Your first reformer Pilates class is booked, now, what do you actually wear?
As Pilates instructors and studio owners, we spend a lot of time on the reformer. The best Pilates outfit isn't just about looking cute (although we're definitely not against that). You want pieces that stay put, move with you, and let you focus on class instead of adjusting your clothes every five minutes.
Here's what we actually recommend wearing to reformer Pilates.
Start With a Supportive, Comfortable Sports Bra
For reformer Pilates, you want a sports bra that feels secure without restricting your movement. You'll move through everything from planks and lunges to supine core work, so a bra that shifts, digs in, or needs constant adjusting gets annoying quickly.
Look for a close-to-body fit, comfortable straps, and enough support for your body and the intensity of your class.
Our favorite test? If we'd comfortably teach an entire class in it, it passes.
Leggings or Shorts? Both Work.
You can absolutely wear either leggings or shorts to reformer Pilates.
For leggings, we look for a waistband that stays put through bending, hinging, planking, and feet-in-straps work. Soft, stretchy fabric is great—but you don't want leggings you're constantly pulling back up.
Prefer shorts? Choose a fitted style that gives you coverage as you move through different positions on the reformer.
The most important thing is that your bottoms move with you, rather than becoming something you have to think about during class.
Yes, You Should Wear Grip Socks
Grip socks aren't just part of the Pilates outfit. They're functional.
The non-slip grips underfoot give you additional traction on the reformer and studio floor, which is especially helpful when you're standing on the carriage, working on the footbar, or moving through exercises where stability matters.
They're also one of our favorite ways to make a Pilates outfit more fun.
We design our TCC grip socks with high-quality silicone grip and release them in prints, colors, and designs that coordinate with our activewear—because functional doesn't have to mean boring.
Fitted Clothing Usually Works Best
You don't need skin-tight clothing for Pilates, but extremely loose clothing can sometimes get in the way.
Your instructor needs to be able to see enough of your alignment to cue you properly, and oversized clothing can shift around during exercises where your hips are elevated or you're lying on the carriage.
A fitted tank, sports bra, legging, bike short, or fitted tee generally makes reformer movement easier.
What Should You Avoid Wearing to Reformer Pilates?
There aren't many hard rules, but we'd skip anything that makes movement unnecessarily difficult.
Very loose pants can interfere with the reformer. Clothing with bulky zippers, hardware, or uncomfortable seams may not feel great when you're lying on the carriage. And anything you're already adjusting before class will probably become even more annoying once you start moving.
Jewelry is another thing to consider. Large or dangling pieces can get in the way, so simpler is usually better.
What Do Pilates Instructors Actually Wear?
We live in activewear.
And because we spend so many hours teaching, taking classes, demonstrating exercises, and moving around the studio, we notice the little things quickly: waistbands that roll, shorts that ride up, bras that shift, straps that dig in, and fabrics that don't move the way we need them to.
That's actually part of why The Core Club activewear exists.
Our pieces are designed from an instructor's perspective and tested in our studios for Pilates, sculpt, barre, strength, and everyday movement.
We don't just design it. We teach in it.
The Easy Reformer Pilates Outfit Formula
If you're still wondering what to wear to your first Pilates class, keep it simple:
Supportive sports bra or fitted top + high-waisted leggings or fitted shorts + grip socks.
That's it.
Choose pieces that make you feel comfortable, secure, and ready to move. And if they happen to make a really cute Pilates outfit too? Even better.