What to Wear to Barre Class (Including Grip Socks)

Wear full-length or 7/8 leggings, a fitted top, a supportive sports bra, and grip socks to barre class. No shoes: barre is done in socks with rubber grips on the soles, and many studios require them for safety.

Barre has a few clothing quirks that yoga and gym classes do not. You work on the balls of your feet on a smooth floor, squeeze a small ball between your thighs, lie on a mat for core work, and put your leg up on a barre to stretch. Each of those shapes what works. Here is the full rundown.

The basic barre outfit

Why the fit matters more than in many classes: barre instructors correct tiny details, like tucking your pelvis or keeping your knees over your toes. Fitted clothes let them see what your body is doing. Very baggy clothes hide it, and you lose the cues that make the class work.

Grip socks: what they are and how to choose

Grip socks have rubber dots, lines, or pads on the sole. They hold a smooth studio floor while you rise onto your toes, lunge, and pulse, and they keep your feet clean in a room where people sit and lie on the floor. Many barre studios require them, and almost all recommend them. If you forget yours, the front desk usually sells them.

What to look for:

• Full-sole grip. Grips that cover the ball of the foot, arch, and heel. You spend a lot of time on the balls of your feet, so that area matters most.
• Snug fit. A sock that twists or slides around your foot defeats the purpose. Buy by shoe size.
• Closed toe or toeless. Toeless and five-toe styles let your toes spread and grip. Closed-toe styles are warmer and easier to find. Either works.
• Straps or a higher cut. Ballet-style straps or a crew height stop the sock from slipping off your heel. Low no-show styles can slide down in pliés.
• Price. Expect about $12 to $20 a pair. Buy two pairs if you go more than once a week.

Grip socks cross over to reformer pilates, where most studios require them too. If you take both, one set covers both classes. Our guide to what to wear to pilates covers that side.

Why leggings beat shorts in barre

You can wear shorts, but most regulars do not, for practical reasons:

• The ball. Many classes use a small, squishy ball squeezed between your thighs or behind your knee. Bare skin sticks and pinches.
• Mat work. Core and glute sections happen lying or kneeling on a mat. Leggings keep you from sticking to it.
• Leg on the barre. Stretches with your heel on the barre are more comfortable with your legs covered.
• Coverage. Barre includes wide second-position pliés and seated stretches. Fitted, opaque leggings make that a non-issue.

Do the same opacity test you would for yoga: squat low in good light and check. Barre involves a lot of deep pliés.

What to avoid

• Shoes. They stay in the cubby.
• Regular socks. They are slippery on studio floors, which is worse than bare feet.
• Loose or wide-leg pants. They hide your knees and ankles from the instructor and can catch your heel.
• Thick waistbands with drawstrings. They dig in during the core section on the mat.
• Dangling jewelry and big rings. Rings press into your hands when you hold weights or the barre.
• Heavy fabric. Barre is quiet but sweaty. Choose moisture-wicking leggings over thick cotton.

What to bring to barre

• Grip socks (or plan to buy a pair at the desk)
• A water bottle
• A small towel
• A hair tie

Studios supply the equipment: the barre itself, mats, light hand weights (usually 1 to 5 pounds), the small ball, resistance bands, and sometimes a looped band or ankle weights. You do not need to buy anything else.

What to expect in your first barre class

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. You will sign a waiver, put your shoes away, and grab equipment. Tell the instructor it is your first class. A typical class runs 45 to 60 minutes: a warm-up, arm work with light weights, thigh and seat work at the barre, core on the mat, and a stretch. Expect your legs to shake. Instructors call that the point of the class, and it is normal.

Our guide to what barre is walks through a full class and the benefits, and barre vs pilates helps if you are deciding between the two. If you are new to studio classes in general, start with our guide to yoga and studio classes for beginners.

Barre in Portland, Maine

In Greater Portland, barre shows up on several yoga and pilates schedules. The Portland Yoga Project, for example, lists barre alongside yoga at its Forest Avenue studio. Check schedules on our Portland class directory and call ahead to ask whether grip socks are required.

Barre rewards consistency more than most classes, because the burn gets easier to tolerate after a few weeks. Full disclosure: our app, Corvi, is built to help with that. You book with your studio as usual, then check in on Corvi to keep a weekly streak and see where your friends are taking class. It is free and does not book classes or take payments.

Common questions

Do you have to wear grip socks to barre?

At most barre studios, yes or strongly encouraged. Barre floors are often smooth and you work on your toes, so bare feet slip and regular socks are worse. Grip socks have rubber dots or pads on the sole that hold the floor. Many studios sell them at the front desk if you forget, usually for about $12 to $20.

Can I wear shorts to barre?

You can, but most regulars wear full-length or 7/8 leggings. Barre includes floor work on mats, thigh work with a small ball squeezed between your knees, and stretches with your leg on the barre. Leggings stop your legs from sticking to the mat and keep you covered. If you wear shorts, choose fitted ones with a longer inseam.

Do you wear shoes in barre class?

No. Barre is done in grip socks or, at some studios, bare feet. Leave your sneakers in the cubbies. Shoes would make the small, precise movements on your toes harder, and studios keep shoes off the floor to keep it clean, since you spend part of class sitting and lying on it.

What should I bring to my first barre class?

Bring grip socks, a water bottle, and a small towel. Studios provide the barre, mats, light hand weights, small balls, and resistance bands. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to fill out a waiver, find your spot at the barre, and tell the instructor it is your first class so they can show you modifications.

Find your next class: look for barre on the schedules in our Portland, Maine class directory.