What does the French fashion term "pret a porter" translate to in English?

“Prêt-à-porter” translates into English as “ready-to-wear.” In fashion, it describes garments produced in finished, standardized sizes and sold ready for customers to wear, rather than made individually for one person.

The French phrase literally means “ready to wear” or “ready for wearing.” Prêt-à-porter became especially important after World War II, when fashion houses and manufacturers began combining designer style with industrial production. This made fashionable clothing more widely available than traditional made-to-measure garments.

Prêt-à-porter is different from haute couture, in which garments are made for particular clients, often with extensive handwork and fittings. It is also more than generic mass-market clothing: designer prêt-à-porter collections may be produced in limited runs, presented during fashion weeks, and sold through boutiques or department stores.

A common mix-up is treating “ready-to-wear” as meaning cheap clothing. The term refers primarily to how clothing is sized and sold, not necessarily to its price or quality. “Off-the-rack” and “off-the-peg” are related English expressions, while “ready-to-wear” is the standard translation used in fashion writing.