Everything You Need to Know About Pole Dance Wear

In this article:

• What is pole wear?
• What is different about pole wear?
• What clothes should you wear for pole dancing?
• What to wear for beginners pole class?
• Why do pole dancers wear little clothing?

Here in this article, you will find out all you need to know about a cool little thing called pole wear and what makes it so different from activewear or swimwear. We’ll go through how to choose your pole wear, what to look out for to get bang for your buck and handy tips for beginners.

What is pole wear?

Pole wear is considered a cross between swimwear and activewear with a touch of lingerie detailing. Let’s dive into the differences.

Pole Wear vs Activewear

Let's first talk about activewear. It can definitely be used for pole however, generally speaking, activewear brands do not create shorts that are 'extremely short' that expose enough skin grip to allow you to execute certain pole tricks. Whilst you can definitely wear sports bras to pole classes, as you begin to dive into the world of dance, we find that pole dancers like to have matching sets or pole wear that have cute detailing. This is something only pole wear offers (as opposed to general mainstream activewear).

As a beginner pole dancer, it is much easier to rely on skin contact grip as opposed to pure strength as you are learning new moves.

Pole Wear vs Swim Wear

Next, swimwear. Swimwear tops are generally not supportive enough for pole as they are made with thin materials and no support particularly when you need to invert for this sport. They are usually worn with minimal physical activity and designed to just 'sit on you'. During your pole classes, if you choose to wear swimwear tops, you may experience a few wardrobe malfunctions particularly if you have a fuller chest.

Swimwear bottoms are definitely a bit more pole friendly however, the crutch coverage is generally quite minimal so when you are performing pole tricks that may involve splits or opening of the legs, you may be exposed.

And whilst we're here, we can touch on lingerie as well. Lingerie is definitely great for pole performances or pole showcase nights however, for general training, they are considered quite uncomfortable due to the underwire, boning on the side, lace, choice of materials, stiffness of the fabric, inability to dry quickly etc.

What is different about pole wear?

Now back to pole wear, here are a few things that make it different to activewear, swimwear or lingerie.

Pole dance attire generally comes in matching sets allowing you to create a cute whole outfit with the top and the bottom.

Pole tops are designed to be invert proof; this means that as you progress to an intermediate pole dancer, you may perform tricks that require you to go upside down. To avoid any wardrobe malfunctions, Pole tops should have ‘invert proof features’. See our Sofia/Zanda/Kaizen as examples as they are specifically designed for pole, where there are safety straps added across the bust to creatively retain the silhouette of a flattering low cut top whilst keeping it functional for pole.

Pole bottoms are designed to generally have a wider crotch coverage to cater to the world of splits on and off the pole. It should make you feel secure and minimise any adjustments in class. Some pole bottoms are also specifically designed with a lower waist to again, help with the execution of tricks that require waist grip.

What clothes should you wear for pole dancing?

Pole dancing or pole fitness is considered a sport that requires us to be inverted and when inverted, gravity will not get acquainted with your low cut, non supportive sports bra.

You can definitely wear a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to pole class however, as you progress to more advanced tricks, skin contact with the pole is crucial for execution and safety.

Skin contact will naturally require you to wear less i.e opting for a sports bra and tighter/shorter shorts instead of your T-shirt and longer gym shorts.

Another thing that we might point out is that you may see advanced pole dancers wearing a T-shirt and shorts to pole class but what you don’t see is years of training and body awareness that they have mastered to allow them to execute certain tricks with minimal skin contact and instead, pure strength and solidified technique.

Pole dance clothing  has evolved significantly over the years allowing brands to express their own style and individuality. When choosing your first pole wear set, we recommend looking out for the below:

Pole Tops

• Pole tops or pole bras that are designed to suit your particular bust size. If you have a full bust, steer away from Low cut tops that do not have any invert proof features built in. Examples of ‘invert proof features’, our Sofia/Zanda/Kaizen are specifically designed for pole where there are safety straps added across the bust to creatively retain the silhouette of a flattering low cut top whilst keeping it functional for pole.

• Try to find brands that use two layers of fabric so that you can feel more supported as opposed to one layer of fabric where things are not ‘kept in place’ such as your chest /bust. If fabrics are of low quality and made with one layer, fuller chested pole dancers may feel the need to wear a bra underneath for extra support which may feel uncomfortable.

• Check that the brand you are purchasing from have road tested their products with models who have a fuller bust or a fuller chest to avoid wardrobe malfunctions. Testing means having a customer or model invert safely without the chest falling out exposing the whole chest or nipples.
• Check the product description if it comes with padding if you prefer extra volume.

Pole Shorts

• High waisted pole shorts that don’t go too far above your belly button as it can hinder your waist grip for certain tricks.

• Pole shorts that have a wide crotch coverage so that when you begin to do pole tricks that require splits, everything is covered and there are no wardrobe malfunctions.

Checking the product description if the pole shorts are full coverage, cheeky or extra cheeky to suit your preference.

You can also opt for low waisted shorts which are really great and you do not need to adjust them for certain pole tricks.

Look for fabrics that are made with active wear material i.e quick drying, 4 way stretch and have 2 layers of fabric.

Other things worth mentioning...

• Whether you choose to wear underwear underneath your pole wear, it's completely up to you. Some pole dancers prefer wearing underwear underneath so they can re-wear their pole outfit more than once.
• Others like wearing nothing at all as some pole wear brands use high-quality fabrics and are made with 2 layers which make you feel like you are already wearing underwear.
• If choosing pole shorts that have decorative garter features, check that they are adjustable to suit your body shape
• Try to pick pole shorts that have a scrunch bum or rouching feature so it’s much more flattering

Pole Heels

You may have come across the sport of pole dancing and have seen some really high heels. This may have intimidated you from starting pole as you probably thought you had to wear these. But great news, you don't! 

As a beginner, it's important to learn the fundamentals of pole dancing just with your bare feet (plus those heels are heavy and are considered ankle weights!). As you build your upper and lower body strength, you may dive into the world of pole dance choreography classes. This just means performing a routine around the pole to a song. This choreography can be performed in bare feet or with heels.

If you choose to wear heels, they must be very specific pole dancing heels particularly for dance classes. They are designed with a high platform that keep your toes at a safe distance from floor boards as pole choreography or pole dance classes may require you to drag your feet along the floor. 

We would recommend avoiding "normal heels" that do not have a minimum of a 5" platform to keep your feet safe. That said, you may see pole dancers out there wearing heels to a pole routine that doesn't require any contact with the floor - believe it or not, the shoes can play a role in executing your pole tricks with ease and safety particularly pole heels that are made from a plastic or patent upper which helps grip onto the pole and prevent skin burns.

Overall, we just love wearing them because they elongate our legs.

What to wear for beginners pole class?

We would recommend you choosing the following pole dance apparel:

• Pole Tops that aren’t too loose or long that could get in the way of certain pole tricks. It will also allow your instructor to easily identify any issues with your execution. E.g. a baggy T-shirt cannot show whether your back is arched or not in a certain trick
• Pole Bottoms that are not too long and too high waisted as certain tricks can be executed much more easily with your thigh grip or waist grip. (Bike shorts can definitely get you through your beginner pole classes however, they are considered a little bit too long for certain tricks as you progress into intermediate pole classes)
• Bodysuits that have cutouts to maximise your skin grip
• Leggings or Long Sleeved Tops that must have a silicone layer or grip if you cannot expose skin due to personal reasons. 

Whilst you can definitely wear sports bras to pole classes, as you begin to dive into the world of dance, we find that pole dancers like to have matching sets or pole outfits that have cute detailing that’s also functional.

Why do pole dancers wear little clothing?

The sport of pole dancing is a really interesting sport that basically requires you to perform a series of tricks on either a brass, chrome or stainless steel or silicon coated pole. The sport can basically be divided into two sections: up the pole and not-up-the-pole.

‘Up the pole’

• Means that you are trying to execute tricks that are at least a metre off the ground and require you to either invert or climb up the pole and have skin contact for grip.
• If you try to execute certain tricks fully clothed, you might not get so far and you may even end up injuring yourself due to no grip.
• This is why some pole dances wear such a little clothing so they can maximise the use of their skin grip as opposed to relying on pure strength
• Some of the body parts that require skin contact are: inner thighs, inside of your knees, shins, the back of your ankle, the top of your foot, waist, armpit, bicep, elbow, upper back, lower back and even your neck! Sounds like almost everything right?

‘Not up the pole’

• This just means that you are probably executing a choreography around the pole that doesn't require any skin contact however, inverting or climbing up the pole may be involved.
• For this aspect, you can pretty much wear whatever you like (and even be fully clothed) for your dance choreography! However, if you would like to include some cool bass work tricks into your choreography, you will need to consider what skin contact is required and dress  accordingly.
• For example, you could wear leggings and a crop top and choose to only do tricks that require armpit or waist grip OR you could wear a long sleeve top with cheeky booty pole shorts that allow you to only do tricks that require thigh, knee or shin grip.

We hope that’s given you a well rounded summary of what to wear in this magical world of pole dancing that you have entered. It truly is a unique sport that encompasses flexibility training, strength training, coordination and creativity in one. We hope that you will find the right pole wear pieces that make you feel good and allow you to unlock your creativity - shop here to see if we’ve got any pieces that tickle your fancy.