The other side of greed and decadence was a brazen vitality. Toughs flaunted their defiance of “good” society by attiring themselves in what became known as their “three sacred regalia,” an irreverent takeoff on the sanctified regalia of the emperor. In place of the imperial mirror, sword, and jewel, they were identified by their predilection for aloha shirts, nylon belts, and rubber-soled shoes.
