Dressing like your audience is essential.
Nehemiah knew not to look sad and forlorn before the
king since he was the cupbearer.
One minute, Joseph was in prison, but the next minute he
was before Pharoah. However, he didn’t go before
Pharoah dressed in his prison garb. Not only that, but
Joseph changed his apparel and was clean shaven.
Paul said to the Jews, he became a Jew, to the Greeks he
became a Greek. Paul knew how to address different
groups too with the same core message.
“And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” – 1 Corinthians 9: 20-23
Paul knew enough about his audience that he could
address them differently while not changing his message
of the gospel. You wouldn’t show up to a high-level
executive meeting in shorts and a t-shirt. At the same
time, a business suit would not be the right outfit for an
elementary school teacher. The more you dress
(modestly of course) like your audience, the more they
can connect with you.
Remember that, while as Christians, we don’t go by what
we see, the world does. However, we are kings and priest
unto God (1 Peter). We need to conduct ourselves as
such and remember that everywhere we go we are
ambassadors for our king Jesus Christ. Part of
representing the king well is taking care of your health
and personal hygiene.