“Little Girl & Boy Lost,” by Hamish Bowles, originally appeared in the December 2009 issue of Vogue. For more highlights from Vogue’s archive, sign up for our Nostalgia newsletter.

“I’ve always been an outspoken and extreme dresser,” declares Lady Gaga, who transforms into a Marc Jacobs-clad witch for Annie Leibovitz’s Hansel and Gretel portfolio—inspired by Richard Jones’s production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1893 opera, opening this month at the Metropolitan Opera. True to her word, Gaga arrived at Vogue for the shoot discussion wearing a flowing white chiffon Galliano gown and a Philip Treacy headpiece spelling Vogue in crisp white feathers. The next day, she visited Creative Director Grace Coddington in a little black dress and a fiery red wig, then showed up on set, as Coddington recalls, “stark naked except for a white rubber raincoat and sky-high heels!”—before promptly throwing herself into the mud at Leibovitz’s feet.

“Gaga was so bubbly, chatty, and full of life,” says Coddington. “She was up for anything.”

### FAR FROM HOME
Venturing into the woods to hunt for wild strawberries, Gretel’s pristine frock glows against the shadowy Tree-men. But soon, they’re hopelessly lost.
(Dior pleated silk-chiffon dress; Fendi platform Mary Janes. Tree-men costumes courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera.)

Gaga credits her art director, Matthew Williams—“my Jean-Paul Goude”—for bridging fashion and art. “He’d say, ‘If you want to design a shoulder pad, don’t study jackets—look at sculpture, rocks, paintings.’ He thinks differently; he’s the designer of the future.”

### GOLDEN SLUMBER
The Sandman (played by Met Opera’s Sasha Cooke) sprinkles magic dust over the frightened children, lulling them into a dream of a banquet served by a fish maître d’.
(Balenciaga wool-silk jacket; Chloé flats. Sandman and fish costumes courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera.)

Fashion and art merge in Gaga’s work, too. She debuted “Bad Romance” at Alexander McQueen’s Plato’s Atlantis show, calling it “otherworldly.” “When Magdalena stomped down the runway, it was dreamlike.” Meanwhile, her ballad “Speechless” (“about my love for my father”) premiered at MOCA’s 30th-anniversary gala, part of Francesco Vezzoli’s installation. “I became a child of Warhol’s heir—Damien Hirst even made the piano!”

### WICKED
The children stumble upon a forest house, only to find it home to a witch (Lady Gaga). Gretel looks sweet enough to eat, but it’s Hansel the witch wants to fatten up.
(On Gaga: Marc Jacobs satin bra, silk blouse, and ruffled shorts. On Cole: YSL embroidered dress. Wig by Julien D’Ys.)

Gaga’s fusion of art, fashion, and music hits the road with her Monster Ball tour, launching November 27.

### FEED THE FLAMES
Before the witch can cook them—whoosh!—Hansel and Gretel shove her into the oven.
(Oscar de la Renta tweed-chiffon dress; Marc Jacobs belted jacket.)

For behind-the-scenes footage of Gaga’s shoot with Leibovitz, watch Video Diaries at Vogue.com.The witch is dead!

The children—played by the Junior Choristers of Grace Church in New York City—come back to life after being baked into gingerbread by the evil hag.

Nina Ricci silk satin pleated dress, $2,590 (Barneys New York). Chloé flats.