You have heard it said, "Clothes make the man." Or perhaps it was put this way: "You are what you wear." We may laugh off these old truisms but you and I are more deeply influenced by clothing than we think. Flashy, expensive clothes impress us. So do uniforms. So do specialized occupational and professional clothes.

Why do we quickly reduce our driving speed when we see a uniformed patrolman or immediately feel guilty when a policeman comes to our door? Why will a crowd of otherwise profane men quit swearing when a priest or pastor wearing a backward collar shows up? Why do judges continue to wear robes - and, in England, even wigs? Why are we more apt to believe vitamin ads on TV if the person holding the pills wears a white doctor's coat?

Clothing has an effect on us.

These effects are oft…