What does the saying “Put a silk hat on a pig” really mean?

I think it means to dress something up – but underneath you still have the same problem

It means that you shouldn’t try to make something into what its not. If you put a silk hat on a pig its still a dirty pig (exept now it has a hat) It means don’t waste your time making something into what its not

Pig In A Hat

I think, more importantly, it means you can t change anything by changing the way it looks! A pig is a pig, is a pig and it doesn t change by dressing it up!