bk613:
You wrote:
“The attributes you mentioned take years to properly develop while emulating their dress is much simpler.”
So what is accomplished by emulating their dress?
Let’s return to the question of the OP. “Why does wearing a white shirt make you more frum in the yeshivish world? Simple answer – it gives such an impression, based on a belief system (quite a faulty one). In reality, the color of shirt matters more to the one doing the laundry.