There is no genetic component regulating how an individual reacts to people in suits, but there is still some merit in the idea. Some individuals are more suggestible than others (google "Suggestibility personality trait") and may be more influenced by individuals in positions of power than others.

In western culture, a person in a suit is normally someone who is important because of their knowledge, power, wealth, ect. This is a stereotype that people have been exposed to from a young age. This is especially true as students typically see teachers who are usually dressed in a more professional manner. Thus, an individual who dresses in a suit may have an easier time convincing others that they have some authority by tapping into this (sub)conscious stereotype.

Also keep in mind the separation of labour: you do not see general laborers dressed in suits, but rather the people in charge of them (management) are usually required to wear more formal work clothing. While I think the division of labour is rather silly in its' modern form, the barrier between those who work with their hands and those that work with their minds is often reflected, in some degree, by the way they dress. This is the result of social, economic, and personal factors which impact all of us, every day.