I'm well aware they are likely required, but are they required to also glare disapprovingly at those that aren't?
And I think he meant that the concept of suits themselves are quite useless.
Suits are every bit as useless as a nicely decorated house, a well-presented meal, a polished musical performance, a well-tied ribbon on a gift. We're humans, and aesthetics matter. Whether you achieve these things prudently or wastefully says nothing about the value of the things themselves.
"The suits" shouldn't act like they're superior, but that doesn't make suits useless.
I have a strong sense of aesthetics which is not something I chose: I was just born with it - I can remember sitting fascinated for ages by light coming through a window and hitting a jar of multi-coloured buttons when I was four. I'm most sensitive to quality of light, colour and visual order. I function fine, but I feel a bit out of sorts when these things are not at a good level in my environment.
This doesn't mean I'm a snob or that I need everything to be a certain way. What it does mean is that I feel noticeably better when things look great around me. It impacts my daily happiness. I know this differs from person to person because others in my family have a totally different reaction (ie. my sons don't really care).
What my sense of aesthetics has given me are a few hobbies. I avoid clutter but I seek to increase the aesthetic value of each peice I do own and use daily. This means I buy second-hand quality china and hand-carved side tables and art. We have a fire every day and candles. I'm currently replacing my dishes with mismatched vintage china after learning that it can be put in the dishwasher. Same with silverware.
I don't feel the same way about suits somehow. I've had to wear my fair share and I find them uncomfortable. Along with a sensitivity to visual objects, I also have a sensitivity to the feel of certain fabrics. Most suits are wool or man-made fabrics and if they are linen they wrinkle horribly. I have cultivated a lifestyle in which suits are no longer necessary except for maybe once or twice a year, at least in part because I just don't want to wear them.
Well-tied ribbons? They don't matter to me enough to spend time on this, although I notice it. I feel slightly guilty re. the environment on this.
Well-presented meal? I do like this and appreciate it a lot.
I differentiate between satisfying my inward aesthetic sense and appreciation and choices fostered by a consumer culture. I spend very little on aesthetics and enjoy the hobby, I feel overwhelmed by the constant consumption and creation of unecessary goods. I find going to a mall to be exhausting and disheartening.
