Here's why:
* "Pair" refers to two items that are matched or go together. Clothes are typically singular items (e.g., a shirt, a dress, a pair of pants).
* "Pair" is used for specific items that come in twos. For example, "a pair of shoes," "a pair of socks," or "a pair of gloves."
Instead of "a pair of clothes," you can say:
* "An outfit": This refers to a complete set of clothing.
* "A set of clothes": This is more general and could refer to multiple items.
* "Two pieces of clothing": This specifies the exact number.
* "A pair of pants/shorts/jeans": This specifies a specific type of clothing that comes in pairs.
For example:
* Correct: "I need to buy a new outfit for the wedding."
* Correct: "I packed a set of clothes for the trip."
* Correct: "I bought a pair of jeans at the sale."