Heading to your first pilates class and not sure what to wear? Keep it simple: fitted, stretchy, breathable clothes that move with you. Pilates is full of bending, folding, and balancing, so the goal is an outfit that never gets in the way. Here's exactly what to wear to pilates, in under two minutes.
Building a full studio-to-street wardrobe? See our guides on what to wear to yoga and what to wear to the gym.
The quick answer
Wear a fitted top, stretchy high-waist leggings or bike shorts, and a low-impact sports bra. Skip the shoes — pilates is done barefoot or in grip socks. That's the whole formula.
What to wear to a pilates class
- A fitted top. A snug tank or fitted tee beats a baggy shirt. Your instructor needs to see your form, and loose fabric flips over your head the moment you fold forward. A well-cut tank — like the women's tank in the Connfi collection — is the classic pilates choice.
- Stretchy bottoms. High-waist leggings or bike shorts that feel like a second skin. Check they're not see-through — you'll spend real time on your back with your legs up.
- A low-impact sports bra. Pilates isn't bouncy, so you don't need max compression — just steady, comfortable support.
- Grip socks (for reformer). Mat classes are fine barefoot, but most reformer studios want non-slip grip socks for traction and hygiene.
- A hair tie. Hair out of your face, focus on the movement.
Mat class vs reformer: does the outfit change?
One real difference. Mat pilates is barefoot-friendly and forgiving — the floor doesn't care. A reformer class runs on a sliding carriage with springs, and most studios ask for grip socks (the ones with rubber dots): bare feet slip on the carriage, and regular socks are worse. If you're heading to a reformer studio, the five-dollar pair of grip socks is the one purchase that isn't optional.
Everything else transfers: fitted stays fitted, because on the reformer you're pressing through straps and springs and loose fabric finds every one of them.
The small kit
Three things that quietly improve every pilates experience: hair ties — so much of the class is spent lying back that a bun beats a ponytail (the bump digs into the mat); a water bottle, because studios rarely have fountains mid-class; and a light layer for the walk in and the cool-down — your body warms fast once the springs start arguing, but the first five minutes and the last five run cooler than the middle.
What to avoid
Leave the baggy sweats, zippers, drawstrings, and jewelry at home. Loose clothes hide your alignment and can catch on reformer springs; hard bits dig in the moment you lie down. And skip regular socks on a mat — they're slippery.
For the guys
Men's pilates wear is the same idea: a fitted tee and slim athletic shorts with a snug liner (you'll be glad for it during leg work), or tapered joggers for cooler studios.
Dress so you never think about your clothes mid-class. That's the whole trick.
Comfort first, fit second, logo last. Show up in clothes that move with you and let the work speak — that's the Connfi way, on the reformer and beyond it.