clothes make the man; anyone can look good with the right clothes
Proverb meaning that even a lowly person can look impressive when dressed well. Literally, 'even a packhorse driver looks good in fine clothes'.
彼は普段は地味だけど、スーツを着ると馬子にも衣装だね。
He's usually plain, but when he wears a suit, it's true that clothes make the man.
馬子にも衣装というから、面
They say fine feathers make fine birds, so let's wear proper clothes for the interview.
Standard kanji spelling for this proverb.
Variant using 衣裳 instead of 衣装; both are used.
A traditional Japanese proverb. 馬子 (mago) refers to a packhorse driver, a low-status occupation in old Japan. The saying suggests that even such a person can look presentable with good clothing.