clothing in general
"she was refined in her choice of apparel"
"he always bought his clothes at the same store"
"fastidious about his dress"
Clothing.
"The store is having a massive sale on winter apparel, so I decided to grab some new coats and scarves for the cold season."
In plain English: Apparel is just another word for all the clothes you wear.
"She packed her favorite summer apparel for the beach trip."
Usage: Use apparel as a formal or collective term for clothing, often referring to a specific set of garments suited for a particular occasion or group. Avoid using it in casual conversation where simple words like clothes or outfit are more natural and common.
To dress or clothe; to attire.
"She decided to apparel herself in her finest gown for the gala."
"The designer will apparel the mannequin in the latest collection to show how the clothes look when worn."
Usage: Apparel functions only as a noun in modern English and should not be used as a verb. Instead, use synonyms like dress, clothe, or attire when you need a verb meaning to provide clothing.
Apparel comes from the Old French word apareillier, which originally meant to equip or prepare something. The term entered English as a doublet of "parrel," reflecting its journey through French before settling into modern usage for clothing.