Aerial Arts Outfits: 8 Combinations That Work in Any Class

Aerial arts outfits are about function first. A great outfit on the apparatus keeps your skin protected where the fabric touches you, stays in place when you invert, and does not catch on anything. Here are eight tested outfit combinations that work for silks, lyra, hammock, pole, and the warm-up that bookends every class.

Silks and Hammock Outfits

Outfit 1: The Standard Silks Kit. Full-length high-waist leggings, a fitted tank, and a long-sleeve performance top layered underneath. Hair up, no jewelry. This is what 80 percent of silks students wear, and it works in every studio in the country.

Outfit 2: The Single-Layer Silks Look. A fitted long-sleeve performance top tucked into full-length leggings. Cleaner aesthetic, slightly warmer, easier to size. Works well for advanced classes where teachers spend less time on partner spotting.

Outfit 3: The Hammock Restorative Kit. Full-length leggings, a fitted tank, and a soft long-sleeve crewneck for the warm-up. Hammock classes spend more time in slow movements, so a slightly heavier layer feels good.

Lyra Outfits

Outfit 4: The Lyra Standard. Full-length leggings, a fitted tank, a fitted bike short layered over the leggings for the hip-grip points, and a long-sleeve underlayer for the armpits. The double-layer at the waist prevents the hoop from pinching skin against the waistband.

Outfit 5: The Coated-Hoop Look. If your studio uses tape-wrapped or coated lyra, a single layer of full-length leggings and a fitted long-sleeve top is enough. The grip is more forgiving.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

Pole Outfits (Where the Rules Flip)

Outfit 6: The Pole Standard. A fitted sports bra and high-cut booty shorts. Bare inner thighs, bare abdomen, bare upper arms. This is the kit for sport pole, fitness pole, and exotic pole alike, because pole grip works through skin contact.

Outfit 7: The Combo Floor-and-Pole Look. Sports bra, boy-short cut shorts (slightly more coverage), and a fitted crop top for floor sections. Floor work needs more coverage. The crop comes off for pole sequences.

Warm-Up and Cool-Down Outfits

Outfit 8: The Walk-In, Walk-Out Look. A heavyweight studio hoodie or crewneck sweatshirt layered over the in-class outfit. Aerial students cool down fast after class, and warm-up apparel sells better than any other item in most studio shops because students wear it from the parking lot, through the lobby, and home.

Studio-branded hoodies are the single most photographed item in any aerial program. Students wear them to the coffee shop after class. The logo gets seen.

If you are setting up a studio shop, stock all five core pieces: a fitted tank, a long-sleeve performance top, full-length leggings, a midweight tee, and a heavyweight hoodie. Browse our hoodie catalog for the warm-up layer and our long sleeve catalog for the in-class layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a typical aerial silks outfit?

Full-length high-waist leggings, a fitted tank, and a long-sleeve performance top layered underneath for armpit coverage. This combination works in nearly every silks studio in the US.

Why are pole outfits so different from silks outfits?

Pole grip works through bare skin contact, so fitted shorts and a sports bra are standard. Silks and lyra grip works through the fabric pressing into the body, so coverage is required.

Can a studio sell branded aerial outfits as a package?

Yes. Many studios bundle a tank, leggings, and a hoodie as a starter kit at a small discount. Print-on-demand handles each piece individually with no inventory required.