a) american culture values rebelliousness, not 'being presumptuous' and has lost the 'proving our moral superiority to others' slant that it used to have when a

a) american culture values rebelliousness, not 'being presumptuous' and has lost the 'proving our moral superiority to others' slant that it used to have when americans dressed up, hence huge casualness these days b) nyc and east coast fashion has largely been about dark colors / clean lines and 'chic' since at least the 50s/60s and probably since the 20s or earlier.. things will be hugely different color-wise outside of the northeast (dc up through boston corridor)