Sadly, our generation has adopted the standard that the clothes make the man. For anyone that has studied Torah, there are countless references to the contrary.
Chassidus does give ample basis to the influence of chitzoniyus on pnimiyus. However, to be defined by the choice of clothing is beyond anything Torah recommends. רחמנא ליבא בעי is a clear reference to the ultimate being the internal. The cloak of honor, when incongruent with the internal is what was described by Shlomo Hamelech – נזם זהב באף חזיר.
The dress codes in yeshivos may be based on a good idea, but they have achieved a momentum of their own, and no longer are directed at the growth of the talmid. Just visit the photos of many of today’s Gedolei Yisroel as they dressed in Europe as talmidim in yeshivos there. If a talmid today wore those clothes, he would be expelled on sight. Can someone show me what changed? Sure, the streets are not the same, and our generation has its share of contemporary nisyonos. Where are the budding Gedolei Yisroel that emerge from this dress code controlled generation? Will they become great because of their dedication to Torah and Avodas Hashem, or will they attribute their greatness to having worn a white shirt from age 13?
I am anxious to hear others’ thoughts on this.