::: Moderator interjection ::::
The topic of this thread is the “fashions” and fads of the lowest economic, lowest education, southern demographic. I don’t give a shit what name you attach to it.
If you want to debate whether the term “white trash” is offensive enough to warrant being excluded from the SDMB, please start such a thread in either Great Debates or the Pit or even ATMB (one location only, please.)
My bad, I didn’t realize “white trash” only resided south of the Mason-Dixon.
Last minute addition:
My recollection is that we decide that the last time this was debated, our official moderator ruling was that there are a number of terms that are offensive, but that doesn’t mean that we forbid their use. Our rules forbid “hate speech” – there’s a difference between hate-speech and offensive language.
“Fuck” and “shit” are offensive language but we’re not about to exclude their use. Ethnic slurs like wop, mick, etc are offensive language, but ditto ditto. The only words that I can think of that are both offensive and (usually) border on hate-speech are “nigger” and “kike.” Even then we know there are perfectly reasonable uses (quoting one of Mark Twain’s characters, for instance.)
In short, this thread is about fashions and fads within a certain demographic, however defined. Please stay on topic.
I agree. IMO white trash is not geographically restricted; calling it Appalachian or Southern is incorrect. I live in Los Angeles county and there is plenty of white trash here. Much closer to me than I would like to admit.
I own my own home - I am UPPER white trash and proud of it! 
I don’t have a mullet, hunt or fish, but I do have my own sense of fashion. I’ve recently started dressing-down to fit in with the new position I have in a warehouse office. Had to buy a pair of jeans and, my new favorite, capris in a butterfly-patterned camo print purchased at our new Kohl’s.
Returning to fashion questions: I always heard the term “trucker wallet” for wallets on chains, especially big wallets (checkbook-sized) on chains. I thought this was because truckers on long trips had to bring a checkbook and/or lots of cash (back before plastic was ubiquitous), and having brought them, chained them as an anti-theft precaution. But I don’t know any truckers, so I’m just speculating. Does this sound reasonable?
Sure.
How about “rednecks”? Is that satisfactory?
I suggest we consider which epithets we would well safe in using in a West Virginia bar.
I think most of the items mentioned in this thread might be more aptly described as “truck stop fashion” or “gas station fashion”, thereby avoiding the gratuituous and inflammatory references to race and class. Black T-shirts with airbrushed wolves are indeed ubiquitous in gas stations and truck stops, which usually sell a limited amount of clothing along with more typical travel items like snacks and auto products.
I imagine that low inventory turnover and long lags between stock and sale account for the minimal evolution in fashion. Even a store like Wal-Mart buys new inventory each season and expects to turn most of it over in short order. They want something that will sell now. Whereas your typical gas station, if it sells clothing, wants something that will sell eventually, and if truckers who forgot to pack enough T-shirts have bought airbrushed wolves over the past five years, then it’s probably safe to keep stocking them for the next five years.
Moderator repeats himself (like history): Discussion of what is or isn’t “white trash” and whether it is (or isn’t) an offensive term is NOT for this thread. For that discussion, go here: "white trash" - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board
This thread is about discussion of fashions for a certain socio-economic group.
To me, that is not white trash fashion. That’s wanna-be scooter-trash fashion. Or maybe wanna-be generic tough-guy fashion.
White trash fashion is more along the lines of ill-fitting (women tend to wear it --whatever it may be – too tight, men either a size too large or a size too small), a little too loud, not quite appropriate for the venue, and often not quite appropriate with the rest of the outfit (ballcap with a funeral suit, for example), and while not necessarily inexpensive, the clothing appears cheap because of the material, workmanship and/or poor fit.
As for the OP’s question, I haven’t the vaguest idea. We’re talking 'bout white trash here, so I assume it’s because they either like it that way or don’t know any better. 
As for the other part of the discussion, “white trash” is most assuredly not confined to any single socioeconomic group, be it the currently economically disadvantaged, those with economically disadvantaged backgrounds, trailer parks, or the South. They come in all shapes, sizes, income levels, and locations. The only accurate descriptive adjectives are White and Trash.
How about oil-stained Carhartt coveralls, that’s white trash isn’t it?..or really anything with the Carhartt logo on it, weather it’s oil-stained or not. I suppose it’s one thing to wear it when you’re working in “the shop”, but not the whole day.