What to Wear to Barre Class (and What to Skip)

Nobody should have to go shopping before trying a workout. The honest answer to "what should I wear to barre?" is: something you can move in, plus grip socks. Everything beyond that is preference. But since the question comes up constantly, here is the longer version.

The One Thing You Do Need

Grip socks. These are socks with rubber tread on the sole, and they are required in most barre and Pilates studios for a straightforward reason: the floors and the reformer are smooth, and a foot that slides at the wrong moment is a foot that can take a knee with it. Grip socks also let your instructor see and correct what your feet and ankles are doing, which bare feet in a shoe never allow.

You can buy them almost anywhere, and we keep them at the studio if you forget.

Clothing That Works

• Fitted or semi-fitted leggings or shorts. Not because of how they look, but because loose fabric hides your alignment from the instructor — and in reformer work, loose fabric can catch in the springs and straps.
• A top that stays put when you bend over. You will spend time folded forward and occasionally upside down. A top that migrates is a distraction you do not need.
• Layers you can shed. You will be cold in the first five minutes and warm by minute fifteen. This is universal.

What to Skip

• Baggy shirts and loose shorts — for the reasons above.
• Zips, buckles, and hard waistbands — you will lie on your back and roll through your spine, and you will notice every one of them.
• Heavy jewellery and long necklaces — they swing, they catch, they clink.
• Strong fragrance — studios are small, shared rooms and people are breathing deliberately.

Hair and Small Details

Tie long hair back in something that survives lying on your back — a low bun or braid beats a high ponytail, which you will end up lying on. If you wear glasses, they are generally fine, though some people prefer contacts for inversions.

What to Bring

Water and your grip socks. That is genuinely it. Mats and all equipment are provided at Bespoke Studio, and there is space to leave your things. A small towel is nice in summer but is not essential.

The Real Answer

Nobody in the room is looking at what you are wearing. They are counting down the last eight pulses and thinking about their own legs. Wear what makes you comfortable enough to stop thinking about it, and put your attention where it belongs — on the movement.