Fit vs. Outfit: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 20, 2024
Fit refers to how clothing conforms to the body's shape, whereas outfit refers to a set of clothes worn together.
Key Differences
Fit describes how well a piece of clothing conforms to the shape of the wearer’s body. It can refer to the overall tightness, looseness, and appropriateness of the garment. A good fit ensures comfort and enhances appearance, while a poor fit can be uncomfortable and unflattering. Outfit, on the other hand, refers to a complete set of clothes worn together as an ensemble. An outfit includes all clothing items and accessories that create a cohesive look for an occasion or daily wear.
Fit concerns the sizing and tailoring of individual garments, ensuring they match the body’s dimensions and movement. An outfit is more about the coordination and harmony of multiple clothing pieces, including tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories. Putting together a stylish outfit involves combining colors, patterns, and textures to create a pleasing and appropriate look for different occasions.
While fit focuses on the relationship between a single garment and the body, outfit considers the collective visual impact of multiple garments worn together. Both concepts are integral to fashion, but they address different aspects of clothing and personal presentation.
Fit can be adjusted through tailoring to achieve a better match with the body, while an outfit can be adjusted by mixing and matching different clothing pieces to create new looks. Both fit and outfit play essential roles in expressing personal style and ensuring comfort and appropriateness.
Comparison Chart
Definition
How well clothing conforms to the body
A set of clothes worn together
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Focus
Individual garment sizing and tailoring
Coordination of multiple clothing pieces
Importance
Comfort and appearance
Overall style and presentation
Adjustability
Through tailoring
By mixing and matching garments
Consideration
Body dimensions and movement
Colors, patterns, and occasion
Fit and Outfit Definitions
Fit
How a garment conforms to the body.
The fit of the dress was perfect, hugging her curves just right.
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Outfit
A combination of garments and accessories.
His outfit included a hat, scarf, and gloves.
Fit
The suitability of clothing size.
The jeans didn’t fit well around the waist.
Outfit
The coordination of clothing pieces.
Her outfit matched perfectly with her shoes and bag.
Fit
Tailoring adjustments to improve conformity.
She had the suit tailored for a better fit.
Outfit
An ensemble reflecting personal style.
He always wears unique outfits that showcase his personality.
Fit
To be the proper size and shape for
These shoes fit me.
Outfit
A complete set of clothes worn together.
She chose a stylish outfit for the party.
Fit
To cause to be the proper size and shape
The tailor fitted the trousers by shortening them.
Outfit
Clothing selected for a specific occasion.
She prepared a casual outfit for the weekend.
Fit
To measure for proper size
She fitted me for a new jacket.
Outfit
A set of tools or equipment for a specialized purpose
A welder's outfit.
Fit
To be appropriate to; suit
Music that fits your mood.
Outfit
A set of clothing, often with accessories
What outfit are you wearing to the party?.
Fit
To be in conformity or agreement with
Observations that fit the theory nicely.
Outfit
(Informal) An association of persons, especially a military unit or a business organization.
Fit
To make suitable; adapt
Fitted the shelves for large books.
Outfit
The act of equipping
The leader's outfit of the expedition.
Fit
To make ready; prepare
Specialized training fitted her for the job.
Outfit
To provide with necessary equipment
This store outfits skiers.
Fit
To equip; outfit
Fit out a ship.
Outfit
A set of clothing (with accessories).
She wore a fashionable outfit with matching purse and shoes.
Fit
To provide a place or time for
You can't fit any more toys in the box. The doctor can fit you in today.
Outfit
Gear consisting of a set of articles or tools for a specified purpose.
Fit
To insert or adjust so as to be properly in place
Fit a handle on a door.
Outfit
Any cohesive group of people; a unit; such as a military company.
Fit
To be the proper size and shape.
Outfit
(informal) A business or firm.
Should we buy it here, or do you think the outfit across town will have a better deal?
Fit
To be suited; belong
Doesn't fit in with these people.
Outfit
(sports) A sports team.
Fit
To be in harmony; agree
His good mood fit in with the joyful occasion.
Outfit
(statistics) An outlier-sensitive fit.
Fit
Suited, adapted, or acceptable for a given circumstance or purpose
Not a fit time for flippancy.
Outfit
A fiscal year of the Hudson's Bay Company, or the supplies required for such a period.
Fit
Appropriate; proper
Do as you see fit.
Outfit
(transitive) To provide with, usually for a specific purpose.
The expedition was outfitted with proper clothing, food, and other necessities.
Fit
Physically sound; healthy
Keeps fit with diet and exercise.
Outfit
A fitting out, or equipment, as of a ship for a voyage, or of a person for an expedition in an unoccupied region or residence in a foreign land; the expense of, or allowance made for, equipment, as by the government of the United States to a diplomatic agent going abroad.
Fit
(Biology) Able to survive and produce viable offspring in a particular environment
Outfit
Any assemblage of objects required for or used in performing a task; things required as equipment for a task.
Fit
The state, quality, or way of being fitted
The proper fit of means to ends.
Outfit
A complete ensemble of clothing, selected to form a matching set; a coordinated costume; as, a new Easter outfit.
Fit
The manner in which clothing fits
A jacket with a tight fit.
Outfit
A business enterprise; as, what outfit do you work for?.
Fit
The degree of precision with which surfaces are adjusted or adapted to each other in a machine or collection of parts.
Outfit
Any team or party of people.
Fit
A seizure or convulsion, especially one caused by epilepsy.
Outfit
Any cohesive unit such as a military company
Fit
A sudden physical outburst
A fit of coughing.
A fit of laughter.
Outfit
A set of clothing (with accessories);
His getup was exceedingly elegant
Fit
A sudden, involuntary physical reaction
A fit of shivering.
A fit of cramps.
Outfit
Gear consisting of a set of articles or tools for a specified purpose
Fit
A sudden, involuntary mental experience
A fit of amnesia.
A fit of déjà vu.
Outfit
Provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose;
The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities
Fit
A sudden outburst of emotion
A fit of jealousy.
Fit
A sudden period of vigorous activity.
Fit
A section of a poem or ballad.
Fit
Suitable, proper.
You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit.
Fit
Adapted to a purpose or environment.
Survival of the fittest
Fit
In good shape; physically well.
You don't have to be a good climber for Kilimanjaro, but you do have to be fit.
Fit
Sexually attractive; good-looking; fanciable.
I think the girl working in the office is fit.
Fit
Prepared; ready.
Fit
(transitive) To be suitable for.
It fits the purpose.
Fit
(intransitive) To have sufficient space available at some location to be able to be there.
Ten clowns fit in the car, but not a hundred.
A grain of sand will fit in the cave, but an elephant will not.
Fit
(transitive) To conform to in size and shape.
The small shirt doesn't fit me, so I'll buy the medium size.
If I lose a few kilos, the gorgeous wedding dress might fit me.
Fit
(intransitive) To be of the right size and shape
I wanted to borrow my little sister's jeans, but they didn't fit.
That plug fit into the other socket, but it won't go in this one.
Fit
To make conform in size and shape.
I want to fit the drapes to the windows.
Fit
(transitive) To tailor; to change to the appropriate size.
I had a suit fitted by the tailor.
Fit
(transitive) To be in agreement with.
These definitions fit most of the usage.
Fit
(transitive) To adjust.
The regression program fit a line to the data.
Fit
(transitive) To attach, especially when requiring exact positioning or sizing.
Fit
(transitive) To equip or supply.
The chandler will fit us with provisions for a month.
Fit
(transitive) To make ready.
I'm fitting the ship for a summer sail home.
Fit
To be seemly.
Fit
To be proper or becoming.
Fit
(intransitive) To be in harmony.
The paint, the fabrics, the rugs all fit.
Fit
To suffer a fit.
Fit
Fight; fought.
Fit
The degree to which something fits.
This shirt is a bad fit.
Since he put on weight, his jeans have been a tight fit.
Fit
Conformity of elements one to another.
It's hard to get a good fit using second-hand parts.
Fit
The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.
Fit
(advertising) Measure of how well a particular commercial execution captures the character or values of a brand.
The Wonder Bread advertising research results showed the “White Picket Fence” commercial had strong fit ratings.
Fit
(statistics) Goodness of fit.
Fit
(bridge) The quality of a partnership's combined holding of cards in a suit, particularly of trump.
During the auction, it is often a partnership's goal to find an eight-card major suit fit.
Fit
(archaic) A section of a poem or ballad.
Fit
A seizure or convulsion.
My grandfather died after having a fit.
Fit
(medicine) A sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom over a short period of time.
Fit
A sudden outburst of emotion.
He had a laughing fit which lasted more than ten minutes.
She had a fit and threw all of his clothes out through the window.
He threw a fit when his car broke down.
Fit
A sudden burst (of an activity).
Fit
(informal) An outfit, a set of clothing.
How do you like the fit?
Fit
In Old English, a song; a strain; a canto or portion of a ballad; a passus.
To play some pleasant fit.
Fit
The quality of being fit; adjustment; adaptedness; as of dress to the person of the wearer.
Fit
The coincidence of parts that come in contact.
Fit
A stroke or blow.
Curse on that cross, quoth then the Sarazin,That keeps thy body from the bitter fit.
Fit
A sudden and violent attack of a disorder; a stroke of disease, as of epilepsy or apoplexy, which produces convulsions or unconsciousness; a convulsion; a paroxysm; hence, a period of exacerbation of a disease; in general, an attack of disease; as, a fit of sickness.
And when the fit was on him, I did markHow he did shake.
Fit
A mood of any kind which masters or possesses one for a time; a temporary, absorbing affection; a paroxysm; as, a fit of melancholy, of passion, or of laughter.
All fits of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain.
The English, however, were on this subject prone to fits of jealously.
Fit
A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity, or motion, followed by relaxation or inaction; an impulsive and irregular action.
The fits of the season.
Fit
A darting point; a sudden emission.
A tongue of light, a fit of flame.
Fit
Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by art; suited by character, qualitties, circumstances, education, etc.; qualified; competent; worthy.
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in.
Fit audience find, though few.
Fit
Prepared; ready.
So fit to shoot, she singled forth amongher foes who first her quarry's strength should feel.
Fit
Conformed to a standart of duty, properiety, or taste; convenient; meet; becoming; proper.
Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked?
Fit
To make fit or suitable; to adapt to the purpose intended; to qualify; to put into a condition of readiness or preparation.
The time is fitted for the duty.
The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature.
Fit
To bring to a required form and size; to shape aright; to adapt to a model; to adjust; - said especially of the work of a carpenter, machinist, tailor, etc.
The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes.
Fit
To supply with something that is suitable or fit, or that is shaped and adjusted to the use required.
No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves.
Fit
To be suitable to; to answer the requirements of; to be correctly shaped and adjusted to; as, if the coat fits you, put it on.
That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions.
That time best fits the work.
Fit
To be proper or becoming.
Nor fits it to prolong the feast.
Fit
To be adjusted to a particular shape or size; to suit; to be adapted; as, his coat fits very well.
Fit
A display of bad temper;
He had a fit
She threw a tantrum
He made a scene
Fit
A sudden uncontrollable attack;
A paroxysm of giggling
A fit of coughing
Convulsions of laughter
Fit
The manner in which something fits;
I admired the fit of her coat
Fit
A sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason);
A burst of applause
A fit of housecleaning
Fit
Be agreeable or acceptable to;
This suits my needs
Fit
Be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired;
This piece won't fit into the puzzle
Fit
Satisfy a condition or restriction;
Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?
Fit
Make fit;
Fit a dress
He fitted other pieces of paper to his cut-out
Fit
Insert or adjust several objects or people;
Can you fit the toy into the box?
This man can't fit himself into our work environment
Fit
Be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics;
The two stories don't agree in many details
The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
Fit
Conform to some shape or size;
How does this shirt fit?
Fit
Provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose;
The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities
Fit
Make correspond or harmonize;
Match my sweater
Fit
Meeting adequate standards for a purpose;
A fit subject for discussion
It is fit and proper that you be there
Water fit to drink
Fit for duty
Do as you see fit to
Fit
(usually followed by `to' or `for') on the point of or strongly disposed;
In no fit state to continue
Fit to drop
Laughing fit to burst
She was fit to scream
Primed for a fight
We are set to go at any time
Fit
Physically and mentally sound or healthy;
Felt relaxed and fit after their holiday
Keeps fit with diet and exercise
Fit
The tightness or looseness of clothing.
He prefers a loose fit for his casual shirts.
Fit
The overall appearance of clothing when worn.
The fit of the blazer gave him a sharp, professional look.
FAQs
Can fit be altered?
Yes, fit can be improved through tailoring adjustments to better match the body’s dimensions.
What is an outfit?
An outfit is a set of clothes and accessories worn together as a coordinated ensemble.
How do you choose a good outfit?
A good outfit is chosen based on occasion, weather, personal style, and the coordination of colors and patterns.
How does fit affect comfort?
A good fit enhances comfort by ensuring clothing moves well with the body and doesn’t restrict or hang awkwardly.
Can outfits be casual or formal?
Yes, outfits can range from casual to formal, depending on the occasion and the selected clothing pieces.
What is the importance of an outfit?
An outfit is important for creating a cohesive and appropriate look for various occasions, reflecting personal style.
What is fit in clothing?
Fit refers to how well a garment conforms to the shape and size of the wearer's body.
What affects the fit of a garment?
The cut, fabric, size, and tailoring of a garment affect its fit.
Is fit the same for everyone?
No, fit is subjective and depends on personal preference, body shape, and the intended look of the garment.
Are outfits important for special occasions?
Yes, choosing the right outfit is crucial for special occasions to look appropriate and feel confident.
Can a garment have a good fit but be part of a bad outfit?
Yes, a well-fitting garment can be part of a poorly coordinated outfit if it doesn’t match the other pieces.
Can an outfit express personality?
Yes, an outfit can reflect personal style and personality through the choice of colors, patterns, and accessories.
How does tailoring improve fit?
Tailoring customizes the garment to the wearer’s measurements, ensuring a better fit and appearance.
Can an outfit impact first impressions?
Yes, a well-coordinated outfit can significantly impact first impressions by conveying style and attention to detail.
Can fit change over time?
Yes, fit can change due to body changes or wear and tear on the garment.
What role does fabric play in fit?
Fabric affects how a garment drapes and conforms to the body, influencing overall fit.
What makes an outfit stylish?
An outfit is stylish when it combines colors, patterns, and accessories in a way that is visually appealing and appropriate for the occasion.
How does weather affect outfit choices?
Weather dictates the suitability of certain outfits, influencing choices in fabric weight, layering, and accessories.
How do you achieve a perfect fit?
A perfect fit is achieved by selecting the right size, fabric, and tailoring adjustments specific to the individual’s body.
Do fashion trends affect fit?
Yes, fashion trends influence preferred fits, from tight-fitting to relaxed and oversized styles.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
