This was probably proposed to them by "advisers" to the kerry camp. "Don't appear flashy, well-to-do," blah, blah, blah. Because everyone knows how wealthy the kerry and edwards are.
That's my take.
If I had 50 million dollars, I could look a LOT better while I was "dressing down."
It would have been nice if Elizabeth had bothered to comb her hair before she trotted out on stage tho.....