What to Wear to Your First Reformer Pilates Class (So You Feel Like a Regular)
By Carolina, founder of Elysian Curve — designing sculpting activewear tested on real reformer beds.
Booking your first reformer class is the easy part. Then you're standing in front of your wardrobe wondering whether the machine with the springs and straps has a dress code. It sort of does — not written down anywhere, but every regular knows it, and it exists for practical reasons, not fashion ones. Here's everything you'd want someone to have told you, so you can spend your first class thinking about your breath instead of your waistband.
The five rules regulars follow
Fitted, always. The reformer is a moving carriage with springs, straps, and a rolling platform. Loose shorts, wide-leg pants, and baggy tees don't just look out of place — they catch. Fitted leggings or bike shorts and a fitted top are what everyone wears, because they're what the machine allows.
High-waisted bottoms. A large share of any reformer class happens with your hips rolling up, your legs in straps, or your spine articulating one vertebra at a time. A low or medium rise waistband will fold, roll, or gape mid-exercise, and you'll spend the class tugging it. Choose leggings or bike shorts that sit at or above the navel with a wide, compressive band — the kind with ribbing knitted into the structure holds through a full class untouched. (Our full breakdown of what to look for is in the best leggings for Pilates in Australia.)
Opaque under stretch — test before class. Studio lighting is bright and overhead, and bridge pose is non-negotiable. Stretch your leggings over your hand in daylight: if you can see skin tone, the class behind you can too. Dense seamless knits in nylon-rich fabrics pass this test; thin "buttery" polyester often doesn't. (Why fabric matters this much: nylon vs polyester, explained.)
A top that stays down when you're upside down. In inversions and roll-overs, a loose tee obeys gravity and ends up over your face. Wear a fitted crop, longline sports bra, or a tank you can tuck. Light support is plenty — reformer Pilates is low-impact, so you don't need a high-compression running bra.
Grip socks — usually required, always smart. Most Australian reformer studios require socks with grip soles for hygiene and safety on the carriage. Many sell them at reception for $15–25, but bringing your own is cheaper and nicer. Look for a pair with a strap or full-coverage grip; the dotted ankle socks from multipacks slide.
Small things that make a big difference
Skip the jewellery — rings scratch the carriage upholstery and bracelets snag in the straps (most studios will ask you to remove them anyway). Tie long hair low, not in a high bun, because you'll spend real time lying flat on the headrest. Leave the drawstrings, zips, and back pockets at home; anything hard presses into your spine against the carriage. And bring a small towel and water — reformer classes are quieter than HIIT but they're deceptively hard work.
The unofficial answer to "what does everyone actually wear?"
Walk into any reformer studio in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane and you'll see the same uniform: high-waisted sculpting leggings or bike shorts in neutral or muted tones, a matching fitted crop, grip socks. Matching sets read as "regular" instantly — which does something real for your confidence the first time you clip into the straps. If you want the one-purchase version: a seamless high-rise legging or short with knitted-in compression (the Elysian Curve Triple Sculpt or RoundPeach short, for instance) and a fitted tank like the Aura covers every rule above in one outfit that also survives coffee afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear shorts to reformer Pilates? Yes — fitted, high-waisted bike shorts are ideal, especially in warmer Australian months. Avoid loose gym shorts entirely; they ride up in straps work and catch on the carriage.
Do I really need grip socks for reformer Pilates? At most Australian studios, yes — it's usually policy. Beyond the rules, they genuinely help: the carriage and footbar are smooth, and grip soles let you push without sliding.
Can I do reformer Pilates barefoot? Most studios don't allow it for hygiene reasons. If your studio does, barefoot is workable but slippery; grip socks are still the better experience for beginners.
What should I NOT wear to Pilates? Loose clothing, low-rise leggings, cotton (it sags with sweat and loses shape), anything sheer under stretch, zips or embellishments that contact the carriage, and jewellery.
Do I need different clothes for mat Pilates vs reformer? The same outfit works for both. Reformer just punishes bad choices faster — loose fabric and rolling waistbands become a problem within minutes on the machine.
Elysian Curve is a European-designed luxury activewear brand for Australian women, built on 95% nylon / 5% elastane seamless knits with sculpting compression. Explore the collection at elysiancurve.com.