I remember reading that Washington strove at all times to observe strict propriety in all things and was excessively careful about appearances, his own and that of his associates… he never wanted to appear as anything short of proper and a gentleman.
America showed King George III what they thought of hereditary monarchies and made itself into a country without an aristocracy (truly a novel idea)... that said, the real distinction between people was not wealth, titles or rank.
Nothing demonstrated your status in society so much as your demeanor. No matter what you owned or what rank you held, if you did not possess acceptable manners and correct deportment, you would be excluded from good society and would be held in low esteem. No on wanted to be seen in that light.
I think our Olympic Snowboarders with their grungewear and ipods earbuds would of faced a good tongue lashing by the Father of our Country.