IMO there are minimums of appearance that should be met depending on the industry. Some people should be more concerned about their appearance. Others get way too into it.

From the time I started law school until last year I had only purchased one coat. It was the kind of coat that could be worn outside in the snow and was probably best left in the car if making a court appearance. I understood that and I would leave the coat in the car and just have the suit coat in those circumstances. I never worried about buying a fancy coat for the cold because I have always lived in places where you only need a coat for about two weeks out of the year.

As a young associate I would wear my coat to the office during that two week period when it was cold enough. I walked into a back door where clients didn't see me. If I met with clients that expected a suit jacket, I put my suit jacket on before meeting with them. For some reason, my "audacity" in wearing my coat to the office really bothered the managing partner of the office. Every time he saw me in the coat during this two week time period, he would smirk and say, "Going skiing?" To this day I think the guy is a major league jack rabbit.