You can put a tuxedo on a pig...

You can put a tuxedo on a pig but it's still going to look for a mudhole. From a discussion forum for University of Kentucky Wildcat fans. January 2005.

Never heard that one, but I like it. It reminds me of a similar phrase: You can take the girl out of the docks, but you can't take the docks out of the girl.

DFG