>>>it seems to me that the real "look" of 2000+ has been the look of self-expression. a real "i don't care what you're into or why you're into it, but you are so i might as well just get over my own pre-conceptions and deal with it like an adult" kind of thing<<<
Um, or more correctly..."Faux" self expression, meaning people wearing shirts stores, mtv, and the radio and trends tell them is cool. Thats why the once underground anime Dragon Ball Z is worn by every hip urban kid in the mall.
Heck yeah, ya sound like me...100% of the shirts i wear are black hobby related, or 'comic' book shirts(ie: from hot topic, online or comic shops) they would include my fave bands, and lots of invader zim/anime/video games/muppet shirts. I wear 100% of the time shorts and a black tshirt with one of the above.
But when 99.9% of girls wear shirts that say '****', 'angel', 'innocent', tongue rings, circa 1976 jeans...and all the guys wear abercrombie, have razor wire tattoos around their arms...its a sad state of affairs.
As far as 70's retro chic, I dont have to explain why that just looks bad. The Muppets and the advent of the video game were probably the only cool thing from that wrestched era...as I cant recall a time when fashion looked so hideous. I rather see 80's fashion back in...heck 1680's Victorian fashion than 1970's!!!