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.

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.