ready-to-wear
Americannoun
adjective
adjective
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Keith Herron, a finalist in the ready-to-wear category, was head-to-toe in Advisry, his own brand.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Slumped into folding chairs inside his New York studio, renowned designer Marc Jacobs and his brand’s creative director, Joseph Carter, ponder the mood of Jacobs’ Spring 2024 ready-to-wear collection.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
If you're wondering why we're calling the collection Saint Laurent, that's because it's the official name of the ready-to-wear line.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026
Another new arrival, Executive Creative Director Stuart Vevers, had just designed Coach’s first ready-to-wear clothing line, expanding its portfolio beyond bags and accessories.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
The notice is noteworthy when one considers that the ready-to-wear clothing industry and the field of advertising were in their infancy.
From Women's Bathing and Swimming Costume in the United States by Kidwell, Claudia B.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
