What to Wear to Aerial Silks

There's a specific kind of mid-class regret that comes from showing up in the wrong outfit. For aerial silks, it happens quickly: a loose t-shirt flips over your face on your first climb, or a zip on your waistband shreds the fabric. The good news is that dressing for silks is not complicated - it just requires understanding what the silks actually do to your clothing, and to you.

Here's what to know before your first class.

Cover more than you think you need to

The silks grip your body, which is how you stay up. That same grip, applied to bare skin at speed, produces friction burns. The main problem spots are the inner arms, the backs of the knees, and the sides of the ribcage - all the places where the fabric wraps or pinches during footlocks and drops.

Full-length leggings are non-negotiable.

A top that covers your underarms is strongly recommended. This is all about skin protection. By your third class, you'll be glad you covered up — your classmates with bare skin will be feeling it.

Fitted, not tight (and definitely not loose)

The fit logic is straightforward: the fabric has to move with your body, not around it.

A billowy shirt will invert over your head within minutes. Wide-leg trousers make footwork difficult. On the flip side, you don't need tight sportswear — something with a bit of stretch and enough coverage is all that's required.

A fitted long-sleeve top and full-length leggings is the standard setup. A leotard or bodysuit under leggings is arguably better because it stays tucked regardless of how upside down you get.

Fabric matters more than you'd expect

Cotton and jersey are the go-to fabrics for aerial silks for a reason: they grip. Silky or synthetic fabrics — think standard athletic nylon, slick spandex — work against you. They slide on the silks at exactly the moments you need friction. Cotton-blend leggings and a cotton or jersey top will perform significantly better than technical sportswear designed to repel moisture.

There's a specific trick worth knowing: velvet-finish leggings provide exceptional grip on the silks! If you're struggling with footlocks or climbs in your early classes, velvet on the legs is a a real improvement. You don't need this for your first class, but if you start dreaming about aerials at night and come to class every week - it might be a sign to invest.

What to leave at home

Zippers, hooks, metal clasps, belt loops — anything that could snag the silk comes off before class. This is as much about protecting the equipment (silks are expensive and delicate) as it is about your safety.

Jewellery goes the same way: rings especially, but also anything that could catch. Long nails are worth trimming before your first session — they can tear holes in the fabric and also make gripping harder. Hair in a bun or low ponytail, secured with a plain elastic. Barrettes and clips are a hazard once you're inverted.

A few things that are actually useful to bring

A light layer for warm-up — silks work better when your muscles are warm and your hands aren't cold. We have heaters in the studio for winter months, but you can keep your muscles warm by covering up too. A sweatshirt you can take off easily is worth having in your bag. You can buy Gluey grip at the studio. Dry hands make everything harder, so it's worth investing. Bare feet are standard — grip socks are an option if the floor is cold, but you'll take them off before going on the silks.

The short version

Full-length leggings. A fitted top that covers your underarms and ideally your midriff. Cotton or cotton-blend wherever possible. Nothing with zippers, metal, or hardware. Hair up, jewellery off, nails short. Velvet leggings if you want a grip advantage from day one.

That's it. Everything else you'll figure out as you go!

Ready to try your first class? With out 3-class trial pack you can try both silks and hoop within a month, or dive deeper into once discipline.