Ready-to-wear
Finished clothing sold in standard sizes, rather than made from scratch for one person's measurements.
What does Ready-to-wear mean?
Ready-to-wear, often shortened to RTW or called off-the-rack, means a garment is produced in a size range and offered already made. Most everyday clothing is ready-to-wear. A piece can still be shortened or adjusted after purchase; the term describes how it was initially produced and sold, not whether it will fit perfectly straight away.
What it looks like in real life
You buy trousers in a standard size, then have the hems shortened so they work with the shoes you actually wear. The trousers remain ready-to-wear; the alteration simply makes that existing garment more useful to you.
What people often get wrong
Ready-to-wear is not a quality grade and does not mean a garment is disposable. It differs from bespoke clothing made to an individual brief and from made-to-measure clothing adapted from a standard pattern. Designer collections can also be ready-to-wear, so price alone does not define the category.
How to use the idea
Use measurements, not only the size label, when comparing pieces. Check fit in the areas hardest to alter, such as shoulders or the rise of trousers. If a small adjustment would make an otherwise good item wearable, ask a tailor before replacing it.