[williamson]

I actually think things are coming around...I have a cousin who works a blue collar job. He will put on a suit every chance he gets. He never goes to a dinner or family function wearing his work clothing...His brother works high end service positions, and he wears a suit too...These cousins of mine are 30-something...

Your whole posting is very sensible, but the points I have quoted stand out. In Britain there are signs that this is happening as well in the age-group you mention and among still younger men. In my experience, it's those in the 50s who seem to resent classical/traditional dressing the most. But in any case, I don't think that this trend has gone quite so far in the UK as in the situations that mfreeman 73 mentions.