Following the release of her new album

4, Beyonce graces the cover of the new issue of W magazine. In it, the photogenic superstar discusses the power of fashion and counts down her seven favorite looks she’s rocked in her career thus far. But what makes it really interesting is that she delves into the inspiration behind each look, e.g.: She wanted to channel James Dean’s iconic white-T-and-jeans look in the “Crazy in Love” music video. Beyonce fans will love it, but even music “purists” should get off their high horses and check out these photos and accompanying explanations. Because like it or not, everybody knows that in the music industry, the visual matters a lot and this impressive look book proves that Beyonce has not only mastered the visual, but repeatedly used it to maintain her status in pop culture.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.