1. Good appearance doesn't guarantee quality: A so-called not properly dressed applicant might be more qualified and knowledgeable than a well-dressed prospect. Therefore it would be proper not to judge them by their appearance.
2. Scammers and criminals hide behind attractive appearances : To deceive people, some criminals dress presentably because they want to divert the attention of their targets. In my location, most Ponzi scheme operators always dress corporately at all times, just to give the people the feeling that their funds are in the custody of responsible persons.
3. Limited time: Thinking of what to wear can be time and strength-consuming. Most people that are too busy with work or other engagements might not give adequate attention to what they wear. As long as the clothing is clean and good to wear, they are okay with them.
4. Weather condition: It is very important to wear clothing that suits the atmospheric condition at a particular time, but most people especially in Africa don't understand this fact. I have been forced to wear a three-piece suit under the hottest sun I have ever experienced because my organization wants me to look presentable and corporate. I was sweating like a Xmas goat and all my clothes got soaked. But a T-shirt. a pair of jeans and a simple shoe would have given me the smartest look at that time.
5. More attention to the inside: Some perceived poor dressers feel that the mental and emotional well-being of an individual supersedes the physical looks. They believe that virtues like creativity, interpersonal skills, selflessness, contentment, etc are far better than appearance.
6. Poverty: indeed, looking good or corporate might not be very expensive but the truth is that some persons cannot afford them. Some individuals cannot provide a meal for themselves because of poverty. It would be unfair to look down on such persons maybe during interviews or business proposal meetings because they are not well dressed. He might be the most qualified.
It is good to look nice and attractive but looking down on people that you feel are not well dressed might not be the best option.
from everything you wrote I have a conclusion.
It is true that a person who looks neat does not guarantee that he is good and professional. but at least someone who is well dressed has the characteristics of being clean, neat and diligent. clothing as a symbol of one's originality.
and actually we don't need to see people from their appearance but from their skills or expertise in the fields needed in the company. but at least if someone wants to apply for a job in a company, they have to look neat, they don't have to be fancy. if someone wanted to apply for a job and only wore sloppy clothes and pants, which CEO would accept that while the way he dressed didn't respect the company's place.
so for me it's natural for a company to look at appearances first to accept new people to be employed at the company. because looking neat starts with being polite to other people or at the company place