168

Lisa Robinson’s Hot Tracks | 170

The iconic Greenbrier’s face-lift; the quiz: Jackie or Marilyn? | 172

Michael Roberts drapes British belles in Louis Vuitton’s fall collection by Marc Jacobs | 174

Must-have fall fashion from top style bloggers | 176

Navratilova and Evert’s 20-year rivalry and friendship; Moncler’s sporty new season | 180

My Dream: Michael Kors | 182

Elissa Schappell’s Hot Type | 184

Hot Reels: My Dog Tulip, Howl, and Waiting for “Superman” | 186

Guerlain’s fragrance Shalimar celebrates 85 years; Mercier’s makeup to go; Calvin Klein’s face of beauty; the newest in natural skin care from Nude; Chanel takes direction from Martin Scorsese | 193

COLUMNS

TOPIC OF CANCER | 202

Best-selling memoir, Daily Show gig, entry into United’s million-mile club—things looked swell for Christopher Hitchens in June. Then he woke up to a deadly new enemy. Photograph by John Huba.

ONE COOL CAT | 206

Like J.F.K., President Obama has been tagged as too detached by a media hungry for drama. So James Wolcott suggests a new Oval Office “strategery.”

THE GRAY LADY OF CABLE NEWS | 212

With the baffling hire of Eliot Spitzer, CNN continues to search for an identity and a way out of third place in the cable-news wars. Michael Wolff explains why CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein has managed to keep his job.

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"STORYTELLING is at the root of every community, every family every culture"

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FUNNY AND DEAD | 219

Tony Hendra spotlights a 300-page riot of reminiscence from National Lampoon.

HALL OF FAME | 220

Michael Hogan nominates Arcade Fire, for championing Haiti. Photograph by Carl Lessard.

FINDING THE BEAT | 222

Bent on nailing his role as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in this month’s Howl, James Franco had a lot to learn.

THEY ALL HUNG OUT AT MAX’S | 227

James Wolcott spotlights Max’s Kansas City, the iiber-hip 60s and 70s nightspot, now recaptured in a book and exhibition.

THE OFFICIAL PREPPY REBOOT | 228

Thirty years ago, the best-selling Official Preppy Handbook codified the unspoken Wasp rules of conduct. In an excerpt from True Prep, Lisa Birnbach and designer Chip Kidd update prepster kitchens, careers, and colors.

THE 71 ST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BESTDRESSED POLL | 244

The 2010 style elite includes princesses, First Ladies, a sitcom star, a venerable director, and a polo player.

But who’s its most intriguing newcomer?

VANITIES

GUGU GAGA | 273

Craig Brown finds a Mandela expose by “Kitty Kelley”; Howard Schatz captures Jason Schwartzman in character | 274

Julian Sancton contrasts the libertarian ideologies of Pauls Ron, Rand, and Ru | 276

George Wayne feels the love for author Nicholas Sparks | 279

ET CETERA

EDITOR’S LETTER | 118

60 MINUTES POLL | 128

CONTRIBUTORS | 132

OUT TO LUNCH Maria Bartiromo | 144

LETTERS An Affair to Remember | 148

FAIRGROUND | 195

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE Helen Mirren | 346

VANITYFAIR.COM

THIS MONTH’S ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

Behind-the-scenes video with Lady Gaga and the women of Boardwalk Empire.

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