If you were in the city this weekend, you might have noticed a number of freakishly tall and thin girls running around town, their books in hand,which means one thing – it’s casting time for New York Fashion Week! Over the course of six hours, hundreds of girls — from up-and-comers to  bona fide runway stars — ushered through the Hudson Hotel‘s gorgeous library to see and be seen by Andrew Weir and his team of professional model wranglers from ACW Worldwide.

“I met her seasons ago in Paris when she was 14,” Weir later tells me once Tanya Dziahileva has left, with more than a hint of wistful sentiment. “I could never pronounce her last name and I don’t even try. She’s always been Tanya D. to me.” On his note card he writes “No Words.”

Mr. Weir seems to have a personal relationship with many of the models that stomp through his biannual casting. He jokes with them, asks them about their vacations, their families and boyfriends — anything to make them feel at ease. Meeting a doe-eyed 16-year old Brazilian who spoke little to no English and who was wandering about the city all by her lonesome, he seems genuinely concerned. But he is also impressed with her walk, noting that she indeed has potential although she’s not quite ready for the runway.

Whenever a girl does strike his particular fancy, Weir has them walk twice, maybe more and he personally takes their photo. In the case of Arlenis Sosa and Ajak Deng — both big names in the industry — a fuss is understandably made with Mr. Weir remarking to Ajak, “You’re going to lose three pounds by show time we’re gonna make you walk so much!” But sometimes there is a new girl that also warrants a fuss, such as a statuesque brunette who recently switched agencies. “If you’re at the wrong agency, I’ll never see you. It’s insane,” he says before taking some photos of the girl. After she’s left he confides in one of his agents, “She’s going to be huge. This is like a star moment.”

Which has to be a compliment to any young model — a seal of approval from one of the top casting directors in the business. However, only time will tell if he will cast her for one of the four shows ACW is handling this season: Jen Kao, Thakoon, Rebecca Taylor and Joseph Abboud. Sunday saw the second round of casting and the final list will be decided upon the night before the shows. For some girls it will be a busy season and for others it will be better strut next time.

One girl who made an impression had walked for Mr. Weir in the past, but like the doe-eyed Brazilian teenager, she wasn’t “there” yet. ”Quite an improvement from a few seasons ago,” Mr. Weir says with a smile of approval. He then gets up from his chair to take several pictures of the model, jots down a few notes about her then calls the next sartorial lamb to the altar.

Photos: Richard Guaty

A model gets photographed

Grazing gracefully

A tender moment with Arlenis Sosa and Andrew Weir

"And she is giving us a loooook."

"No Words"

Some quiet time with Arlenis Sosa

Shooting Arlenis

The fabulous Sui He

Legs for days

Lined up at the library

Pert and pouty

Strutter

"You're going to lose three pounds by show time we're gonna have you walking so much!"

he stunning Ajak Deng

Samantha Gradoville

More waiting...

Girls awaiting their fate outside the casting

In the book’s introduction, Sally Singer, editor of T Magazine, is quick to point out that this is not your typical behind the curtains tome. That’s owed primarily to the fact that Julien Claessens is not a fashion photographer. In fact he admits that he doesn’t really understand fashion, but he understands his friend Olivier’s work.

So it’s no surprise that his photos aren’t perfectly-posed, editorial-ready snapshots, but abstract portraits that offer a glimpse into a world of extremes: extreme beauty, extreme bodies and an almost otherworldly charm. The star of these portraits, however, are still Theyskens minutely-crafted work.

Like malleable sculptures, Theyskens clothes wrap and drape themselves over the skeletal  frames of Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda, Gemma Ward, Olga Sherer, Lara Stone, Tanya Dziahileva, Catherine McNeil and Sasha Pivovarova, lending a strength, elegance and sophistication otherwise at odds with their prepubescent fragility.

The Other Side of the Picture chronicles Theyskens career chronologically, ending before he began his newest phase at Theory, but Nina Ricci’s Fall/Winter ’09 collection is a fitting denouement, both for the book and for Theyskens time at the brand. That particular collection is the peak of Theyskens craft and a comforting reminder that talent like his shall and will not be wasted. Also, I’m still not over these tranny heels:

Julien Claessens, without understanding fashion, is able to completely grasp the work of Olivier Theyskens. As Claessens says about his friend’s work, “There’s something here that is part of my universe.” His clothes speak, live and breathe through Claessens’ photos because Theyskens intended them to speak, live and breathe on the women he dresses. Claessens and Theyskens simply speak the same language.

What owning this book says about you: You’re a serious-minded fashionista who admires Olivier’s dark aesthetic and/or his dark hotness.

What your dinner guests will say upon seeing this book on your coffee table: “Oh, wow, someone’s pretentious. And fabulous.”

How this book will make your fashion brain grow: Though you’re not likely to gain much in the way of knowledge from The Other Side of the Picture, you’re heart will swell at its beauty.

If you like this, you’ll love: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The book to the Met exhibit is on sale — having had a quick look at it this morning we can definitely say it is worth the 30 bucks (plus free shipping, y’all!)

It’s not like model Tanya Dziahileva needs any help being gorgeous, but the photographic eye of Hans Feurer sure doesn’t hurt! Consider i-D Magazine’s spread “One Day I’ll Ride A Big White Horse And Wear A Gown And Crowns Of Course” more of a beauty spread than a fashion spread, but regardless, it’s awesome!

Find more photos like this on ENVY

LINK LOVE: Fashion Gone Rogue

Photographer: Paola Kudacki

Models: Hana Soukupova and Tanya Dziahileva

Find more photos like this on CULT

Thanks Fashion Gone Rogue!

This smokey 40′s inspired editorial staring Tanya Dziahileva, Christina Carey, and Janete Friedrich is probably the most classy use of a fog machine I will ever see. Besides praising this editorial for its refreshing change from the recently over played 80′s styling that has been cropping up everywhere, these photos have an intimate private quality about them. I’m sure you love being let in on a secret as much as I do… Hint: check Cult.

GALLERY: Suggestions on Cult

SOURCE: Fashion Copious

In addition to the fabulous shopping, living in SoHo definately has its perks: awesome restaurants, gorgeous buildings, cultural nightlife, well dressed people and, oh yeah, photoshoots on a daily basis. I knew there was something interesting going on when I bumped into Tanya Dziahileva, in full hair and makeup, on Lafayette in front of the Parasuco store (between Kenmare and Spring), earlier this afternoon (My appologies for the blurry photo, it was taken on my phone!) Being right down the street from my apartment, I grabbed my camera to snag a few photos from the shoot. Sadly enough, the production crew realized I was hanging around the set and they asked me to leave. I even tried to pry a few answers out of them, but nobody would tell me what the shoot was for! I can’t figure out who the model is in the photo, but I’m definately disappointed that Tanya wasn’t out there posing at the time! Oh well, there shall be many more photoshoots this summer!

The photos above were taken by me. Feel free to use them, but please link-back to this article and credit Fashion Indie. Thanks!

In the latest Mixte, Tanya Dziahileva is the subject of this amazing editorial photographed by Carlotta Manaigo with the help of illustrator Gustaf von Arbin. The result: a whimsical, dreamlike editorial.

LINKAGE: Models

I’ve been a big fan of the Vogue Italia spreads lately, but Mark Seliger’s most recent editorial is awkward, at best. Accustomed to the plethora of natural looking, “caught in the moment” shoots, I’m a bit perplexed by the strange poses and uncomfortable interactions between Tanya Dziahileva and Agnete Hegelund. All things aside, I am crazy about the lace stockings and studded stiletto layering. Digging the layered watches and bracelets as well as the fingerless gloves.

Thanks Fashion Copious! 

There are only good things to say about  the February 2009 spread for Numero Korea. Shot by photographers Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello, the spread features my personal favorite model of the moment, Tanya Dziahileva. A combination of excellent styling (by Felipe Mendes), Dziahileva’s fierce faces and poses and brilliant lighting created a spread that will set the bar high for 2009. 

GALLERY: Tanya Dziahileva for Numero Korea February 2009

LINKAGE: Fashion Copious 

Thanks NY Mag and The Fashion Spot!

So, you’ve all probably been wondering who the twiggy, elfish, almost alien like blonde chick taking over runways and editorials everywhere is. Well, ladies and gentlemen, meet Tanya Dziahileva, the 17-year-old Ukrainian and Polish-Belarussian  hot commodity. 

I actually had the opportunity to meet Ms. D at the International Model and Talent Association in 2006. At that time, she was recently picked up by IMG models and her career was just beginning, a runway show here and an fashion ad there. But now, you can’t even touch the teenage top model. Ms. D has walked in over 100 shows, including the coveted position as opener for Rag & Bone and closer for Miss Sixty. From New York to Paris and Milan, Ms. D has modeled for nearly every top designer. And snagging a spot on the cover of Russian Vogue ain’t half bad for a girl who hasn’t even hit college yet. 

She might look like Tinkerbell, but her youthful, edgy look has got designers everywhere craving more, more, more!