The actual percentage isn't really that important. The fact is that it's much higher than most think. I think this subject is a huge lapse in awareness in the community. In other words, I perceive that most men have no idea about the deep things that clothing communicates to women.
Clothing tends to smooth over and blurr what otherwise would be unattractive to women. It is a true analog to women's makeup. It is a billboard that screams out to them, "Here is what I think of myself and how I see my place in the world."
Most of those old, over-played sayings are based on solid truth. The old phrase, "Clothing makes the man" exists because well, clothing makes the man. It's universal.
Your clothing is your suit of armour. You decide whether to polish it and present yourself with self-respect or conversely to present your self as a man of neglect. We are talking subtleties here. It is very easy to rise above the competition with clothing and to compensate for a lack of good genes.
Again, we are talking about women's perceptions here, not men's. But come to think of it, isn't it true that if we are dealing with two men in any setting, with one being well dressed and the other very average, that we will extend more respect to the well-dressed man, DESPITE their innate looks? The armour is polished and therefore we know that the man is polished.
Men, I advise you to amp up your game with neat, well-fitting clothing. You will be very happy with the additional attention you get. Don't go overboard and get all metro... that's an extreme you don't want any part of. Women, in general, like subtle attention to personal neatness and hygiene while still maintaining a slight rough, unkempt edge.
Regarding feet, they go barefoot so often because it is ingrained in our culture. It's just the societal norm. Believe me, they are comparing their feet with each other constantly. I have actually walked in on women standing in a circle with one shoe off comparing their feet, LOL. I've seen that at least 4 times.
I've read many polls where women are asked which is the most disliked part of their body. Overwhelmingly the majority say "my feet".
Since they dislike feet on a core level, they LOVE anything that enhances their appearance. Hence their fascination with shoes. WHen a woman evaluates a man, just watch her. Face first, then right down to the shoes. She can tell a lot about you from your shoes. Every time I wear nice shoes (not expensive, just clean and polished if leather), I get compliments and "the look".
In business and in personal life, I personally will judge any man on how he presents himself with his clothing. I will not be nearly as concerned with genetic good looks as I am with presentation. It works that way with women, too. They are looking for presentation. Clothing does indeed make the man.
