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clothing, especially outerwear; garments; attire; raiment.
anything that decorates or covers.
superficial appearance; aspect; guise.
Nautical. the masts, sails, anchor, etc., used to equip a vessel.
Ecclesiastical. a piece of embroidery, usually oblong, on certain vestments, especially on the alb or amice.
to dress or clothe.
to adorn; ornament.
Nautical. to equip (a vessel) with apparel.
Contemporary Examples

The reliance on ever-lower wages is a big problem for apparel companies.
American Apparel’s Dov Charney on the Bangladesh Tragedy Daniel Gross May 7, 2013

When my thirties rolled around I had a great job in the apparel industry and I was busy working hard, dating and having fun.
Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories Harry Siegel February 26, 2013

The new line will accompany an already existing collection of apparel and accessories by Authentic Brands Group.
Protest Mounts Against Rick Ross for Reebok; Zara Comes Under Fire for Slave Labor Claims The Fashion Beast Team April 20, 2013

And the apparel department is right across the aisle from the grocery department—intentionally.
Can the Penny Chic Fashion Blog Make Walmart Chic? Isabel Wilkinson March 21, 2011

“They’re used to shopping online, but they’re just moving into shopping for apparel,” Schroeder says.
Fashion of a Certain Age New Website Halsbrook.com Caters to Mature Shoppers Robin Givhan November 3, 2012

Historical Examples

The peasants are poorly lodged, meagre in their looks, mean in their apparel, and remarkably dirty.
The Expedition of Humphry Clinker Tobias Smollett

His death had made as little change in her apparel as in her general life.
The Strolling Saint Raphael Sabatini

The rest of their apparel was in keeping with it,—plain, substantial and well adapted for comfort, use and economy.
Daniel Boone John S. C. Abbott

Thorpe wondered if it would be possible to consult her upon the question of apparel.
The Market-Place Harold Frederic

She thought this apparel oddly ugly, though the faces were not unattractive.
Port O’ Gold Louis John Stellman

noun
something that covers or adorns, esp outer garments or clothing
(nautical) a vessel’s gear and equipment
verb -els, -elling, -elled (US) -els, -eling, -eled
(archaic) (transitive) to clothe, adorn, etc
v.

mid-13c., “to equip (in any way),” from Old French apareillier (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *appariculare. This is either from Latin apparare “prepare, make ready” (see apparatus), or from Vulgar Latin *ad-particulare “to put things together.” The meaning “to attire in proper clothing” is from mid-14c. Cognate with Italian aparecchiare, Spanish aparejar, Portuguese aparelhar. Related: Appareled; apparelled; appareling; apparelling.
n.

“personal outfit or attire,” early 14c., also “ship’s rigging,” from Old French apareil “preparation,” from apareillier (see apparel (v.)). Earlier in same sense was apparelment (early 14c.).

In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut. 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as “naked” (1 Sam. 19:24; Job 24:10; Isa. 20:2). Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the outer being called the “upper garment” (1 Sam. 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20). (2.) They wore in common an over-garment (“mantle,” Isa. 3:22; 1 Kings 19:13; 2 Kings 2:13), a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be formed into a lap (Ruth 3:15; Ps. 79:12; Prov. 17:23; Luke 6:38). Generals of armies usually wore scarlet robes (Judg. 8:26; Nah. 2:3). A form of conspicuous raiment is mentioned in Luke 20:46; comp. Matt. 23:5. Priests alone wore trousers. Both men and women wore turbans. Kings and nobles usually had a store of costly garments for festive occasions (Isa. 3:22; Zech. 3:4) and for presents (Gen. 45:22; Esther 4:4; 6:8, 11; 1 Sam. 18:4; 2 Kings 5:5; 10:22). Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments (Isa. 20:2; Zech. 13:4; Matt. 3:4).