What to wear for adult ballet classes: The ultimate guide to adult ballet clothes
- Sophie Fletcher
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Questions about what to wear, which shoes to choose, and how to do your hair are very common when you're starting adult ballet, whether you're male or female. This guide will help you take some pressure off and make your decision-making easier and the shopping experience calmer. Remember that adult ballet is about the joy of movement and personal growth. While proper attire is important for technique development and safety, don't let concerns about having the "perfect" outfit prevent you from starting classes.
Most adult ballet instructors understand that their students come from diverse backgrounds and may have varying comfort levels with traditional ballet attire. The most important thing is wearing something that allows you to move freely while enabling your teacher to see your alignment and provide effective feedback.
With time, you'll discover which ballet attire works best for your body type and personal preferences, making your adult ballet journey both rewarding and enjoyable.
The basics: Essential ballet clothes for adults
When joining an adult ballet class for the first time, the right attire not only helps you feel more comfortable but also allows your instructor to observe your technique properly. Most adults expect they’ll be asked to wear leotards, short skirts, and hair in a bun. Had you started as a child, that would have likely been the required uniform. Luckily, adult ballet classes have (at least at SF Ballet) more relaxed dress codes, but there are a few fundamentals that remain important.
It is very hard for the teachers to correct you when they can’t see you. By choosing clothes that show your ankles, knees, arms, and the hip line, you’re making it much easier for the teacher to quickly spot your alignment and provide corrections and suggestions on how to improve.
For women
Tops
For adult ballet classes, you can choose anything from a leotard, fitted tank tops, or t-shirts. You can get a ballet wrap for extra coverage if you like a leotard but feel too exposed.
Look for moisture-wicking fabrics that move with your body and avoid loose clothing that can obscure your body alignment.
Bottoms
For your lower body, ballet tights are the classic choice and come in pink, black, skin-tone, or fashion colours. Convertible tights (with holes at the bottom) are useful for dancers doing pointe work when you need to access your toes. As an adult ballet dancer, you’ll be fine with footed ones. You can also go with footless, which are very practical. Footed tights can, however, create a cleaner line when worn with ballet shoes.
If tights aren't your preference, form-fitting yoga pants or leggings work well too. You can even wear shorts with bare legs - just watch out for winter months.
You can add a ballet skirt if you like (short wrap or pull-on styles around 30 cms in length are standard), though they're completely optional.
Bras and support
Many dancers wear sports bras under leotards for additional support. It’s good to choose seamless styles to maintain a clean line. When it comes to colour, nude colours are less visible under lighter-coloured leotards. Some dance brands offer leotards with built-in shelf bras.
For men
Tops
Fitted t-shirts, tank tops, or muscle shirts work perfectly on top, avoiding anything too loose that might hide your posture or arm positions. There are men’s leotards as well. Whatever you choose, make sure the fabric is flexible enough so it doesn’t rip when you move.
Bottoms
Form-fitting shorts or athletic tights allow your instructor to see your leg alignment clearly – many male dancers prefer compression shorts or fitted basketball shorts that hit mid-thigh. There are, however, specific ballet tights you can wear, and while it may be an unusual feeling at first, they are quite comfortable.
Support
As ballet requires your thighs to cross a lot, a dance belt (also known as a support, or jockstrap) can be very useful. It’s worn under tights. There are thong styles and full-seat styles, and while full-seat may look more familiar, the thong style is much better long-term. You’ll likely end up wearing it for other workouts as well.
Where to shop
There are a lot of brick-and-mortar dance stores around Melbourne that you can visit. If you’re not sure about your size and what you’re looking for, going to a store is likely the easiest.
You can also shop online, but it can be hit-and-miss when it comes to size, so go online once you’ve settled on your sizes and style. It might save you return postage.
Don’t underestimate department stores. A lot of brands like Kmart and Target now offer clothes that are perfectly suitable for ballet.
Hair for ballet class
Long hair can get in the way. Sooner or later, there will be turns, and having your hair whip you in the face can get very uncomfortable. You don’t have to wear a ‘ballet bun’, but securing your hair in a way it doesn’t fall in your face will make it easier for you to focus on the class rather than maintaining visibility.
A hair tie and a few bobby pins generally do the trick, but you can consider a hair net and hairspray if you really want your hair secure.
What to avoid in adult ballet classes
Go easy on jewellery. While it doesn’t happen often, it can be very painful if a watch hits you in the face. Similarly, dangly earrings, necklaces, and bracelets can get in the way and can hurt you, other dancers in the studio, or simply break.
Street clothes are generally restrictive and won’t allow you to move well. It will do in an emergency, but avoid it if you can.
Footwear: Finding the right ballet shoes
Proper footwear is crucial for safety and technique development in adult ballet classes. Incorrectly fitted ballet shoes can make your class a very painful (literally and figuratively) experience.
We’ve prepared a dedicated article on choosing ballet shoes to help you choose.
Getting ready for class
By now, you should have an idea about the options you can choose from for your adult ballet lesson, and that the requirements for clothes are not as strict as you may have imagined.
No matter what you wear, the most important thing is to start going to classes and commit to a regular schedule. Like any exercise, adult ballet is about improving long-term. The first class may feel strange and even unusual, but if you persist, you’ll see it’s incredibly rewarding.
Feeling ready?
Have you recently started adult ballet classes? What did you wear for your first class and how has your ballet wardrobe evolved? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Clothes in more detail
If you’re after a more detailed breakdown of specific pieces of clothes, we’ve broken down some common types to help you with your choice and included some tips on where to shop.
Leotard styles
Camisole leotards: Feature thin straps and provide freedom of movement in the shoulders; excellent for warmer studios
Tank leotards: Offer more shoulder coverage while maintaining a sleek line
Long-sleeve leotards: Ideal for cooler studios or dancers who prefer more coverage
Short-sleeve leotards: A good compromise between tank and long-sleeve styles
Unitard/onesie: You get all in one - top and long/short legs in one piece and you can wear a skirt on top
Mesh or lace-detail leotards: Add a touch of elegance while maintaining functionality
Scoop neck vs. V-neck: Choose based on your comfort and body type; V-necks can create a longer line
Back designs: Range from simple to elaborate; consider how strappy backs might interact with sports bras
Leotard fabrics
Cotton: Breathable and comfortable, but may show sweat more readily
Microfibre: Moisture-wicking and maintains shape well
Nylon/Spandex blends: Offers excellent stretch and recovery
Velvet: Popular for a more elegant look, but - honestly - less practical for regular training
Mesh panels: Provide ventilation while adding visual interest
Recommended brands for women
Capezio: Offers a wide range of sizes and classic styles
Bloch: Known for quality construction and elegant designs
Wear Moi: Features unique European styling and beautiful details
Mirella: Higher-end options with sophisticated designs
Gaynor Minden: Beyond pointe shoes, they offer beautiful adult-oriented dancewear
Lulli Dancewear: Budget-friendly options with a variety of colours
Elevé Dancewear: Custom-made leotards for unique sizes and designs
Lululemon: Non-dance specific but offer pieces that work well for ballet
Bodile: If you're after something with more style - mesh, lace, details
Nimble: Sustainable activewear with nice long lines
Recommended brands for men
Gents Active: A new brand dedicated to men's dancewear founded buy an ex-professional dancer
Wear Moi: Offers dedicated men's dance lines
Body Wrappers: Good quality at reasonable prices
Capezio: Classic brand with reliable men's options
Under Armour/Nike: Athletic wear that can cross over to ballet
Bloch: The selection is not great but you will find some basic outfits
Where to shop
Ballet-specific
Energetiks
Bloch
Capezio
Online
Discount Dance Supply: The largest online dance retailer with extensive inventory ($15-80 for leotards, $12-30 for tights)
Dancewear Solutions: Good sales and affordable basics ($10-60 for adult dancewear)
All About Dance: Wide range of brands and frequent promotions
Russian Pointe: High-quality items with elegant styling
Classque Dancewear: Specializes in professional-quality adult ballet wear
Athletic stores
Lululemon: Their "Align" leggings are popular among dancers ($98-128)
Athleta: Offers ballet-inspired pieces and crossover items ($30-110)
Alo Yoga: Stylish pieces that work well for ballet ($50-130)
Nike/Under Armour: Good for men's basic items and layering pieces ($20-70)
Department stores
Kmart
Target
BigW
Eco-friendly dance brands
Organic Basics: Sustainable fabrics that work for dance ($40-80)
Boody: Bamboo basics that layer well under dance clothes ($20-35)
Redemption Dancewear: Focuses on ethical production
Cloud & Victory: Small-batch production with ethical practices
Lovemybody: Recycled materials and sustainable production
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