I found myself struggling a bit in order to get it but I think it is not that hard and that the explanations are good. The tutorial should have everything you need, actually maybe it has too much, which might make it a bit more complex. It is possible to get a tutorial to carry around with your character (I don't remember if it was the trainer that had it has an option or if I bought it). Anyway, my personal experience was that for me I could not take it all at once. I did some of the tutorial and then had to step back, wait a day and do the rest. If i tried to get it all at once i just got too confused, so I would say let it sink, sleep over it and then try again slowly without expecting to get it in the first hours you play. I think that since it is a new sphere it is not so trivial as adventuring so it takes a bit more effort. I'm lvl 53 now and I still struggle with low lvl NPC's but i am not quiting. Sometimes it is worth to try and parley with others out there to gain some experience.
As to the clothes, I haven't bothered too much with it yet, I take it slow, I know they influence to whom you can speak (your presence) but I don't think they affect your colors (someone correct me if I am wrong). Actually there is a part of the training that deals with the colors and how each race and their faction (crafter, diplomate, guard, noble) use the colors. These will tell what kind of cards oyu can expect from them and in your strategy you can make sure that if you don't have anything to take points away from them you can at least not give them those points with the cards you play.
Another thing is that each race has their preferred cards. As a raki I use the yellow ones (flatery), and for some reason I don't remember now I always get an extra green (reason) point whenever I parley.
Ok i hopethis sheds some light but I noticed that i'm somehow not being too coherent, which might make it worse....
Just take it easy and don't get too frustated, it will slowly think in
