“Reminds me of the story of a Rov who was soliciting tzedaka from a wealthy Yid, and was refused entry to his home based on his mediocre levush. The Rov returned days later dressed exquisitely. He was granted entrace. When offered to sit down to a meal with the Ba’al habayis, he proceeded to put the food, very obviously, in his pockets. The gevir asked shockingly why the Rov was doing such a thing? The Rov responded “clearly it is my outer appearance that you respect”, “not the person that is wearing them”. “So, you are feeding my clothing, not me.”
Great story, and my Rov just told it to us during a shiur. People are very much into appearances, and it is not to our credit as a people that this has become the norm.