What to Wear to Reformer Pilates, According to an Insider

Bianca Alleyne

This insider knows exactly what works in a Reformer Pilates class

Reformer Pilates has well and truly taken over. Low-impact but deceptively brutal, it sculpts long, strong lines while being kind to your joints; and, let’s be honest, it looks impossibly chic while it does it. I’m always more likely to show up to a class if I feel good in what I’m wearing, and London-based social specialist and former professional dancer Betty Maguire is exactly the person to talk to about getting that balance right.

“I work in social for a portfolio of boutique fitness brands, including one of London’s leading Reformer Pilates studios,” Betty tells me. “Before starting my career in the fitness industry, I trained as a professional contemporary dancer, so movement has always been a really important part of my life.”

Ask her why she loves it and the answer comes with a caveat that it’s impossible to condense. “One of the main things I love is that it really is for everyone, it’s not exclusive to any gender or body type. Despite the reputation of the ‘Pilates Princess’ archetype, all bodies are welcome here and we’re training to be STRONG, not SKINNY! I also love that it’s a low-impact form of exercise that can be an amazing accompaniment to your usual workout routine. There’s so much discourse about strength training vs Pilates, and obviously my answer is BOTH!”

Her own route to the reformer wasn’t a straight line. “I’ve always loved mat Pilates, having found it in my early teens, but after professional dance training I had a really complex relationship with movement. Reformer Pilates was one of the disciplines I found when I was rebuilding that relationship and it’s allowed me to fall back in love with moving and training again. I love the sense of achievement you get from mastering a new move—one of my faves is The Teaser—as well as that iconic burn feeling we’re always talking about. Ultimately, I guess I’m addicted to the burn!”

How to Dress for the Reformer

For Betty it comes down to freedom of movement plus a bit of structure. “I prefer something relatively form-fitting so your instructor can actually see your alignment. I wouldn’t wear a baggy, wide-leg track pant, partly for alignment, but also because you’re working on a moving piece of equipment and I don’t want loads of fabric getting involved!” Anything high-maintenance is out: “If I’m pulling my leggings up every five minutes, it distracts me from moving. The best Reformer outfits are the ones you forget you’re wearing once class starts.”

One happy perk for the fuller-bust crowd: “Because it’s low-impact, I don’t need a giant, high-compression sports bra, I can wear a much softer top and let the girls feel a little more free. Reformer Pilates is big-bust-girl approved.” The one true non-negotiable? “Grip socks! They’re the one genuinely Reformer-specific thing you need; really important for moving confidently without any unwanted slips.”

On Quality, Confidence & Shopping Consciously

Training five or six times a week makes quality matter. “I’d rather have a smaller rotation of pieces I genuinely love than buy into every new trend, something soft but substantial that keeps its shape after a million washes.” Her aftercare rule, learned during a stint at Lululemon: “Absolutely no fabric conditioner on activewear, it builds up on technical fabrics and ruins their breathability.” She’s also a secondhand evangelist: “I have TALA sets I bought on Vinted years ago and still wear. People sleep on Vinted for activewear.”

On confidence, she’s firm that there’s no dress code. “You don’t need the matching set and the latest trainers to belong in a Pilates studio. But a good outfit is a mood, your workout wardrobe can be an extension of your personal style.” And for anyone nervous mid-plank: “Pilates is for everyone. The mirrors are there to help your alignment, not so you can scrutinise your stomach in a plank. If you’ve made time to move your body, that’s the thing worth focusing on.”