Plain T-shirt? Boring sweatshirt? Same casual jeans every day with flip flops? Not for Eric Mondragon. This 19-year-old Fresno City College music student shows by
his dressing that appearance does matter and that it’s OK for guys to care about their style.
Every day, Mondragon can be seen walking around campus in a fancy but modern and cool-looking blazer, tastefully paired with casual jeans. He loves layering and adding details such as a Jesus-print tie today.
Although he always looks very put together, Mondragon is not one of those lucky people who were just born to be stylish. He said his interest in fashion did not really develop until this semester but it has changed his life a lot so far. Mondragon came to FCC from California State University, Fresno, where he got poor grades in his first semester. He explained that he was going through rough times after a break-up and it wasn’t easy for him to stay out of trouble. He felt like he had no direction and did not care how he looked or the way he presented himself. Mondragon said his second semester at Fresno State was going better than the first one, but he decided to change colleges and start a new life, one in which fashion played a huge role.
“Before that, I would still buy nice clothes,” said Mondragon. “But I would be that guy who would only wear one set of clothing because he knew that it looked good for sure. I was scared to experiment.”
But after watching other people pulling great outfits from pieces, that at first sight, would not seem to match, he gave it a try.
Mondragon says he does not have any style icons that he looks up to; instead, he relies on himself, dressing according to his mood. He likes to go through his dad’s closet and thrift stores, picking out interesting pieces that would represent him. “Every day, I try to look my nicest,” said Mondragon. “When I dress up I feel and act more responsible for what I do and what I say.”
Style inspiration “Sleek-appropriate”
Music “Classical, jazz, opera”
Food “I hate but I love fast food only because I rarely eat it”
Favorite place in Fresno “Invite me”
Place to travel “Anywhere”
Color “Green”
