In New York and Milan, Will Defiel hits the runway in the latest from Calvin Klein or Dolce & Gabbana.
Behind the scenes, he's likely hitting the books. Or e-mailing back to Minnesota to keep up both with classes — Defiel is a full-time senior at the University of Minnesota as well as a part-time model at Vision Management Group — and with his other part-time job, selling ads for The Minnesota Daily, the campus newspaper.
Modeling is fun — the travel, the people — but also stressful, says Defiel, 21, a Stillwater native. Fashion Weeks are crazy, with 10- to 12-hour days of running to casting calls, meeting designers and waiting.
"Sometimes you wait for an hour and a half just to go in for 20 seconds and have the guy go, 'You're not the right body type,'" Defiel explains. "It can be really frustrating waiting but it definitely pays off in the end. It's a lot of fun when you actually get to do the shows."
Defiel began modeling in 2008. Last year, he was the face of Calvin Klein's men's collection for fall/winter. He just returned from Milan, where he did Fashion Week shows for Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander McQueen.
Defiel, majoring in marketing and international business at the U's Carlson School of Management, plans to graduate in May. He hopes to work for Calvin Klein again in late February at New York's Fashion Week but only if he can avoid missing much class time.
"I'd rather finish school than miss a mid-term and risk not graduating," he says.
Three and out with Will Defiel
- Blue Steel, Le Tigre or Magnum?
One of my favorite ("Zoolander") quotes is Will Ferrell, when he says, "They're the same thing! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" I'll be on a shoot and sometimes they're like, "Do something a little more serious." I'll do the same thing and they'll go, "That's great!" I'll think, "I'm glad I changed it up for you."
- Modeling or marketing?
I've been applying for jobs as well as establishing contacts for modeling. A really good career job ... that would definitely take precedence over modeling. Modeling is fun but it's also a very unstable income. I like to manage my money and know what I've got.
- What's the hardest part of modeling?
There's a lot of rejection involved. The toughest part is stressing about making enough money to cover your expenses. Making sure I get enough jobs.
