CR Fashion Book Issue 2 – Dance

There it was: the winter hugging the earth and squeezing out the sun. The summer had flown by in a pollen-induced sneeze, and there I was, taking cabs and walking less because I am not built for temperatures that warrant more than three layers. I let the streets fade into memory and instead found myself moving — and yes, even sweating — in a ballet studio, an uncharted territory. Someplace I felt I could escape the noise, the stress and winter’s cold shoulder.

I must say, ballet — even at the beginner adult level — is, in short, challenging. But it’s like that all-encompassing challenge, one that makes your brain and body fizz with pleasure. The precision, the focus, the movement, the air, even the terminology for moves —  aplomb, chasse, plié, fouetté — and so on. Something graceful and perfect. Though knowing I was nowhere near even close to any of those I had witnessed in many a Swan Lake production, I felt beautiful. I continued.

Sometimes when you do something, the universe starts to reflect it, or at least that is the perception. Like when after a few classes, I read a release about Carine Roitfeld’s newest Fashion Book. Issue two was simply entitled  Dance. That’s all it needed to be called. I got my hands on a copy just the other day, and I am thrilled this book marries fashion and the delicate art of dance so well. Under Carine’s direction and eye, it’s hard to imagine a different result.

Turns out, Carine herself is exploring her latest obsession of dance, “It is,” she writes in her letter from the editor, “one of the last art forms that is done with pure motives.” Passion, refusal and commitment. Three things that are so scarce in today’s money-hungry, faster-than-light world we find ourselves in. Ballet requires cause for pause. Ballet requires breath.

The issue itself features en pointe fashions, worn by models gliding across the pages. My favorite articles included the flying Sergei Polunin and superstar violinist Charlie Siem, and finally “Unseen Dali.” Standout editorials photographed by Brigitte Niedermair, “Dance With The Wind” and “Clearly,” and a short two-page spread creatively directed by Rick Owens. Oh, and @JoyceCarolOates’ Twitter feed. The issue, like its predecessor, cuts in half and you’ll have to turn it upside down. It’s two books in one — always nice.

In both the world of dance and the world of fashion, learning left from right, editing constantly, exercising care, and seeing beauty in pain are skills honed over time in developing a craft. When you do it well enough, you put your mark on art forms so precious, they have been worth preserving by those who came before us and those who will come after. Enjoy the issue.

View more at CR Fashion Book