Casting Director Andrew Weir Reveals Hot New Faces For NYFW

By Bee-Shyuan Chang
September 13, 2011

casting director Andrew Weir with model Crystal Renn

Who's that sultry new stunner on the #NYFW catwalks? Chances are Andrew Weir has already had a hand in launching the exotically named beauty. The casting director is a gatekeeper, curator and influential decision-maker in the hot-to-trot fashion modeling world. Along with casting campaigns for Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss, the dapper NYC-resident has worked on runway shows, including Thakoon, Rachel Zoe, Jen Kao and Rebecca Taylor for this Spring/Summer 2012 season. Going on 11 years in the industry (and with a popular blog called Weir Diary to boot), Weir takes a moment out of Fashion Week mayhem to talk new faces, model trends and why he's looking for the "X" factor.

Images taken by Weir for his blog, Weir Diary: left: Jacquelyn Jablonski (Supreme) / backstage at victor & rolf / l’espace ephemere tuileries / 12:58pm / march 5, 2011. right: Sebastian Sauvé (Soul Artist Management) / paris / viktor & rolf showroom / 11:42pm / june 22, 2011

The Inside Source: How did you get into casting?

Andrew Weir: I was working in production at [public relations and production agency] KCD for two years. It was a wonderful experience, but at the end of those two years, I knew I wanted to do casting. I went to the vice president of the company and she took a chance on me. She sent me to Milan to cast the Calvin Klein's men's fashion show with Joe McKenna and Mr. Klein. That was my first big casting job. Shortly thereafter, I became Calvin Klein's Director of Talent, and in 2001, I started the casting company, ACW Worldwide.

The Inside Source: That's quite a run. I imagine you've sort of seen it all in a sense. That said, who are some of your all-time favorite models?

Andrew Weir: Jessica Miller, Linda Evangelista, Kristen McMenamy, Fernanda Tavares, Crystal Renn, and Guinevere van Seenus. They're all strong, beautiful women. Each one of them creates magic every time they step in front of a camera. Jamie Dornan is my favorite male model. He is simply the most handsome guy out there.

Images by Weir for Weir Diary: top row: Sean O'Pry (VNY) / new york / east village / 2:44pm / march 14, 2011; Karolina Kurkova (IMG) / paris / cour debille / 5:34pm / march 4, 2011; Caroline Brasch Nielsen (Elite Paris) / new york / east village / 11:54am / march 31, 2011. bottom row: Ilse De Boer (IMG) / new york / east village / 1:22pm / august 24, 2011; Iselin Steiro (Women) / paris / cour debille / 4:28pm / march 3, 2011; Valerija Kelava (Ford) / paris / cour debille / 6:45pm / march 3, 2011

The Inside Source: Come Fashion Week, how do you approach casting for each fashion show? Does the process vary?

Andrew Weir: We approach every new show or casting project with fresh eyes. Each brand's DNA is different, so it's paramount to customize our approach. We research market trends as well as the brand's demographic, aspirational values, advertising and casting history. Then we strategize on how to move the brand forward. We combine all of that research and through the process of many discussions, we develop the message and cast.

The Inside Source: Who are some of the models to watch for this Spring 2012 runway season?

Andrew Weir: Sojourner, Ilse De Boer, Jess Gold, Kelly Mittendorf, Anais Pouliot, Jasmine Tookes, Zippora Seven, Nyasha Matonhodze, Antonia Wesseloh, and Wang Xiao.

Shows cast by Andrew Weir for Spring 2012 Fashion Week: Jen Kao (photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week), Thakoon (photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Kerastase), Rebecca Taylor (photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

Rachel Zoe Spring 2012 presentation, cast by Andrew Weir (Photo by Dario Cantatore/Getty Images)

The Inside Source: After several seasons of less conventional or quirky looks, has the trend veered towards the more classic beauty as of late?

Andrew Weir: Yes. Since 2008, I’ve noticed more of our clients are looking for more “classically handsome” men and “traditionally beautiful” women. There has also been a noted increase in requests from clients for older models of both sexes, but mostly “classically handsome” rugged men. The trend tends to shift one way or the other based on factors such as changes in public taste and a need to refresh the visual images that represent a given brand.

The Inside Source: When giving new faces a shot, what do you look for?

Andrew Weir: I look for the "X" factor. It's intangible and it's indefinable; you know it the minute you see it. I can just sense when someone has that something special.

Images by Weir for Weir Diary: top row: Zippora Seven (Viva London) / new york / east village / 11:19am / march 31, 2011; Philipp Schmidt (DNA) / milan / victor & rolf showroom / 6:52pm / january 15, 2011; Kate Upton (IMG) / new york / east village / 6:30pm / june 9, 2011. bottom row: Marie / paris / cour debille / 3:34pm / march 1, 2011; Anne Vyalitsyna (Women) / paris / cour debille / 3:30pm / march 1, 2011; James Smith (Ford Europe) / milan / 7:48pm / january 13, 2011

The Inside Source: As for your own personal style, how would you describe it?

Andrew Weir: My personal sense of fashion style is simple and basic, whether I'm wearing something casual or more formal.

The Inside Source: Where do you usually shop?

Andrew Weir: I usually shop at Barneys New York because they have a good edit. There's a great mix of luxury brands and cool, young up-and-coming fashion designers. I also love A Bathing Ape.

Images by Weir for Weir Diary: left: Andrej Pejic (DNA) / new york / 450 west 15th st / 5:22pm / august 3, 2011 / hair by jimmy paul / makeup by james kaliardos. right: Anne Vyalitsyna (Women) / paris / cour debille / 3:30pm / march 1, 2011

The Inside Source: Have you shopped on eBay before?

Andrew Weir: Sure, I buy toys off of eBay to add to my collections [of] "The Nightmare Before Christmas" collectibles. I've also been shooting portraits of models and celebrities on a Polaroid 600SE for 15 years. It was given to me as a birthday present a long time ago, but the film (Type 655) that the camera uses was discontinued in 2008. I'm slowly running out of the stock that I saved up before the film disappeared, and the only place I can find it is on eBay.

The Inside Source: What are some of your wardrobe staples for fall?

Andrew Weir: You'll find me in a Belstaff jacket, a pair of RRL boots and black Levi’s jeans.