Models Off Duty: The Altamira Specialty

Craig Arend, a.k.a. Altamira, is known for his model off-duty photos that capture not only the girls' style, but their spirit as well.

Posted in: Entertainment & Lifestyle, Fashion

In this slideshow: Lily Donaldson, Behati Prinsloo, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Jessica Joffe

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Ford Supermodel of the World 2009: Tayane Leão, a fierce look into the future of modeling Tayane Leão was just 14 when she won the Ford Supermodel of the World 2009 contest. Here, with a tid bit of her style (pockets of her jean shorts popping out from the hem of her cutoff jeans), she exudes that fierceness that will probably make her a fixture of the modeling industry one day. Visit Craig's site here.

Judith Bedard is back!! Judith is back in NYC after being gone for a year (big hugs)! After spending time in India & Thailand working as part of a U.N.-sponsored non-profit World Educational Peace Project, she's ready to tap into that special power that made her a muse for Maison Martin Margiela (2007) and Jean Paul Gaultier (2008). Her current campaigns with European lingerie lines and editorials in Vogue España and Amica should certainly help propel her career progress in New York.

Norwegian Newcomer: Johanne Friis (Ford) Johanne Friis may be wearing cutoff jeans and a top from Urban Outfitters, but something tells me this second-year high school student (there are only three years of high school in Norway) might be wearing Louis Vuitton or Prada soon. Visit Craig's site here.

Jessica Joffe Jessica Joffe in a vintage Azzaro dress. Besides sporting a Banana Republic campaign to her name from 2006 and being the face of Katy Rodriguez's Fall 2009 line, Jessica is also an omnipresent woman-about-town, which Rebecca Guinness wrote about in an article for Vanity Fair. She was also voted one of Vogue's 10 Best Dressed in January.

Hanne Gaby Odiele (Supreme) Plaid shirt: Acne Bag: Alexander Wang Shoes: Givenchy

Jandra Dziaugyte (Next) The oddest thing happened when I photographed Jandra. Some guy came up behind me and started shooting her too. Maybe he was equally humored by her, "I can run faster in heels" T-shirt. Hmmm. Somehow I doubt it. Anyway, she's just arrived in New York and ready to take on whatever contracts Next Models can get her. Visit Craig's site here.

Taylor Warren Taylor Warren has been photographed by Ellen von Unwerth for Vogue Gioiello, starred in an Urban Outfitters catalog, and has appeared in numerous other fashion magazines.

Vest: Vintage Shirt: Urban Outfitters Skirt: From sex shop in Paris Shoes: Juicy Couture Bag: Miu Miu

Supreme's Behati Prinsloo as discovered on Lafayette Street. Behati was discovered on August 3rd in the blazing bright sun around 2:30 p.m. on Lafayette Street. She was with her bookers in the middle of a conversation when I approached them, so a word of thanks goes out to the whole group, and especially Behati!

Julia Goncharenko (Elite) Julia Goncharenko, from Elite Models New York. Julia just appeared in a feature for a designer in Vogue Latin América and has been photographed for Harper's Bazaar Spain.

Rila Fukushima (Trump Model Management) I know it may appear obvious to some, but the more I get to "shoot" models on the street, the more distinguished each girl's energy becomes from the next. I guess it's like fine wine. The more you drink it, the more seasoned you become at distinguishing the subtle differences between each variant.

Johanne Friis from Ford Models is back in town.

Spinning in the air...

Her outfit viewed from the back while airborne.

Muse Model Management's Powerhouse: Heide Lindgren Heide's resume reads a mile long: campaigns for Agent Provocateur, Champion, Sebastian, Wella, and Kohls...a face of Abercrombie, a face for Avon...features in Vogue, Elle, and Cosmo round up an impressive list of industry accomplishments. On a final note, make sure you get a copy of the October issue of French Elle—you'll love her feature.

Top: American Apparel Skirt: Intermix Privee Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Anna Schilling (Fusion Models) She walked for Margiela and Yamamoto at the Paris shows, did the campaign for Anthropologie, and has appeared in Vogue Paris and Wonderland editorials. Visit Craig at Altamira.

Vest: Alexander Wang

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Laura Blokhina (DNA) Look out for Laura to exhibit a strong presence at the shows this season. In under one year, she's appeared in three Vogue Paris editorials; walked the Fall 2009 shows in New York, London, and Paris; and even walked for Christian Dior and Valentino at the Couture shows this summer. Shirt: Acne Skirt: Promod

Amanda Laine with Taryn Davidson (DNA) Amanda won the December 2007 V Magazine/Supreme Model Management model search contest. She's been opening shows in Paris since 2008, and in the last year was a face for Balenciaga. Taryn has been walking the Paris shows since October 2007 and recently was photographed by Terry Richardson for Vogue Paris's calendar. See more from Craig here.

Daiane Conterato (Supreme) Daiane has been opening and closing Paris shows since October 2006. She's currently in the DKNY Fall 2009 campaign.

Siri Tollerød (Trump) and Kasia Struss (Women Models) Siri Tollerød is carrying a bag by Balenciaga. She's been photographed by the godfather of all photographers, Steven Miesel, and opened the Armani Privé Couture show in Paris. Kasia Struss is doing a bit of "lingerie dressing" (mild see-through top). She's currently a face for Chloé.

Raquel Zimmermann (DNA Models) The first time I met Raquel Zimmermann in person was at the Alexander Wang intimate dinner during the March 2009 Paris shows. What I remember most from then is how eager she was to have her photo taken. Today proved no different. Vest: Topshop Jeans: Earl

Top Model Trend: Bleach Blonde Hair...Vlada Roslyakova (Women Model Management) Just a few days ago I was standing outside the casting for the Marc Jacobs show and my friend Dree Hemingway walked by with her bleach blonde hair. Yesterday and just one post earlier, you can see the world's No. 1 model Raquel Zimmermann in bleach blonde hair. And in this photo you see Vlada with her bleach blonde hair.

Recently, Patrick Demarchelier shot a spread of like 15 girls for Fashion's Night Out in which Raquel had bleach blonde hair, so I'm not saying this is the first time any of these girls have worn their hair color as such. It is, however, interesting to note how pervasive bleach blonde hair is at the current moment among top models. Visit Craig at AltamiraNYC.

Freja and Lily Donaldson (IMG) walking together after the Rag & Bone show Imagine saying Freja Beha Erichsen every time you wanted to refer to Freja? And by the way, the CORRECT pronunciation of her name is "Fry-ah" not "Fray-ah," which you can verify by listening to this V Magazine interview with her.

Sweden's Rising Stars: Dorothea Barth Jorgensen (Women) & Sara Blomqvist (DNA) Outside of the Richard Chai show With both girls having advertising campaigns under their belts already (Alberta Ferreti for Dorothea and D&G for Sara), I honestly hope they both become Swedish supers, and the faster the better. They are so cool and friendly—they deserve it.

Skye Stracke's (DNA Models) Statement Lips Jason Wu championed statement lips on the runway. It appears that rising star Skye is bringing that to the streets. Visit Craig at altamiranyc.com.

Abbey Lee (Next) on the fashion month comeback trail Abbey Lee Kershaw as captured outside of the Donna Karan show. Last fashion season, an injury kept her from walking the full fashion-month circuit. So far this season, though, she's walked some of New York Fashion Week's biggest shows like DNKY, Diane von Fursternberg, Altuzarra, and Alexander Wang. Let's hope she keeps it up.