Wear fitted leggings or capris, a close-fitting top or sports bra, and grip socks. Leave out zips, buttons, drawstrings and loose hems, because on a reformer they press into your back, rub against the padding, or catch in the springs and straps. The same outfit works for mat Pilates, where bare feet are usually fine too.
Pilates is a low-impact method of slow, controlled strength and mobility exercises, done on a mat or on spring-loaded equipment. A reformer is a narrow padded carriage that slides along a frame, with adjustable springs for resistance and straps to hold. It was first designed to help people recover from injuries, according to exercise and physiotherapy researchers at the University of South Australia writing in The Conversation. It is also busy right now: Pilates was the most-booked workout on ClassPass in 2024, with bookings up 84% on 2023, the company's marketing lead told Athletech News.
Key takeaways
- Fitted beats loose on every count: the instructor can see your alignment, and nothing dangles near the springs.
- Anything hard on your back or hips, like a zip or a rivet, is the one thing to avoid on a reformer.
- Full-length leggings suit kneeling and side-lying work; capris keep the hem clear of the foot straps.
- Do a bend test in daylight before class, and bring grip socks unless the studio says bare feet.
Is what to wear to a Pilates class different for mat and reformer?
Mostly no: the core outfit is identical, and the reformer only adds a few rules because there is a machine underneath you. On a mat you lie on your own surface, so the main jobs of your clothing are to stay in place and let you move freely. On a reformer you lie, kneel and sit on padding shared with everyone else, you push a foot bar, and you loop your feet or hands into straps attached to ropes and pulleys. That is where hardware and loose fabric start to matter.
Reformer classes also tend to work a little harder. In a small lab study of 18 women, a reformer session burned about 2.59 kcal per minute against 1.93 on the mat, though both stayed low intensity, according to the study abstract on PubMed. In practice, a reformer class feels warm rather than sweaty, so there is no need to dress for heat. If your studio runs a heated class, our guide to what to wear to hot yoga covers that side.
The three places your outfit touches the reformer
Think about which parts of your outfit actually touch the machine: there are three contact points, and each one comes with a simple rule.
Contact point 1
Your back and hips: nothing hard
You spend much of a reformer class lying on your back on the carriage. A zip, a button, a belt loop or a metal logo plate presses into your spine for the whole class, and it can scuff or nick the vinyl padding over time. One instructor quoted by Club Pilates tells new clients to avoid zippers "at all costs" for exactly this reason. Pick leggings with a smooth, flat waistband and no hardware anywhere.
Contact point 2
Your hems: nothing loose
The springs sit under the carriage, near your feet, and the straps run on ropes past your legs. A flared hem, a wide-leg pant or a long drawstring can catch in a spring hook or wrap around a strap as the carriage slides. Fitted leggings follow the line of your leg, so there is nothing for the machine to grab.
Contact point 3
Your feet: grip, not slip
Your feet press the foot bar and rest on the platform while the carriage moves under you. Grip socks keep them in position and keep the shared equipment cleaner; there is more on choosing a pair below.
Why a printed legging is a good fit for the reformer
Most guides skip one detail: how the print is made matters on a machine. Dye sublimation is a printing method in which heat turns the dye into a gas that bonds with the fabric surface, so the pattern becomes part of the fabric instead of a layer of ink sitting on top. Every FIERCEPULSE legging is made this way, so there is no raised ink to crack, peel or rub off on the padding, and our yoga leggings have no zips, no pockets and no metal trim. A screen-printed logo or a rubbery heat-transfer patch on the seat is the part that sticks to warm vinyl and wears first, so check for one before you buy any pair for Pilates.
Why fitted beats loose in Pilates
Pilates depends on small alignment cues, such as knees over toes, hips level and ribs down. Your instructor can only give those cues if they can see the shape of your legs and hips. That is why instructors interviewed by Club Pilates recommend fitted clothing like leggings, so both you and your teacher can keep an eye on your form. Baggy joggers disguise a knee drifting inward, and an oversized tee conceals whether your pelvis is level.
Fitted clothing also stays where you put it. In exercises like the roll-over or short spine, your legs travel up and over your head, so a loose top slides toward your chin and loose shorts slide toward your hips. Fitted pieces stay in position, which lets you concentrate on the movement instead of your outfit.
What to wear to reformer Pilates: full-length leggings or capris?
Both are correct choices, and the decision comes down to which exercises your class repeats most often and how warm you like to feel.
Full length
3D Art Deco Yoga Leggings
Best for kneeling work like knee stretches, side-lying leg series and long box work, where your shins and knees rest on the padding. Full length also stops bare skin sticking to the vinyl. Make sure the hem sits at your ankle and does not bunch over your sock, where it can drag on the foot bar.
$94.99, XS to XL, high-waisted, no pockets.
See the Art Deco leggingsCapri
Lovely Ocean Yoga Capris
Best for footwork, feet-in-straps work and faster classes. The hem ends below the knee, so it stays clear of the foot straps and the foot bar, and your lower legs stay cool. You can also see your ankles, which helps when the cue is to keep them in line with your knees.
$92.99, XS to XL.
See the Ocean caprisIf you only want one pair, choose full length, because it covers more exercises and you can still see your ankle line when the hem fits closely. For a second pair, any style from our full range of leggings works as long as it passes the three contact-point rules above.
Do the bend test before your first class
Pilates puts you in positions you rarely hold in daily life: a deep forward fold, a roll-down, a hinge with your seat toward the mirror and the room. Check any pair you already own before you wear it to class; it takes about a minute.
- Use daylight. Stand with your back to a window or a bright lamp, since studio lighting is usually brighter than bedroom lighting.
- Fold forward. Bend at the hips with your legs straight, as far as you can, and look at the seat and the backs of your thighs in a mirror or on your phone camera.
- Check the seams. Look along the inner leg and the gusset, because seams that pull open when stretched will do the same in a straddle on the reformer.
- Sit and roll. Sit on the floor and roll back onto your shoulders; if the waistband slides down, it will slide in a roll-over too.
A busy print hides a lot of what a plain light colour shows, including chalk marks and the odd smudge from a shared foot bar.
Grip socks: what they are and how to pick a pair
Grip socks have small rubber dots or pads on the sole, and many have a cut-out top or a strap across the instep. Plenty of reformer studios require them, so check your booking page or the studio FAQ before your first class. Club Pilates says it is important to wear socks with some grip, so you can move between poses without worrying about slipping. Our own reason to add: your feet push a shared foot bar while the carriage slides under you, so they need to stay put. For mat classes, bare feet are usually fine.
Our styling tip is to pick the sock colour from your print: with a busy pattern, a sock in one of its colours makes the whole outfit look deliberate. Teal works with an ocean print, charcoal with a grey swirl, cobalt with a blue tile print. With a plain top and printed leggings, a sock that matches the darkest colour in the print keeps the line of your leg unbroken.
What to wear on top for Pilates
Choose a sports bra on its own or a fitted tank over one. A light, close-fitting long-sleeve works for a cool morning class. The test is simple: lie on your back and lift your hips, and if the top slides toward your face, it will do the same in a bridge or a roll-over. A longer tank that tucks into a high-waisted legging stays put better than a cropped one if you prefer your middle covered.
Low-impact Pilates does not demand the support of a running bra, so comfort comes first. Choose straps that lie flat, because a clasp or a thick hook between your shoulder blades presses into the carriage just like a zip. Tie long hair low rather than in a high bun so your head can rest flat on the headrest. Leave rings and bracelets at home, since they can scratch the foot bar and catch on the straps.
What to wear to Pilates if you are plus size
The same rules apply here: fitted, smooth, and nothing hard at the back. Order your usual size rather than one up, because a loose knee or ankle is exactly the fabric that bunches on the foot bar. Check the size guide on the product page before you order. Our plus size leggings are a separate line, sized 2XL to 6XL at $89.99, with their own prints. The Blue Majolica Plus Size Leggings pair well with cobalt grip socks.
On top, a longer fitted tank keeps your middle covered when you roll back. If the carriage feels narrow, ask the instructor before class for a set-up tip; good teachers adjust the headrest, springs and foot bar for every body. Browse the full range of plus size leggings for more prints.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear to my first Pilates class?
Wear fitted full-length leggings or capris, a close-fitting tank or sports bra, and grip socks, and skip anything with a zip, buttons or a drawstring. If the class is on a reformer, check the booking page, because many studios ask for grip socks.
Can you wear shorts to Pilates?
Yes, provided they are fitted, like bike shorts or yoga shorts. Loose running shorts ride up when your legs are in the straps or lifted overhead in a roll-over, and the instructor cannot see your hip and knee alignment through them.
Do you wear shoes for Pilates?
No. Pilates is done in bare feet or grip socks, and mat classes usually allow either. Reformer classes often require grip socks, because the foot bar and the carriage are shared and your feet need to stay put while the carriage moves.
What should you not wear to reformer Pilates?
Leave out zips, buttons, belt loops, metal trim, jewelry, loose wide-leg pants and baggy tops. Hardware presses into your back when you lie on the carriage and can scuff the upholstery, and loose fabric can catch in the springs, straps or foot bar.
Are leggings or capris better for reformer Pilates?
Both work well. Full-length leggings cover your shins and knees for kneeling work on the carriage and stop bare skin sticking to the padding. Capris end below the knee, so the hem stays clear of the foot straps and foot bar and you stay cooler in a faster class.
Ready for class? Choose a fitted pair in a print you love, then match your grip socks to it. Shop yoga leggings for Pilates →
Written by the FIERCEPULSE team, who design every print we sell. Published October 2026.
Sources: de Souza Andrade et al., "What is the exercise intensity of Pilates?", Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2021), via PubMed. Bennett, Brinsley and Ingram, "What is reformer Pilates and is it worth the cost?", The Conversation. Club Pilates, "Exactly what to wear to your first Club Pilates class". Athletech News, interview with ClassPass (May 27, 2025). Links checked October 16, 2026.
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