A French term for “ready-to-wear,” prêt-a-porter clothes have been around for a long time now. According to one study, the first ready-to-wear clothes appeared in the middle of the 19th century. This was around the time the first sewing machine was built and coincided with a period when women began to shift to less body-hugging garments.
The trend (prêt-a-porter) has since lost its appeal. The majority of today’s consumers now prefer tailor-made clothes where garments are made according to the morphology and desires of the customer. The big question is – is it sometimes wise to go the prêt-a-porter route? Should you from time to time ditch the tailor in favor of ready-to-wear clothes? Below, we look at the reason why it could still be a great option.
1. Easy to shop
If you’re in a hurry, you may not have the time to go to the tailor and have them take your measurements and then design the right garment for you. Take an example of a college student who needs to report to school right away. In such a situation, prêt-a-porter clothes become a worthy alternative. You don’t have to wait for measurement, design and the tailoring process. Simply head to your favorite prêt-a-porter store such as Off-White’s ready-to-wear collection and pick the clothes you like.
2. Easy to replace
Another advantage of prêt-a-porter is the ease of replacing the clothes. Think of it this way. You’ve been invited to a wedding. So, you decide to get the best possible dress for the occasion. Then, on the day before the wedding, as you try to fit the dress to make sure everything is okay, you accidentally spill something on it, leaving a stain that won’t come out! Such accidents happen all the time. But, if yours was a made-to-measure dress, you don’t have to worry much. You can simply go back to the store from where you bought the first dress and purchase a similar replacement.
3. Generally cheaper
True, you’re still going to pay top dollar for the most stylish prêt-a-porter clothes. But, compared to tailor-made garments, they’re a lot cheaper. There are many reasons why. For one, ready-to-wear garments are made in bulk thus reducing production costs. Also, personal tailors typically charge a premium for their speciality services. Before you know it, you could be paying double for that tailor-made dress just because – it’s tailor-made!
4. Easy to find
This is another huge perk of ready-to-wear clothes. Times come when you need to quickly find a new pair of trousers, hundreds of miles away from your favorite tailor, perhaps in a different city or even a different country. In situations like this, off-the-rack clothes can be a lifesaver. Why? Because they’re found everywhere! Whether you’re in a new city or traveling to a new country, you’ll find multiple prêt-a-porter stores there. You can just walk in and identify what fits best.
So, as you can see, ready-made clothes, although no longer very fashionable, are still extremely useful. You might not need one now, but the time comes when they’re your best option.
I use pret a porter clothes almost all the time. I do not have the money to afford design brands.
A tailor? Tailor made clothes? Never in my lifetime. This post is not speaking to many people who use tailors.