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“Fashion has always been my language,” says Anastasiia. “One of my earliest memories is begging my mom for a pleated leather punk skirt at eight years old, she said no, but I knew then that style would always be my rebellion.”
From spikes and bold silhouettes to refined elegance, Anastasiia has built her signature look by blending fearless creativity with timeless sophistication. What began as playful self-expression on social media quickly caught the attention of clothing brands, friends, and followers who all wanted a piece of her daring style. For Anastasiia, every outfit is a new “character,” a chance to shape moods, identities, and stories — and turning that natural passion into a career was the only choice that made sense.
We sat down with Anastasiia to talk about fashion and her work as a stylist on ‘Andrew Lives’ for Yandex Ultima Marketplace.
What do you think sets you apart from other stylists in your field?
I have a rich background in many different areas. Even though I was always interested in styling myself and my friends before doing it professionally, my career path has been quite an adventure. I’ve been a professional dancer competing in championships, built a successful YouTube career and became an influencer in Russia, passed my sociology exam while studying in the UK and reading books on physics and chaos theory, and pursued my acting career in LA.
Through these experiences, I have lived in different cultures, met people from completely different worlds whose paths might never cross, and learned how to see life from multiple perspectives. This allows me to create designs that don’t speak to just one category of people. I can blend cultures, mindsets, ages, languages, and lifestyles into my work, so it resonates universally — whether you’re from a small town in Russia with no connection to fashion, a scientist in Europe, or an influencer girl in LA.
I have lived all of those lives, I have been in their skin, and I know how to connect with each of them individually. I don’t see this kind of diversity in many works today, and I truly believe it’s my ace up the sleeve that sets me apart.
What are some of your favorite styling roles you’ve been involved in?
One of my favorite projects was when I had to style a character who was going to live in a glass apartment for seven days straight, where anyone passing by could watch him — eating, sleeping, working out, everything. Usually, I style a character for a specific occasion, like a music video, a film scene, or a brand’s aesthetic. But in this case, I had to prepare someone for an entire week of real life.
I had to think of everything — pajamas, gym clothes, socks, casual outfits — basically, I was curating his full wardrobe like I would for a friend. It was such a cool challenge, finding ways to make every day, practical clothing still interesting and memorable for the public watching.
Tell us about the Yandex Ultima project.
Yes, Yandex Ultima launched a marketing project to announce that their marketplace now offers clothing from premium brands. To bring attention to this news, they set up a unique installation at Patriarshiye Ponds. Andrew, an ordinary man, “moved in” to a glass apartment for the duration of the project. He lived his normal life behind glass — cleaning, doing hobbies, watching TV, scrolling on his phone — while passersby could watch in real time, as if he were the star of a live reality show. It was a fantastic concept of watching “man” in real time.
Can you share any fun facts from working on the project?
Absolutely! There were never enough socks. We kept running out, and they had to be the exact same ones to match the production-approved outfits. Of course, we had decided to make them a cool detail – not just plain white socks you could buy anywhere – but a specific color scheme with unique designs, since we were promoting a new luxury high-end brands marketplace and the outfits needed to reflect that level.
Then our actor brought his cat to set, and it all went downhill from there – stepping into cat pee, ripping a pair by accident, the floor being dusty, so socks didn’t look presentable enough. It became a whole thing. I must have run to the same store a thousand times, buying crazy amounts, but once they ran out of the designs we needed and delivery would take days, we had to do some serious problem-solving. All I can say is, I now have a very deep understanding of sock brands – so if anyone needs a consultation, I’m your person.
How did you get involved with the brand and project?
BALAGAN Production reached out to my sister and I to work on this project together, and luckily, we were both in Moscow at the time. We loved the concept and decided to take the opportunity — not just for a cool creative project, but also for some family time, which we don’t get much of these days with me living in New York and her in London.
As an international navigating the fashion world in the US, how do your roots and heritage influence your work and the jobs you choose?
It feels like I have a little cheat code in my pocket – a secret tool not everyone can have. My country’s heritage is incredibly rich, especially in fashion. From queens whose outfits were worth millions and carried centuries of history, to breathtaking architecture that’s considered some of the best in the world (and that I never get tired of, even after walking the same streets for 21 years), to intricate traditional prints and garments – my background is a huge source of creative storytelling. It gives me ready-made materials like patterns, silhouettes, and historical references that I can weave directly into my work.
Of course, it’s harder for me – and for any international – to make it in another country, especially in the U.S., where so many people arrive with the same dream of being seen. But the harder the route, the sweeter the result. I’m forever grateful for my roots, which give me those little “superpowers” to carry with me along the way.
Just for fun, can you tell us something we may not know about you?
Aside from having a degree in acting, the area where I lived in the UK was the same place where Harry Potter “lived” with his aunt and uncle – you know with his bedroom under the stairs!
I always thought that scene was on the Warner Brothers studio set! How can people get in touch with you?
The easiest way to connect is via Instagram.
