There’s nothing like being in your 20s and trying every hobby to exist. One that seems to be absolutely unavoidable on the long list is pilates. Everywhere down your TikTok FYP are videos of “Pilates Princesses” showing us the ropes of this cult-classic workout. Whether it be mat or reformer, pilates has taken over.
“I believe during the global pandemic in 2020 there grew an interest in doing workouts that make people feel good not only physically, but also mentally," Equinox expert Alexis Sweeney tells Teen Vogue about the sport's boom in popularity. "In pilates, the breath work is just as important as the actual movement, and so I believe many resonated with the benefits it had in calming their parasympathetic nervous system, in their posture, in their confidence, and this resonated with a younger audience in a time of great stress and isolation. It truly is profound the positive effect pilates can have on relieving stress and anxiety in the body, which is why I personally am so passionate about it. It’s incredible to see a teen generation reaping these benefits as well. ”
Sweeney also says the biggest difference between mat pilates (the equivalent to Equinox's “pilates rise” class) is that mat tends to be a bit more challenging on the body than a reformer. “It is up to you, your balance, your stability, and your control to complete the movements without the assistance of a reformer carriage and straps,” she says. "Oftentimes in a mat class, we also use props like resistance bands and gliders to mimic reformer exercises without the reformer. Both mat and reformer pilates will demonstrate the fundamentals of centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow in the body.”
As fashion people, we understand how much an outfit can make or break something. So, while working out is the focus, feeling and looking good while doing so is always at the top of our minds. So, we decided to put a few of our favorite brands to the test and give you our unadulterated review of pilates classes and the clothes we wore to them. Because you need to know about it all, we took a mix of our team — all with varying levels of experience — to two different workout classes: Pilates Rise at Equinox and then the Abs, Arms, and Ass class at New York Pilates. Below, you can read through our thoughts on the workout gear we chose.
Jillian Selzer, Social Media Manager
I am a plus-size fitness queen, so it's imperative for me to wear athletic clothing that can stay up and on while I'm working out, whether it's a low-impact or high-impact routine. Girlfriend Collective is my go-to for bras, and I am ride or die for the Racerback Paloma bra, especially after Pilates. It's secure, held up the girls even in the boldest Pilates positions, and perhaps most importantly, wasn't so tight I couldn't breathe. The GF leggings, however, were a different story. I tried out the Luxe Legging, given the incredible reviews, but I found them to be so high rise that the seam was almost near my bra line. Because of that, the fit felt off, and they ended up being so tight in the waist it felt like I was wearing intense shapewear, even though I intentionally sized up to give some leeway for the compression. To be super real, I couldn't take a full, deep breath. There was no way I could comfortably move in a casual setting, let alone a workout, so I ended up reverting back to my good old reliable Compressive High Rise Legging for the mat class before it even began. Forever keeping them in my rotation.
As for my Old Navy leggings for our reformer class... I'm in love. The fabric was so incredibly soft and breathable that it truly didn't even feel like I was wearing leggings, and I mean that in the best way. They held me in but weren't so structured that I felt restricted. I could move freely during every plank and leg circle, yet I didn't feel like I was trapped in a sweat vessel made of polyester. I would buy these a million times over in every color of the rainbow if I could. Honestly, they'd also make incredible pajamas and/or loungewear for around the house.
Donya Momenian, Associate Fashion & Beauty Editor
As a pilates novice, I wasn't quite sure what to expect and what I would need from my athletic wear, but after seeing so many celebrities sport Alo Yoga, I just really wanted to know what the hype was all about and if it was really worth it. So, I took a dare and opted for some of their popular items — the Airbrush Leggings, Ribbed Favorite Bra Tank, and Renown Hoodie. Even though I walked in without any firm expectations, I found that these products ticked all of my boxes. The leggings, though they were a little bit daunting to put on, had a great fit and didn't bunch, snag, show underwear lines, or crease in awkward places like some other leggings. It was actually so impressive that I caught my own shocked facial expression when I was looking in the mirror. The sports bra similarly left me pleasantly surprised. That one went on super easily, so you don't have to worry about messing up your ponytail when you're getting dressed. IYKYK. I was very worried that the white would be sheer, but after checking in various lighting, it was pretty opaque. I also did have concerns about potential spillage, so I opted to wear a t-shirt in the class just to be safe, but when I got home, I realized I totally didn't need to, as the bra was very supportive and secure. To test it for sure, I did some exercises at home and had no spillage. As someone who gets cold easily and likes to wear something over my bra en route to the gym and home, the hoodie is a super convenient and comfortable cover-up. I was so happy with the results because I didn't have to think about what I was wearing at all during the class and could focus on the routine instead. The one caveat was the material. Although they may look nice and feel good at the moment, I do wish that they were more environmentally friendly, sensitive-skin friendly, and luxe, given that these are a very high price point.
I had to dig back into my closet for these ones. After buying tons of Pink products as a tween and teenager because everyone else was (duh!), I really wanted to know if they were actually quality or if all my saved allowance went to waste. Let's just say I wasn't too disappointed, but I don't know if I'll be spending any of my own hard-earned money on these in the future (sorry, mom and dad). I found that the sports bra felt a little too daring to wear by itself. Although I got my usual size, the band was quite loose. I also thought that the fabric in the front was a little small. It could have used an extra inch or two at the top. Luckily, I had the T-shirt to cover up. It was nice and loose to keep breezy during the workout but cropped so it didn't get in the way. The design is also very fun and made me feel more athletic than I really am. The leggings were very comfortable, which makes sense because those are one of the things Pink is known to do well. They were easy to put on and stretched quite well, but the material did slightly snag on underwear lines, so longer tops or seamless underwear would be preferable to wear with it. Despite this being my very first time doing reformer pilates, I didn't find the clothes to be restrictive at all. It's a solid option, but be careful and take note of the sizes, materials, and fits of the pieces you like!
Aiyana Ishmael, Associate Editor
I want to say, as a larger girl with bad knees (former basketball and volleyball player) I am a mat pilates hater, so the Equinox “Pilates Rise” class was not my personal favorite, but I cannot deny the luxury that is going to an Equinox. If your knees and body is built for the floor then it will definitely be the class for you. I wore this burgundy set from Adidas to the class, which I think ultimately was a mistake. As a girl with a large chest, I find this strap style not great for working out on the floor. I wear this set a lot to the gym and have no issues when I’m upright, but going from the floor to standing to crouching isn’t the best. I will say this set is super cute, though, so for a workout class at a place like Equinox, I absolutely would wear it again because of how fashionable I felt wearing it. The fit outside of that was great, and I didn’t have any issues with the leggings riding up or down. Now, sadly, the exact color I had does not exist on the site anymore (Adidas if you read this, bring it back, but this green set is just as darling).
I’ve been going to NYP reformer class for a little over a year, and it is the holy grail workout for me. While the diversity of the class can truly vary, with not many other plus-size people in attendance, I’ve never felt uncomfortable or like I stood out, which is ideal. The instructors are supportive and offer so many modifications to every move they’re teaching, which makes me feel included in the class, even when I can’t do specific things. I wore a gray matching set from Adidas. As I said, Adidas is my go-to athletic wear brand, so wearing a cute set from them while at my favorite workout class usually makes me feel invincible. I feel great in the class while also looking great. There is nothing like a matching set that really gets the endorphins soaring. I personally prefer this style of sports bra over the thinner strap one I wore the day before to Equinox. I didn’t once find myself tugging at the strap or stuffing my breast back into the bra after bending over. I love when I can zone out in a class and just do the workout versus feeling self-conscious and like my outfit is about to be disruptive to my class time, so this specific set takes the cake in comfort and motion while keeping me in place. The only downside (but not a true one for myself; it would just be for someone who hates to look sweaty) is that the gray-colored set does create sweat stains. I personally see it as a badge of honor after a workout class, visibly seeing the sweat gathered on my sports bra and leggings, but if that's not your vibe, then I definitely suggest getting a darker-colored set because NYP classes always leave me drenched. Overall, both of these sets can be worn to your pilates classes and they'll definitely make you feel like a veteran pilates princess.
Kaitlyn McNab, Culture Editor
I wasn’t sure what scared me more: the idea of wearing a cropped tee to a mat pilates class or the idea of doing mat pilates… at Equinox. I was pleasantly surprised to find Gymshark holding me down and defying the odds with the Blur Seamless Iris Blue Leggings and T-shirt. The Blur Seamless T-Shirt is a bit longer than a crop top but has the same hourglass-shaping effect. It meets the compression waistband of the leggings almost perfectly, which made me feel less self-conscious and more secure than I expected. I was mentally prepared to be constantly pulling down the hem of the t-shirt or pulling up the waistband of the leggings while off and on the mat; but for the most part, the entire set stayed put. The legging waistband only folded down during the more full-body crunching moves like teasers and roll-backs.
Less than 12 hours later, I was in another blue Gymshark set in another pilates studio on the Lower East Side. I wore the Vital Seamless Light Blue Marl Leggings and Light Tank to a reformer class at New York Pilates, and it was my dream pilates uniform. The flirty length of the tank allowed me to be cute and worry-free about my comfort or body image during the class, focusing on the strength of my core rather than the exposure of my tummy. The leggings from both sets were difficult to get on at first due to the tight ankle openings, but they allowed a wide range of movement once I jimmied myself in. Both of these Gymshark sets made me feel bright and confident in my body during two intense classes, and for that, I’m grateful.
