Except this really is a true story. Matthew
Paetz, tall, dark and handsome, can be seen on runways and in ad
campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana.
Those
hazel eyes and chiseled features are all natural; however, the
laid-back, even indifferent look and the day-old stubble on his chin
are pretty much de rigueur for young male models these days.
Matt
was back home in Indiana recently to visit family, including sister
Stacy Paetz, a sideline reporter for Indiana Pacers games, between
trips to London, Milan and points beyond.
How he was discovered:
"I
used to park cars at Rick's Café Boatyard, and a lady came in. I found
her very attractive, and we started talking. She said she had a friend
in Chicago who was a photographer, and she put me in touch with him."
How his friends reacted:
"They
knew it was serious or I wouldn't have been taking such a chance. But
it's a business that's pretty foreign in the Midwest. Unless you're in
New York or Chicago or Miami, they don't really know what it is."
On his career:
"I
told myself I'd give myself a year and see how this business treated
me. If it didn't work out, I was going to go back to school and play
basketball. Five years later I'm still here."
How the job pays:
"A
lot of it depends on experience. That doesn't mean how many years
you've been doing it, but who your clients are and which photographers
you've worked with. Eventually your fee goes up. But you go to casting
calls just like anyone else, and hope to get jobs."
On privacy:
"I
don't like people knowing what I do. I usually tell people I'm in
fashion advertising and that usually ends the conversation. Modeling is
what I do, not who I am."
On his jet-set lifestyle:
"It's
interesting when you go to a new city -- your survival instinct kicks
in. When you get to a new city and all you have is an address and they
say you have to be there by a certain time, it can get pretty
interesting. It's just like 'The Amazing Race.' "
On women versus men in the industry:
"Women
will make more money when they're younger, but their careers are
shorter. . . . I've worked with girls as young as 13. The guys who
model at Abercrombie and Fitch at 18 could very well be modeling for
Eddie Bauer at 30."
How to dress well:
"That
can be very specific, depending on the individual. The one thing that I
can say that applies to myself is that my clothes actually fit. For a
long time everything I wore was baggy, but a tailored look is more of a
grown look. It's a more mature look. You always hear people say, 'Dress
for success,' and it's true. People who pay attention to detail will
take you more seriously."
His other career:
"Real
estate is something my best friend and I have talked about for years.
Our first property was a residential property in Fishers. The
opportunity came along and we jumped at it. I've always had an
entrepreneurial spirit."
Ralph Lauren or Donald Trump?
(Laughter).
"Donald Trump. It's pretty amazing the stuff he's done. It's his
perseverance, the failures he's had and how he's done after them. Now
he's a brand name, not just an investor. He worked for it. He's a very
smart individual."
