What's the difference between "clothes" and "clothing"?

I don't really see much of a difference, myself. Clothing seems more old-fashioned or formal but that may be simply my local dialect coming into play.

I also get a sort of sense of difference like that of "tu versus vous" in French. Clothes is more familiar. Clothing looks at the totality of what is worn as a unit, but clothes looks at each item as a unit (which is why it is plural). When you say clothes, you refer to each item as being possibly distinct and individual, whereas clothing refers to the entire apparel at once.

The Men's clothing department is where you will find men's clothes (socks, shirts, pants, belts, etc.)

Never really thought about it before. an interesting question.

Not much; it's all in the way you use the nouns. "Clothing" implies an overall covering, as in: "She was dressed in nun's clothing." There is a subtle difference if you say, "She was dressed in nun's clothes."

They basically mean the same thing....clothing is what you wear.....clothes means to cover up or get dressed...