I'm sort of in the middle on the fashion issue.   Every generation has its own fashion statement.   In the sixties there were mini skirts, long hair and more - I remember my parents being horrified at some of the things they wore.

Sure MTV has created images, but it caters to physical of fashion perfection in the same way as the 60's did. If you had a crew cut in the 60's you were "square".

Folk, blues, gospel and bluegrass may not cater to the bare midriff crowd, but when someone from the bare midriff crowd comes into folk they are immediately singled out. Each crowd maintains an image that becomes hard to break.   We aren't unique.