2kitties and ES,
I could not have said it better. Dress codes exist not because everyone dresses 'ok', but, because everyone doesn't. It isn't a punishment, but a minimum bar, usually.

If you must be who you are, and, that is ONLY defined by how you dress, don't be upset when I label you sleazy white trash...call it art, call it 'style', call it whatever you like...impressions/appearances count, matter, can define you, limit you. I don't know too many jobs that don't expect a certain amount of decorum.