What to Wear to Feel Confident and Look Like a Pro Dancer
Starting ballet as an adult can be both exciting and intimidating. The right attire helps you perform at your best and feel confident, whether you are a complete beginner or returning after a long break. The goal is to dress for comfort, support and your own body shape.
The beauty of being an adult dancer is that there are far fewer strict uniform rules than for student dancers. Like professional dancers in a company, you are free to express yourself and show your style. True ballet class fashion is beautiful and exciting. It is what professional dancers actually wear in class and rehearsal, and it is quite different from what the fashion industry promotes as ballet fashion or ballet core.
Below we have broken down everything you need, plus our favourite Bodile picks to help you nail that effortlessly professional ballerina look.
Ballet Shoes
Ballet flats are non-negotiable, although you may be allowed to wear socks for your very first try-out class. Shoes come in leather or canvas with full soles or split soles and should be well-fitted for a secure feel. Split sole shoes show off the line of the foot beautifully while full sole shoes help build foot strength for exercises. Choose pale pink if you plan to wear footed tights, or a skin-tone colour if you prefer to wear your shoes without footed tights.
Pointe shoes can only be worn after several years of training and following proper assessment from your teacher and a dance physio or specialist.
Tip: Avoid pink or tan ballet shoes with black footed tights as the contrast creates a distracting break in the leg line. Pair black tights with pink or nude flats instead and roll the tights up to the ankle. Always use elastics on ballet flats rather than ribbons, as ribbons are for pointe shoes only.
Tights
Tights are essential in ballet as they elongate the leg line and support the muscles. You will find everything from sheer lightweight versions that show off muscle definition to heavier compression tights for extra support and coverage. Fleshy pink-toned tights are the classic choice but black tights are also popular and perfectly appropriate.
Convertible tights are the most versatile option. Wear them pulled over the foot for a long line or roll them up to the ankle if you prefer bare feet in your shoes. Heavier opaque leggings also work well so long as they have plenty of stretch for unrestricted movement.
Tip: Wear your tights over your leotard, not under. It creates a longer leg line, it is more comfortable, it is easier to use the bathroom and most importantly it is what professional dancers do. Students wear tights under and pros wear them over.
Leotard
The leotard is the foundation of a ballet outfit. It is available in a huge range of styles, colours and silhouettes and the key is choosing one that suits your body shape and makes you feel good. The fabric should be firm and supportive with full stretch so movement stays comfortable and effortless. A well-fitting leotard stays in place and means you are never adjusting yourself during class.
The pro look leans towards understated elegance. Classic cuts in muted tones feel timeless and chic.
BODILE leotard picks:
-
Arabella: a delicate camisole style with a mesh front panel, adjustable straps and a beautiful low back.
-
Lilla: a classic camisole with a pinch front and a gorgeous crisscross twist at the back.
-
Estella: a sleeved style with a dramatic velvet collar and a gold butterfly clasp at the neck.
-
Sofia: our best-selling corset leotard with a squared neckline and slimming mesh detailing.
Tip: Start with simple shapes and darker colours until you know what works for you. All that time standing in front of the studio mirror will quickly teach you what you love on your own body.
Arabella leotard in Baltic Blue | Prussian Blue styled with Julieta Skirt in Marshmallow
The Art of Mismatching
One of the hallmarks of real dancer style is thoughtful layering and contrast. Rather than head-to-toe matching sets which tend to read as student-like, professional dancers layer and mix in ways that feel personal and considered. A few things to keep in mind:
-
Tights over the leotard, always.
-
Mix your tights and leotard colours rather than matching them exactly.
-
Pair a skirt in a contrasting colour or print with your leotard.
-
Layer your warm-ups with a little beautiful imprecision. One leg warmer up and one fallen to the ankle is perfectly intentional.
The overall effect should feel effortless and personal rather than coordinated. A little less uniform and a little more you.
Skirts
Skirts are optional but are a beloved part of the professional ballet wardrobe, especially during centre work. The key is keeping it simple and not too voluminous so nothing restricts your movement or gets in the way. Short skirts show off the legs beautifully while longer styles are elegant and lengthening. There are options to suit every body shape.
Tip: Put your skirt on after barre when you remove your warm-ups. And take a cue from the pros: resist matching your skirt to your leotard. Contrasting colours and patterns are how dancers express their personality and step away from the student uniform look.
BODILE skirt picks:
-
Ava Sport: a sporty and easy-to-move-in cut with a clean modern feel that is wonderful for class.
-
Nadia: a flowing silhouette with classic ballerina elegance.
-
Rania: a slightly longer georgette style that is beautifully lengthening and refined.
Nadia skirt with Gabriella leotard in Midnight | Marshmallow
Bottom Alternatives
Bike shorts and leggings are a perfectly lovely option and offer a more contemporary athletic feel. They work especially well under a skirt or as a standalone look at the barre. If you choose leggings, make sure they have a generous amount of stretch to allow full unrestricted movement as ballet requires a wide range of motion in every direction.
Warm-Ups
Every dancer has warm-up pieces. Pants, shorts, jumpsuits and rompers in sauna or ripstop fabrics all help warm up the muscles quickly during stretching and help prevent cramps. They are typically worn at the barre and then removed before centre work, and they also look beautiful worn to and from the studio.
Leg warmers are a wonderful addition for keeping calves and ankles warm. Choose shorter ones for just the calf or extra-long ones to cover the thighs as well.
Tip: Wearing a single leg warmer or a rolled-up version over a sore calf, knee or thigh is a lovely dancer's trick for keeping that spot extra warm during class. Leg warmers with stripes are also very much the ballet fashion forward look right now.
Hair
Hair should be neatly styled and away from the face so it does not get in the way during class. A bun is the most classic choice but braids and ponytails are also completely appropriate.
Tip: A plait twisted into a low bun looks beautifully neat and elegant with no hairnet required.
Jewellery
Keep jewellery minimal or skip it altogether. Anything noisy or dangling can be distracting both to you and to those around you in class. Professional dancers tend to wear nothing that draws attention away from the movement.
Tip: Tiny drop earrings are a dancer favourite. They look so lovely with a bun and add a quiet touch of elegance without getting in the way.
Final Note
The most beautiful thing about dressing for ballet as an adult is that it is entirely your own. There are no rules, only invitations to express yourself a little more freely each time you walk through the studio door. Have fun with it, experiment with colour and contrast, and enjoy every single moment at the barre and beyond.
