ready-to-wear

American  

[red-ee-tuh-wair] / ˈrɛd i təˈwɛər /

noun

1. clothing made in standard sizes; ready-made clothing.

---

adjective

1. pertaining to or dealing in such clothing.

   the ready-to-wear business; a ready-to-wear shop.

ready-to-wear British  

adjective

1. (of clothes) not tailored for the wearer; of a standard size

---

noun

1. an article or suit of such clothes

Etymology

Origin of ready-to-wear

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Explanation

Use the adjective ready-to-wear to describe clothes that are made in standard sizes and sold in stores. If you buy a pair of jeans at the mall and put them on as soon as you get home, they're ready-to-wear. Almost all clothing is ready-to-wear — the opposite is tailor-made clothing, which you can also call bespoke or made to measure. These much fancier and more expensive garments are sewn especially for the wearer's body, while ready-to-wear clothes are more affordable and — inevitably — fit less perfectly. In French, the term is prêt-à-porter, "off the rack" or "off the peg."

Example Sentences

Starched clothes, suits protected by plastic bags from the dry cleaner, button-down shirts ready to wear all stood in his closet on hanger after hanger.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2023

She put her little girl back in diapers, and a few weeks later, the 2-year-old announced herself that she was ready to wear her princess underwear again.

From Washington Post • Dec. 23, 2022

There wouldn’t even be a ready to wear line for another 10 years.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2022

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, but he’s not ready to wear a suit and tie.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2021

Fortunately, the paints dry fast, and by four o'clock, it was ready to wear.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg