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Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks

Horatio alger.

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Horatio Alger didn’t coin the adage, “dress for the job you want, not the one you have,” but he certainly believed in it. Clothes are incredibly important in Ragged Dick , a story whose titular fourteen-year-old orphan shines shoes on the streets of New York. In the book, those who wear nice clothes and take care of their appearance, are successful, where those with little care for their apparel, or whose clothing is ill-fitted or worn, are presented as lazy—and thus bound to remain in poverty. This is more than just a reflection of class values or even the late-nineteenth-century obsession with clothing; Alger suggests that the clothes literally make the man. Even a simple upgrade in one’s wardrobe, then, is capable of changing a person and being a springboard into a new life of social respectability and economic prosperity.

Dick ’s new suit —presented to him by Frank Whitney before the two begin their sight-seeing tour—doesn’t just change the way he looks; it changes the way he feels about his life. After seeing himself in the new suit, he realizes how dirty and worthless he looks in his former vagabond clothes and is unwilling to return to them. With this realization comes adjacent ones, like the understanding that he doesn’t want to eat breakfast, or live at, at the same places where boys in vagabond clothes do. It’s not that Dick feels as though he’s suddenly better than these boys. Rather, he feels as though he’s been awakened to a new way of life, one that has shown him who he is capable of becoming. The other boys could be awakened to their potential, too, if they only had the right clothes. In this way, the suit has alienated Dick from his previous existence. He no longer feels like he can be a part of that life, and instead begins making plans for a new one—one better fitting a boy in a nice suit. 

A similar transformation happens to Dick’s friend Fosdick when Dick helps him to purchase a new set of clothes. Fosdick always suspected that he was cut out to be more than a shoeshine boy. Indeed, he expected—because Fosdick had been groomed for college by his father, prior to his untimely death—that he would attend college and live a comfortable life. However, as his deteriorating circumstances forced him into the ragged clothes of a bootblack (someone who shines shoes), his vision for that life began to dim. While Dick’s friendship, coupled with the room and board that Dick provides the boy, give Fosdick a better life, his outlook isn’t improved until Dick buys him a suit. Once adorned in the trappings of a successful young man, however, Fosdick again believes that he can be one—and instantly finds the courage to look for a better job.

Almost as a testament to their figurative statuses in Ragged Dick , neither of the boys’ suits appear susceptible to wear and tear—despite the hard use that the shoeshine boys surely put them to. Both boys own only a single suit, which they wear daily during their long outdoor shifts. Besides the obvious, damaging exposure to the weather, the boys’ work consists of a constant bending down to shine shoes, which would wear the garments out, and a constant exposure to shoe polish itself, which would easily stain them. Indeed, this hard work is precisely the reason that the boys’ former clothes are so dirty, tattered, and generally out of order. Yet the suits are resilient—a testament to the fact that they are more than mere clothes and are, instead, enduring symbols of the boys’ newfound path towards a more respectable life.

It’s no wonder, then, that Dick and Fosdick putting on suits cause such anger in people like the street urchin Micky Maguire , who tries to hurt Dick when he sees him wearing fancy new clothes. Though Micky believes that Dick is “putting on airs” through his sartorial choices, the reality is quite different. Through his clothes, Dick has already taken the first step down the path to a better life. This new life is one that Micky, whose clothes are of the same vagabond sort as Dick’s were previously, will never have access to—not because he doesn’t own a suit, but because he doesn’t want to own one. He is, instead, quite happy to wear tattered hand-me-downs, including Dick’s original clothes, which Maguire steals by story’s end. At that time, Maguire had a chance to steal Dick’s better clothing, as well, but—happy with his station in life—had no desire to do so. Clothes, then, are yet another testament to Dick’s pluck and industrious nature.

Clothes Make the Man ThemeTracker

Clothes Make the Man Quotes in Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks

Another of Dick's faults was his extravagance. Being always wide-awake and ready for business, he earned enough to have supported him comfortably and respectably. There were not a few young clerks who employed Dick from time to time in his professional capacity, who scarcely earned as much as he, greatly as their style and dress exceeded his. But Dick was careless of his earnings.

“I’m afraid you haven’t washed your face this morning,” said Mr. Whitney […]

“They didn’t have no wash-bowls at the hotel where I stopped,” said Dick.

“What hotel did you stop at?”

“The Box Hotel.” “The Box Hotel?” “Yes, sir, I slept in a box on Spruce Street.”

When Dick was dressed in his new attire, with his face and hands clean, and his hair brushed, it was difficult to imagine that he was the same boy.

Dick succeeded in getting quite a neat-looking cap, which corresponded much better with his appearance than the one he had on. The last, not being considered worth keeping, Dick dropped on the sidewalk, from which, on looking back, he saw it picked up by a brother boot-black who appeared to consider it better than his own.

Turning towards our hero, he said, “May I inquire, young man, whether you are largely invested in the Erie Railroad?”

“Did you ever read the Bible?” asked Frank, who had some idea of the neglected state of Dick’s education. “No,” said Dick. “I’ve heard it’s a good book, but I never read one. I ain’t much on readin’. It makes my head ache.”

“Some boys is born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Victoria’s boys is born with a gold spoon, set with di’monds; but gold and silver was scarce when I was born, and mine was pewter.”

“I know his game,” whispered Dick. “Come along and you’ll see what it is.”

I ain’t got no mother. She died when I wasn’t but three years old. My father went to sea; but he went off before mother died, and nothin’ was ever heard of him. I expect he got wrecked, or died at sea.

There isn’t but one thing to do. Just give me back that money, and I’ll see that you’re not touched. If you don’t, I’ll give you up to the first p’liceman we meet.

Save your money, my lad, buy books, and determine to be somebody, and you may yet fill an honorable position.

Mr. Henderson, this is a member of my Sunday school class, for whose good qualities and good abilities I can speak confidently.

Dick read this letter with much satisfaction. It is always pleasant to be remembered, and Dick had so few friends that it was more to him than to boys who are better provided. Again, he felt a new sense of importance in having a letter addressed to him. It was the first letter he had ever received. If it had been sent to him a year before, he would not have been able to read it. But now, thanks to Fosdick's instructions, he could not only read writing, but he could write a very good hand himself.

I've give up sleepin' in boxes, and old wagons, findin' it didn't agree with my constitution. I've hired a room in Mott Street, and have got a private tooter,

who rooms with me and looks after my studies in the evenin'. Mott Street ain't very fashionable; but my manshun on Fifth Avenoo isn't finished yet, and I'm afraid it won't be till I'm a gray-haired veteran. I've got a hundred dollars towards it, which I've saved from my earnin's. I haven't forgot what you and your uncle said to me, and I'm trying to grow up 'spectable.

“…you were ‘Ragged Dick.’ You must drop that name, and think of yourself now as—”

“Richard Hunter, Esq.” said our hero, smiling.

“A young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune,” added Fosdick.

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Clothes Make the Man

By: Richard D. Hartwell

“Clothes make the man.”

“You are judged by your appearance.”

“Your appearance reveals the real you.”

These were some of the admonitions with which I grew up. They were leveled at me almost daily: by my mother, by my stepfather, by teachers, by various and sundry girlfriends. I tried to argue with them, with the logic of them, with the fallacy of following their unstated dicta. All to no avail, as the world was ruled by the illogic of the commandment: dress well, go forth, and the world will be yours! I ignored this advice and continued to dress as the rebel, both with and without a cause, which became a senior high school yearbook caption no less.

I wore blue jeans then. I wear blue jeans now. I wore white tee shirts then with a pack of Pall Malls rolled up in the left sleeve. I quit smoking over twenty-five years ago and I affect oversize, tropical-pattern shirts now to cover my belly. I wore black penny-loafers then with white socks, but the shoes are now brown, just as comfortable, but it seems I’ve now learned to tie my own laces.

Did I lose respect from some for the way I dressed then? Of course! Do I lose it now? Perhaps, from some! Do clothes make the man? No, no more now than then, but do others still make quick judgments based on outward appearance? Of course! And for some, those quick judgments take an infinite amount of time to reverse. For some, those quick judgments become self-fulfilling and never will be reversed.

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Quote Investigator®

Tracing Quotations

Clothes Make the Man. Naked People Have Little or No Influence in Society

Mark Twain? Merle Johnson? Apocryphal?

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.

But I cannot seem to find any direct reference for this quote. The best citation I have seen was dated more than fifteen years after Twain’s death in 1910.

Quote Investigator: The earliest known evidence for this saying was published in the book: “More Maxims of Mark”. This slim volume was compiled by Merle Johnson and privately printed in November 1927. Only fifty first edition copies were created, so gaining access to the work can be difficult. The Rubenstein Rare Book Library at Duke University holds book number 14 of 50. With the help of digital images captured by a friend, QI was able to verify that the quotation is present on page number 6 of this book. Below is the saying under investigation together with the preceding and succeeding entries. Maxims in the work were presented in uppercase: [1] 1927, More Maxims of Mark by Mark Twain, Compiled by Merle Johnson, Quote Page 6, First edition privately printed November 1927; Number 14 of 50 copies. (Verified with page images from the Rubenstein … Continue reading

CIVILIZATION IS A LIMITLESS MULTIPLICATION OF UNNECESSARY NECESSARIES. CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. NAKED PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE OR NO INFLUENCE IN SOCIETY. DO YOUR DUTY TODAY AND REPENT TOMORROW.

Merle Johnson was a rare book collector, and he published the first careful bibliography of Twain’s works in 1910 shortly after the writer’s death. Twain scholars believe that the sayings compiled by Johnson in “More Maxims of Mark” are properly ascribed to Twain.

Here are additional selected citations in chronological order.

The notion that “clothes make the man” has a very long history. The character Polonius employed a version of the saying in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Here is the text from the 1604 quarto held by the Folger Shakespeare Library. Emphasis added to excerpts by QI : [2] Website: The Shakespeare Quartos Archive, Document: 1604 Quarto held by Folger Shakespeare Library, Play Title: Hamlet – The tragicall historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke, Transcription: Created … Continue reading

For the apparrell oft proclaimes the man

In 1847 the periodical “Hogg’s Weekly Instructor” embedded the adage within disapproving commentary: [3] 1847 September 11, Hogg’s Weekly Instructor, Mrs Bells Ball: A Chapter from ‘Levy Lawrence’s Account of Himself’ (In Graham’s Philadelphia Magazine), Start Page 42, … Continue reading

I remarked that I considered him a fool who said ‘clothes make the man’ —it was no such thing, the man makes the clothes . I cited instances of great geniuses who were very slovenly in their dress.

A passage that Twain wrote in one of his notebooks in the period around August 1897 dealt with the theme of this quotation. In 1935 his biographer Albert Bigelow Paine selected material from the author’s collection of notes and published a volume called “Mark Twain’s Notebook”. Here is the relevant passage: [4] 1935, “Mark Twain’s Notebook” by Mark Twain, Edited by Albert Bigelow Paine, Page 337, [August or September 1897], Harper & Brothers, New York. (Verified on paper)

Strip the human race, absolutely naked, and it would be a real democracy. But the introduction of even a rag of tiger skin, or a cowtail, could make a badge of distinction and be the beginning of a monarchy.

In 1905 Twain published a story titled “The Czar’s Soliloquy” in The North American Review. The work began with an epigram that provided the framework of the narrative: [5] 1905 March, The North American Review, Volume 180, Number 3, The Czar’s Soliloquy by Mark Twain, Start Page 321, Quote Page 321 and 322, The North American Review Publishing Company, Franklin … Continue reading

After the Czar’s morning bath it is his habit to meditate an hour before dressing himself—London Times Correspondence.

In the following two short excerpts Twain was writing in the voice of the Czar of Russia. The opinions being expressed were the Czar’s constructed and refracted through the creative prism of Twain’s intellect: [6] 1905 March, The North American Review, Volume 180, Number 3, The Czar’s Soliloquy by Mark Twain, Start Page 321, Quote Page 321 and 322, The North American Review Publishing Company, Franklin … Continue reading

As Teufelsdröckh suggested what would man be—what would any man be—without his clothes? As soon as one stops and thinks over that proposition, one realizes that without his clothes a man would be nothing at all; that the clothes do not merely make the man, the clothes are the man; that without them he is a cipher, a vacancy, a nobody, a nothing. … There is no power without clothes . It is the power that governs the human race. Strip its chiefs to the skin, and no State could be governed; naked officials could exercise no authority; they would look (and be) like everybody else–commonplace, inconsequential.

In 1927 “More Maxims of Mark” was published and it included the quotation as mentioned above in this post: [7] 1927, More Maxims of Mark by Mark Twain, Compiled by Merle Johnson, Quote Page 6, First edition privately printed November 1927; Number 14 of 50 copies. (Verified with page images from the Rubenstein … Continue reading

Many variations of the expression “clothes make the man” have been created over the years. Here are two examples printed in “Esar’s Comic Dictionary” in 1943 [8] 1943, Esar’s Comic Dictionary by Evan Esar, Page 52 and 292, Harvest House, New York. (Verified on paper)

Clothes make the man —uncomfortable. Clothes make the man, but when it comes to a woman, clothes merely show how she is made.

In conclusion, it is reasonable to credit Twain with this quotation despite the fact that the earliest evidence is posthumous.

Image Notes: Clothesline illustration from Poco a Poco: An Elementary Direct Method for Learning Spanish (1922) by Guillermo Hall.

(Thanks to correspondent Timothy Slater who told QI about a German version of the adage: Kleider machen Leute.)

Update History: On May 26, 2017 the citations dated 1604 and 1847 were added.

‘Clothes Make The Man’ Saying Origin & Meaning

The proverb “Clothes make the man” has been around for a long time. It means that the way we dress can influence how others perceive us. There is some truth to the saying. Studies have shown that people do make snap judgments about others based on their appearance. For example, one study found that people who were dressed in expensive clothes were more likely to be seen as competent and trustworthy than those who were dressed in cheap clothes.

Of course, clothes don’t always tell the whole story. A person’s character and personality are more important than their outward appearance. But the way we dress can still make a difference in how others perceive us. If we want to make a good impression, it’s important to dress in a way that is appropriate for the situation and that reflects our personality.

Origin of the idiom “clothes maketh the man”

This idea was first expressed by Homer in his epic poem the Odyssey , and it has been echoed by many other writers and thinkers throughout history, including Erasmus, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain.

The proverb “clothes maketh the man” was first recorded in Latin by Erasmus in his book Adagia . Erasmus quotes Quintilian:

“From these things, you may be sure, men get a good report”

“To dress within the formal limits and with an air gives men, as the Greek line testifies, authority.”

And Quintillan in turn cites Homer, to argue that the way a person dresses can influence how others perceive them. Erasmus believes that dressing well can help a person to project an image of authority and competence.

In Mark Twain’s short story The Czar’s Soliloquy , the Czar is stripped of his clothes and forced to live as a commoner. He soon realizes that the way he dresses has a profound impact on how others treat him. He is treated with respect and deference when he is dressed in fine clothes, but he is ignored and treated with contempt when he is dressed in rags. This experience leads the Czar to conclude that “clothes make the man.”

But even before Erasmus there were variations of the proverb. For example:  “Euer maner and clothyng makyth man” ( Prov. Wisdom , 1400) and “For clothyng oft maketh man.” ( Peter Idley’s Instructions to His Son , 1445).

The Shakespeare connection

All of the portraits proposed as Shakespeare portraits show him to be something of a snappy dresser, and in in his play Hamle t, the pompous, fastidious Polonius proclaims: “The apparel oft proclaims the man”

“Clothes maketh the man” in popular culture

In the film The Matrix , Neo is a computer hacker who lives a double life. When he is working as a hacker, he dresses in casual clothes. But when he is “the One,” he wears a black leather trench coat and sunglasses. This change in clothing symbolizes Neo’s transformation from an ordinary person into a powerful hero.

In the television show Mad Men , the characters are constantly using their clothes to make a statement. Don Draper, for example, is a successful ad executive who always dresses in sharp suits. His clothes reflect his status and authority. Peggy Olson, on the other hand, is a young woman who is trying to break into the male-dominated world of advertising. She uses her clothes to project an image of competence and professionalism.

In video games, players often have the opportunity to choose their character’s appearance. This includes their clothes. The clothes that a player chooses can affect how other players perceive their character. For example, a player who chooses to dress their character in a certain way may be perceived as being more powerful or more skilled.

In comics, superheroes often have distinctive costumes. These costumes are not just for decoration. They often serve a functional purpose. For example, Superman’s costume is made of a special material that is indestructible. This allows him to protect himself from harm while he is fighting crime.

The clothes make the man, right?

Some tips for dressing to impress:

Many books have been written about etiquette, manners, etc. Here are some of the tips in those books regarding making an impression by the way you dress. By following these tips, you can dress in a way that makes a positive impression on others.

• Dress for the occasion. What you wear to a job interview should be different from what you wear to a casual get-together with friends.
• Choose clothes that fit well and flatter your figure.
• Avoid anything that is too revealing or too casual.
• Pay attention to the details. Your clothes should be clean, ironed, and wrinkle free.
• accessorise wisely. A well-chosen scarf, hat, or piece of jewelry can add a touch of sophistication to your outfit.

In conclusion

The idiom “clothes make the man” is a reminder that the way we dress can influence how others perceive us. It is important to choose clothes that reflect our personality and that make us feel confident. When we dress well, we project an image of power, authority, and competence.

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• clothes in A Dictionary of the Bible (2 ed.)
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• Introduction

clothes make the man  

what one wears is taken by others as an essential signal of status. The proverb is recorded in English from the early 15th century, but an earlier saying in classical Greek is, ‘the man is his clothing.’... ...

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Do the Clothes Make the Man?

The psychology of dressing for success.

Posted March 9, 2018

How others see you

“As the self is dressed, it is simultaneously addressed.” – Stone, 1962, p. 102

The old adage, “Dress for the job you want,” may be more than just a pithy saying, and psychologists who study identity have some interesting things to say on the subject.

It’s no secret that clothes, cars, homes, and even cell phones have more than practical functions. They are also used as forms of self-expression that can signal status, group membership, individuality, or personal taste. Through our clothing, we can send each other silent cues that signal to others how we expect them to treat us. This works because we tend to make very quick assessments of situations and people and put them into categories that we already understand. This cognitive shortcut, known as representative bias , saves us precious computational energy, but it also leads us to make sweeping generalizations with very little information. Representative bias is the tendency NOT to treat every person as an individual, but to make assumptions based on traits we observe that are similar to the traits of others that we already understand. A thin, blonde woman in yoga pants getting into a minivan? You already think you know what she’s about. A guy wearing a pinstriped suit, slicked back hair, and a silk pocket scarf? You’re assuming he’s not the janitor. One study even found that people who wore black were seen as more aggressive than those who wore light colors (Vrij, 1997).

How you see yourself

Dressing to impress can influence how others see us, but what’s perhaps less obvious is how it can affect our own sense of self. Some psychologists think that physical objects, like clothes, can be used to change our internal mindset, allowing us to transition more easily into roles that are unfamiliar by first dressing the part (Solomon, 1983). The theory here (technically called symbolic interactionism) is that when we surround ourselves with objects that symbolize a particular role (teacher, biker, executive, gym rat, etc.) our sense of identity begins to interact with those symbols, and we unconsciously begin to behave in the way we expect a person who wears such clothes to behave. This may explain our cultural love of dressing in costume (Halloween, cosplay, theme parties) since it allows us to temporarily don new personalities along with the clothing.

If symbolic interactionism is real, then dressing for the job you want may subconsciously change your behavior, helping you to perform better, and earn that promotion. There is a line you don’t want to cross, though. It is one thing to be your best self. It is another thing altogether to fake competence when you simply don’t have it.

Trying too hard – when clothes are compensation

“Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those we cannot resemble.” – Samuel Johnson

Sometimes, when we lack experience in a certain role, dressing the part can help us get our confidence up, our creative juices flowing, and our go-getter-attitude revved. Sometimes, though, dressing the part is an act of insecurity – masking a reality of incompetence.

When people are unsure about their ability to perform in a role, they sometimes dress the part to compensate for their own insecurity. A classic example of this is how the newly rich tend to engage in ‘conspicuous consumption’ to show their wealth (Warner and Lunt, 1941), while those with ‘old money’ tend to avoid making a show of it (Assael, 1981). One interesting study of business school students found that those who had poor grades and worse job prospects were more likely to wear the ‘uniform’ of a successful businessperson. Expensive watches, suits, and close-cut hair were more commonly worn by the incompetent than the students who excelled (Wicklund et al., 1981).

In short, it would seem that dressing for success has potential benefits beyond how others see you. It may also help you to see yourself in that new role you are working toward, and subconsciously help you to act, and not just look, the part. Be careful, though, since wearing the uniform does not truly compensate for lack of ability. Be honest with yourself if you are compensating and think about upgrading your skill set before you upgrade your wardrobe.

Assael, Henry (1981) Consumer Behavior and Marketing Action, Boston: Kent Publishing.

Rehm, J., Steinleitner, M. and Lilli, W. (1987), Wearing uniforms and aggression–A field experiment. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol., 17: 357–360. doi:10.1002/ejsp.2420170310

Solomon, M. (1983). The Role of Products as Social Stimuli: A Symbolic Interactionism Perspective. Journal of Consumer Research, 10(3), 319-329. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2488804

Stone. G. P. Appearance and the self. In A. M. Rose (Ed.), Human behavior and social processes: An interactionist approach. Boston: Houghton Miffin, 1962.

Vrij, A. (1997), Wearing Black Clothes: The Impact of Offenders' and Suspects' Clothing on Impression Formation. Appl. Cognit. Psychol., 11: 47–53. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-0720(199702)11:1<47::AID-ACP421>3.0.CO;2-H

Warner, W. Loyd, and Lunt, Paul S. (1941) The Social Life of a Modern Community, Yankee City Series, Vol 1, New Haven: Yale University Press.

Wicklund, Robert A., Golwitzer, Peter M., Castelain, P., Korzekwa, P. and Blasko, V. (1981) Various forms of self-symbolizing in Ideological, Occupational, and Domestic self-definitions. Unpublieshed manuscript, University of Texas at Austin.

Sarah Newcomb, Ph.D. , is a behavioral economist at Morningstar and HelloWallet.

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Fill in the form below and receive news in your email box, clothes make the man: definition, meaning, and origin.

The phrase "clothes make the man" is an old saying that points out the significant impact of clothing on a person's image and how they are perceived by others. It suggests that attire can influence one's social standing, professional image, and overall impression.

• It implies that clothing significantly affects how a person is viewed by others.
• It encourages dressing appropriately to enhance one's image and social perception.

What Does "Clothes Make the Man" Mean?

The phrase "clothes make the man" underscores the importance of dressing well and its influence on societal perceptions and personal branding. The saying is often used to express the idea that good clothing can make someone look more competent, professional, and trustworthy. For example , choosing to wear a formal suit for a job interview often leaves a better impression, suggesting seriousness and respect for the occasion. This phrase is a reminder that attire is not merely about fashion, but it also plays a crucial role in how people interact with and judge us.

More about the phrase's meaning:

• It stresses the role of clothing in creating a positive or desired impression.
• The phrase is used to encourage people to dress suitably for various situations.
• It conveys the idea that a person's outfit can enhance their confidence and perceived status.
• This saying is applicable in diverse settings, from professional environments to social gatherings.
• Related expressions include "dress for success" and "the tailor makes the man."

Where Does "Clothes Make the Man" Come From?

This idea was first expressed by Homer in his epic poem, the Odyssey, and it has been echoed by many other writers and thinkers throughout history, including Erasmus, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain. The proverb “clothes maketh the man” was first recorded in Latin by Erasmus in his book Adagia. Erasmus quotes Quintilian: “From these things, you may be sure, men get a good report” and “To dress within the formal limits and with an air gives men, as the Greek line testifies authority.” This implies that dressing well can help a person to project an image of authority and competence.

Historical Example

"Well, if it is true that 'clothes make the man,' "said Mr. Stuart," I am afraid our opinions may not be always correct, and in some cases might not be very charitable." - Hazel; or, Perilpoint Lighthouse by Emily Grace Harding, 1885

10 Examples of "Clothes Make the Man" in Sentences

To understand how this phrase is used in everyday life , let's look at some examples:

• He always believed that clothes make the man , so he dressed sharply for every business meeting.
• She advised her son that clothes make the man as he prepared for his first job interview.
• I am rooting for you in this competition, remember, clothes make the man , so choose your outfit wisely.
• When he started his new role, he remembered the saying clothes make the man and invested in a new wardrobe.
• Have a safe trip , and don't forget, clothes make the man , so pack accordingly to make a good impression.
• Even if you’re old skool , clothes make the man , so dressing appropriately for the occasion is key.
• In the novel, the character transformed his life by following the principle that clothes make the man .
• She saw a motivational quote online saying, "In business, clothes make the man ."
• Want to make waves at the event? Clothes make the man , so choose an outfit that stands out.
• Dress to impress at the gala because, as the saying goes, clothes make the man , and your attire can leave a lasting impression.

Examples of "Clothes Make the Man" in Pop Culture

This phrase is quite popular in pop culture, often used in contexts where appearance is key to character development or storyline.

Here are some notable examples:

• John White's book " CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN: Dress for Success in Business and Life " offers guidance on how men can use their wardrobe to succeed in their personal and professional lives.
• Finnian Burnett's novella " The Clothes Make the Man " delves into its characters' emotional journeys, focusing on the significant role of clothing in their lives.
• In the 1990 film "Joe Versus the Volcano," the character Marshall, portrayed by Ossie Davis, utters the line, " Clothes make the man. I believe that ," underlining the importance of attire.
• Logan's song " Clothes Make the Man ," available on Spotify, explores the theme of how clothing shapes one's identity and the way others perceive them.
• The "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" TV episode titled " Clothes Make the Man ," released in 1994, centers around the characters being duped into buying costly clothing, highlighting the societal focus on outward appearances.

Synonyms: Other Ways to Say "Clothes Make the Man"

Various other phrases convey a similar meaning:

• Dress for success
• Appearance matters
• Fashion defines
• Attire reflects character
• Style speaks volumes
• Wardrobe influences perception
• Dress shapes the person
• Outfit impacts impression
• Clothing speaks
• Garments tell a story

10 Frequently Asked Questions About "Clothes Make the Man":

• What does "clothes make the man" mean?

"Clothes make the man" suggests that a person's attire significantly influences how they are perceived by others. It implies that good dressing can enhance one's image and status.

• How can I use "clothes make the man" in a sentence?

You can use it to emphasize the importance of dressing well. For example: "He always dresses impeccably for interviews, truly believing that clothes make the man."

• Is "clothes make the man" relevant in today's world?

Yes, it remains relevant, especially in professional and social contexts where first impressions based on attire can be crucial.

• Can "clothes make the man" apply to women as well?

Yes, the phrase is gender-neutral in its modern application. It applies to anyone, regardless of gender, emphasizing the importance of appearance.

• Is this phrase often used in the fashion industry?

Yes, it's commonly used in the fashion industry to highlight the impact of clothing on personal branding and image.

• Does dressing well always guarantee success?

No, while dressing well can contribute to a positive impression, success also depends on other factors like skills, experience, and attitude.

• Are there cultures where "clothes make the man" is more relevant?

The importance of attire varies across cultures, but in many societies, particularly those with formal business cultures, this phrase holds significant relevance.

• Can this phrase create pressure to conform to certain dress standards?

Yes, it can lead to pressure to conform to certain dress codes, especially in professional environments.

• How has the meaning of "clothes make the man" evolved over time?

The core idea remains the same, but its application has broadened to include a wider range of personal and professional contexts, and it's more inclusive of different styles and trends.

• Is there a negative side to "clothes make the man"?

Yes, it can perpetuate superficial judgments based on appearance and can sometimes overshadow the importance of a person's character and abilities.

Final Thoughts About "Clothes Make the Man"

The phrase "clothes make the man" is a timeless concept that emphasizes the power of clothing in shaping perceptions. While it's a valuable reminder of the impact of personal appearance, it's also important to balance this with an understanding of the individual's qualities beyond their attire.

• It's a phrase that highlights the influence of clothing on perception and status.
• Applicable to all genders, it's relevant in various cultural and professional contexts.
• While beneficial in some respects, it's important not to rely solely on attire for judgments about a person.
• The phrase has evolved to encompass diverse fashion trends and personal expressions.

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Do Clothes Make the Man? Critical Analysis

We have always been told that its what`s inside that counts, and “the clothes don’t make the man “, I totally agree with this statement. In today`s world media influence people a lot about their body image, men constantly feel to have a muscular body, and wear new brand clothes. Moreover they encounter muscular and well dressed and modish men as example of their ideal body image. Even women see skinny models with fashionable clothes, makeup, jeweler on, and then try to copy them.

People think by doing all this they will be more successful and accepted by society, but they forget that all this artificial stuff could never make a real man with feeling and emotion inside him. Most of the time people get so much distracted by all this artificial stuff that they lose themselves. Most among may say that clothes are the real essence of the style quotient a person carries and I will not deny it either but there’s much more to it, you need to know.

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Men who are conscious of the way they look and the impression they carry about themselves must know that wearing good and expensive clothes does not automatically make you an epitome of style. Being stylish in real sense means knowing oneself from the inside and then reflecting it in a genuine manner. I have often seen men trying to show their nature once they don their branded clothes or sit in an expensive car, and they learn all this from media, magazine. But people forget that clothes look good on you only if they suit your personality, your body shape and circumstances of the occasion. But this again is not all.

Your manner of walking, talking and expressions play a crucial role in determining what your true style as a person is. For example, you must ensure that you are attentive and polite or off-color or bold when necessary . The idea is to try and be yourself with a constant pulse on the situation in your head People and particularly women appreciate men, who show good manners, speak in a manner that evoke interest, know how to listen and offer responses. Also whenever you are talking to someone, particularly a woman, you must show that you are not just interested in her looks but also in her personality and who she is as an individual.

These things speak greatly of a man as a person and you’ll see that you have already come a great deal closer and made a positive impact on your date than you had ever imagined. So turning pages of magazine from photo to photo looking at their stylish clothes, doesn’t tell us that they a good human being. If a person doesn’t have any sense of how to wear clothes it doesn’t mean that he is not successful and he is not a good human being. On media we see characteristic like sweat, hair, it can be control on screen but never escape in reality.

I see that most of the people aren’t satisfied with their clothes, some girls imagine their clothes to be fashionable, jazzy and colorful while others appreciate that the most important accessories in any closet are shoes!. These all comes from media people see same images over and over and start to believe it’s a version of reality. According to me it’s just waste of money to send dollar behind clothes. Moreover ones true personality is due to his nature. Personally I could never tell how a person is by looking at his outfit , so I don’t believe that clothes make the man

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Exploring the Intersection of Art, Faith and the Human experience

Do Clothes Make the Man? An Essay by Edward Knippers

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society – Mark Twain

…apparel oft proclaims the man… – William Shakespeare

the man is his clothing – Classical Greek

Why Clothes?

There is a human compulsion to wear clothes in some amount or shape or style throughout history. Since the body is the one common denominator for all of humankind, why do we fear to uncover it? Why is public nudity a shock or even a personal affront? Why is nudity even in private, at times, shameful? Why is our persona found more in what we wear than in our body, which is the irreducible minimum for our being in this world? Is this the result of the fact that God, for his own reasons, dressed Adam and Eve before sending them out into the world? (Genesis 3:21)

Clothes not only protect us from the elements, but they are a way to extend ourselves into the society of others. Clothes are used in many ways: to project our identity, to hide our identity, to create a false identity or an idealized one of our hopes and dreams. We can use clothes as tools or weapons; to communicate something important about ourselves, to establish dominance over others or set up a false humility. Clothes can help us show outwardly how we feel within, expressing our deepest sense of being non-verbally to the world around us.

Clothes can be a protection against intimacy or an enticement to further intimacy. How we dress can even be used to deny us an intimate look at ourselves as we use them to cover the hard truth of who we are. When we are standing naked, we are exposed in the most rudimentary way. We no longer have the protection that Adam and Eve must have felt in their nudity before the Fall, or the protection of status or the protection of who we have projected or hoped ourselves to be. If we are honest, we see ourselves as a bi-pied Homo sapien. Any dream of transcendence is blunted by our earthbound nature.

The Self Before God

Even more alarming than the exposure of our animal self is that naked, we find ourselves alone in the world and vulnerable before God. No cover, no pretense, no lies about the past or about the future; just the present state of things. Even the most beautiful or the most sculpted body is not all that different from the body that is halt and lame as our true human limitations become abundantly clear when we stand stripped in the presence of our Maker. Is this the fear and condemnation that Adam and Eve felt after the Fall? Is this why they hid themselves? Being a creature of the dirt who is cognizant of his position of isolation in the world is a hard truth indeed.

God knows our weakness, and in His kindness gave garments to our ancient parents even as He banished them from the garden. I like to think that it is because He knew that as we cover ourselves our innate sense of the transcendent, our knowledge of Him and a world beyond, can be entertained more clearly and that with clothes our parents would not be entirely lost to their animal nature. In God’s mercy, clothes can become not an escape from the deficiencies of our animal body, but an instrument of balance between those deficiencies and the perfection that we will have in the New Heaven and the New Earth. This may seem like quite a leap, but I think that this is where we find ourselves in our earthly state. It is in this balancing act between earth and heaven that we recognize our full humanity. Because as Christians, we believe in the actual resurrection of the physical body, our nudity is truly part of both realms, and must be dealt with appropriately. As humans, it is right that we wear clothes. Animals are only of the earth and have no such need, even if some of them might make it through the vale with us. Clothes provide a completion to our humanity not found in our nudity alone, they “…make the man.”

The Body in Art

Since, as humans, we spend most of our lives in clothes, our awareness of the whole person is often dulled. That is why seeing a nude body can be a shock. It is here that the body in art, both nude or dressed, can be an aid as we try to own all of who we are, both the dirt from which we were made, and the Breathe of God that gave us life.

In the light of my arguments for clothing in this article, one might ask why I have chosen to use the nude in my art. Michelangelo once asked when confronted with the same question, “What is more noble a man’s foot or his shoe?” My wife has answered, “Ed is interested in painting the beauty of the body, not cloth.” Both responses get at my reasons for using the nude. But I must add, I want viewers to reconsider the Scriptures in very human terms that might shock them out of their complacency about the things of the spirit. The nude is my way of aiming at the deep and saving Truth given to us by Christ. It is an attempt to strip away our hiding places.

Art is a safe place to contemplate our beauty and power (Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel), our deformities and sin (Max Beckmann’s Departure triptych; Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon ) and the coming death of our physical selves (Nicolas Poussin, The Burial of Phocion ; Francisco Goya, The Third of May; Theodore Gericault , Raft of the Medusa; Ferdinand Hodler’s cycle of The Dying Valentine Gode’-Darel ). Art also provides a private place to consider the ramifications of how our earthbound existence is co-mingled with our heavenly aspirations (Luca Signorelli’s San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto Cathedral; Matthias Grunewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece; Fra Andrea Pozzo’s The Glorification of St. Ignatius, Rome).   Art can also teach us about our potential life with God in a physical body that is everlasting (Hubert and Jan van Eyck , The Ghent Altarpiece ).

The poetry of what we call art allows us to think thoughts that we might never have considered without it. In this poetry, the life of the mind and the life of the heart become enriched and our balancing act between now and eternity is made a little easier. But art won’t save our souls or necessarily make us good people. After all, the top Nazi leaders loved the refinements of art and stole the best of it from wherever it was to be found.

It is Christ who has made the true balance of the body’s place between heaven and earth possible.   Through Christ’s Incarnation our flesh has been redeemed. Therefore we can now look upon the body without worship, the lustful worship demanded by pornography. And, we have no need to entertain the lie that the body as a lesser, or even despicable part of our humanity as do the Gnostics. Having a body is a prerequisite for being human and now, that we can know redemption, we are able to see our physicality in its true light as more than just a throw away container used for the better parts.

As an earthy part of creation, however, even now we are able to make our bodies a living sacrifice to God because of Christ’s real and complete sacrifice for us. In this offering of our bodies, we not only show our hope in the world to come, but we can taste the Glory of His Body and His Blood as we take on the fullness of the life for which we were made, both clothed and unclothed. But we must remember this is temporal. In the world to come we will know God in His fullness and we will no longer need the clothes given to us at our banishment from Eden. We will no longer need all of that diversity of covering that gave expression to status, vanity, anxieties, insecurities, deceptions, desire, shame, hope, and so much more. For in that world we will be seen wearing gloriously white robes, washed in the blood of the Lamb. There, we will no longer be made to perform our precarious balancing act between two worlds, for there we will be home.

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‘Jackpot!’ Review: Dystopia, Hollywood Style

Awkwafina and John Cena star in a fitfully funny near-future comedy with strangely mixed metaphors.

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By Alissa Wilkinson

In the near future, things are not very different. People wear the same clothes as we do, ride the bus to work, call each other on cellphones and stay in terrible Airbnbs run by hosts from hell. In the near future, everything is still expensive. And if you want to be an actor, you move to Los Angeles.

Yet a few things have changed. Following the Great Depression of 2026, the government of California — as desperate for money as its people are — instituted a Grand Lottery in which one citizen of Los Angeles wins some huge sum. Sounds great, but unfortunately whoever wrote the law seems to be a fan of “The Purge.” Until sundown on Lottery Day, anyone who successfully kills the lottery winner (all weapons allowed except guns) gets the winnings. After sundown, murder becomes illegal again, until next year.

Somehow the Michigander Katie (Awkwafina) missed this news, and thus had the bad fortune to arrive in Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting the night before Lottery Day 2030. She, of course, accidentally wins the $3.6 billion jackpot while at an audition. Suddenly, everyone is after her, and the only person she can maybe trust is a “freelance protector” named Noel (John Cena, who may be Hollywood’s most dependably funny actor). He’ll get her safely to sundown. Probably.

This is quite the dystopian view of the future, though other movies have proposed that within a few decades, we’ll resort to state-sanctioned violence to secure our daily bread. In the world of Boots Riley’s comedy “ Sorry to Bother You ,” for instance, game show contestants beat themselves to a pulp to collect money and pay off their debts. Or, of course, there’s “ Squid Game .”

More dystopian, though, is the sense that in this version of the near future, nobody is capable of relating to anyone except through money. Only hours into her new L.A. life, Katie tells off a man (Adam Ray) who’s complaining loudly about his young daughter’s failure to get acting jobs that will line his pockets — as his daughter sits right next to him. Moments later, Katie meets a kind older woman (Becky Ann Baker) who wishes her luck, and then, quietly, swipes Katie’s watch.

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