A golden bit does not make the horse any better.
An ape's an ape, a varlet's a varlet, though they be clad in silk or scarlet.
An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold.
No fine cloth can hide the clown.
You cannot make a silk purse of a sow's ear.
Hungarian translation /Magyar fordítás
Nem a ruha teszi az embet.
In English: Clothes do not make the man.
Contribution by Kalamar Klara-Piroska
Romanian translation / traducere în română
Haina nu face pe om.
In English: The cloth does not make the man.