CR Fashion Book Second Issue Pictures

Carine Roitfeld counts her private ballet lessons as the inspiration for the dance-themed second issue of her magazine, CR Fashion Book.

"I'm obsessed with the body of the ballet dancer, obsessed with the music and obsessed with the Russian tradition in ballet," Roitfeld told WWD. "When you are a dancer, you don't get money. You do it because you love it. It's so pure and beautiful — the freedom, the movement, the gestures."

It follows that the pictures in the magazine would be beautiful, too. Gus Van Sant captured dancer Sergei Polunin in the middle of a leap for one of the issue's covers; for the other, he shot a stiletto pointe shoe created by artist Brigitte Niedermair. The issue includes Rick Owens's first ever editorial, a photo story by Bruce Weber, and Gisele Bündchen's interview with model Kiara Kabukuru. Photographer Maurizi Bavutti captured a surreal vision of what dancers look like backstage, and Kacper Kasprzyk depicted a dancer's life and training by photographing David Hallberg.

The second issue of CR Fashion Book will be on European shelves Feb. 21 and will debut stateside Feb. 28. A sneak peek here in the gallery.

Photo courtesy of CR Fashion Book