The first Solidcore class is a lot to take in: blue lights, a reformer-style machine you've never used, and a coach counting down holds that feel endless. Your clothes are the one thing you can sort out in advance, and they matter more here than in most workouts. The movements are slow, you spend a lot of time in planks and on your back, and loose fabric slides around or catches. That's why the class calls for form-fitting, sweat-wicking clothes that stay where you put them. Below are 25 full outfits, from matching sets to bodysuits to plain black leggings, with what I'd check on each before booking a class in it.
The Squat Test and Other Fitting-Room Checks
Activewear that looks fine standing up can fail on a reformer-style machine, where you spend a lot of time folded, upside down or lying on your back. Before wearing anything new to class, I run through these checks at home.
- Squat with your back to a mirror in bright light. If you can see skin or underwear through the seat, the fabric is too thin for this class.
- Hold a plank for 20 seconds and look down. A top that gapes open at the neck or slides up toward your chest will bother you all class.
- Lie on your back on the floor. Anything hard, like zips, metal hardware, thick seams or a claw clip, will press into you on the carriage.
- Do a deep side lunge. Shorts that ride up or liners that twist show it straight away.
- Raise both arms overhead. The waistband should still meet the bottom of your top.
Anything that passes all five checks will go unnoticed in class, which is exactly what you want from workout clothes.
1. Black leggings and a tank top for Solidcore
Black leggings and a fitted tank are the default for good reason. A nylon and spandex legging holds its shape, stays opaque in a deep lunge and moves sweat off the skin instead of soaking it up the way cotton does. Choose a tank with wide straps so nothing digs into your shoulders during planks. The workout is done barefoot or in grip socks, so you'll slip off your slides at the machine. Tie your hair low and tight, since a high ponytail presses into the back of your head when you lie down on the carriage.
2. Fitted shorts and a sports bra for Solidcore
In a warm studio, fitted shorts and a supportive bra keep you cooler than anything else. I'd go for a mid-thigh length rather than very short, because short hems ride up during the seated and side-lying leg work. A compression-style sports bra with a high neckline stays put when you fold forward. Dark colors hide sweat; bright tonal pieces feel more energizing if that helps you show up. Recovery sandals are worth packing for the walk in and out, since your feet will be tired after a lower-body day.
3. High-waisted leggings and a crop top Solidcore
High-waisted leggings are what stop the waistband peeling down in a forward plank, which is the moment most people end up tugging at their clothes. Pair them with a crop tank that ends at the natural waist so there's no loose fabric between them. Brushed nylon-spandex has a soft matte finish that looks fine at a café afterward. The crop lets some air in without riding up. If your leggings roll at the top when you crouch, the rise is too low or the waistband too narrow for this workout.
4. Compression leggings and a long-sleeve crop top Solidcore
Compression leggings give a firm hold through the long, slow holds on the machine, which many people find steadying when their legs start shaking. A long-sleeve crop top in a light performance knit keeps your arms warm through the warm-up without trapping heat around your middle. It's a good choice for cooler months or a studio with heavy air conditioning. Thumbholes keep the sleeves from sliding up during planks. Clean white slides and a small claw clip finish it, though take the clip out before you lie back on the carriage.
5. Seamless leggings and a sports bra Solidcore
Seamless leggings have no side seams to press into your hips when you're lying on the carriage, which is the reason I suggest them for this workout in particular. They move through lunges and slides without rubbing. A scoop-back bra in a matching or tonal shade gives a clean one-color look, and knit-in mesh zones let some heat out. If you wear grip socks, choose a low-profile pair in a neutral. Knit leggings without seams are often less opaque than paneled ones, so do a squat test before your first class.
6. Sweat-wicking shorts and a racerback tank Solidcore
When the class is packed and the room heats up, the priority is getting sweat away from your skin fast. Shorts with a built-in brief liner give coverage without a separate layer, and a racerback tank frees your shoulder blades for full range. The open back also lets heat out. Pick a high-waisted short if you want more coverage during floor core work. A simple headband keeps flyaways out of your eyes when you're dripping. Liner shorts can twist on the thigh, so check them in a deep side lunge.
7. Cropped leggings and an oversized sweatshirt Solidcore
Studio air conditioning can be fierce before class starts, so a light sweatshirt over your workout clothes is sensible. Cropped leggings ending just above the ankle won't bunch at your feet when you're barefoot on the reformer. Wear a sports bra or cropped tank underneath and pull the sweatshirt off once you're warm. It's especially welcome at early morning and late evening classes. A thin, smooth sweatshirt is easier to pull off quickly than a heavy fleece, which matters when the coach is already calling the first move.
8. Matching workout set for Solidcore
Walking in wearing a coordinated set does make you feel ready. Labels such as Alo Yoga, Lululemon, and SET Active make matching bra and legging sets in seasonal colors with cuts suited to reformer-style classes. High-compression fabric gives a held-in feel; a softer, brushed knit is more comfortable for stretching. The pre-class mirror photo is optional. What actually matters across the 50 minutes is that the band of the bra and the waistband of the leggings don't fight each other when you twist.
9. Flare leggings and a tank top Solidcore
Flares have come back, and they can work for a low-impact class like this one, with one condition: the leg opening has to stay narrow. A wide flare drifts toward the springs and catches under the carriage, which is the last thing you want mid-lunge. A gentle flare with a fitted ribbed tank in cream, heather gray or a dusty pastel gives a slightly retro look. Colorful or striped grip socks finish it. Pull the hem up to mid-calf before stepping on if it's long, so you aren't stepping on fabric.
10. Biker shorts and an oversized tee Solidcore
Biker shorts with a slightly oversized tee are the outfit I'd suggest to beginners who want to feel covered. The shorts need a waistband that won't roll when you slide on the carriage. Knot the tee at the side or back, because a loose hem slides up over your face in a plank or on your back. Wear a sports bra underneath, add ankle grip socks and carry a tote for your phone, keys and water bottle. If the tee is cotton, expect it to feel heavy with sweat by the end; a poly-blend tee dries faster.
11. One-piece workout jumpsuit Solidcore
A jumpsuit or unitard reduces your outfit to one decision: zip it up and go. Look for a built-in shelf bra, adjustable straps and a fit that's snug through the torso without pressing. The continuous line from shoulder to ankle means nothing untucks or rides up during the slow, controlled moves. Deep burgundy, navy or forest green looks especially good under the studio's blue lighting. The trade-off is bathroom breaks, so if you tend to need one mid-class, a two-piece is easier.
12. Ribbed knit workout set Solidcore
Ribbed performance fabric adds texture to a plain set, and the vertical lines make the body look longer. A ribbed high-waist legging with a matching longline bra in clay, oat, mocha or sage looks considered rather than basic. Most of these are medium compression, a comfortable middle ground between hugged and breathable. They photograph nicely too. Ribbing does show sweat in lighter shades more than smooth fabric, so if you sweat a lot, go mocha or darker.
13. High-neck sports bra and high-waist leggings Solidcore
A high-neck sports bra covers the chest fully and still looks sleek. With high-waisted leggings, it makes one covered line from collarbone to ankle, which suits anyone who wants a more modest top without layering a tank. Four-way stretch fabric lets you twist and reach freely, and the high neck won't gape in a plank or when you're upside down on the machine. A grip sock and a strong hair tie are all the accessories it needs. High necks run warm, so pick a bra with a ventilated back.
14. Open-back tank and compression leggings Solidcore
An open-back tank looks like a standard fitted tank from the front, but the low or cut-out back lets heat escape as you work. Full-length compression leggings balance it with support through the legs and glutes. The fitted shoulders keep the tank from shifting, and it suits mild spring or fall days when you want some air without baring much. A low-profile grip sock completes it. Check that the cutout edges are bound flat; raw elastic edges can dig into your back when you lie on the carriage.
15. Longline sports bra and cropped leggings Solidcore
A longline sports bra extends a few inches below the bust, so it covers part of the ribcage almost like a short crop top. Cropped leggings ending above the ankle match it nicely, and the strip of midriff is small. Look for a wide underband that doesn't roll during exercises on your back, which is where a narrow band gives way. Tonal colors or black and gray work best. Pack slip-on sneakers for the commute. If you're long-waisted, a longline style also stops a bigger gap showing between bra and leggings.
16. Sweatshirt and grip socks Solidcore outfit
Half of this outfit is about arriving and leaving comfortably. A soft, light sweatshirt over a sports bra and leggings keeps you warm on the way in; at the machine you peel it off, stash it and step on in grip socks. The socks become the fun part: a bright color, a stripe or a soft pastel. It's my go-to formula for cold mornings and late classes. Keep the sweatshirt within reach, because a wet body cools quickly once class ends and you'll want it back on before you head outside.
17. Yoga pants and a fitted tank Solidcore
Yoga pants are slightly thicker than standard leggings, with more structure and less squeeze, which suits anyone who finds compression uncomfortable. A straight or gently flared leg with a fitted tank tucked in or ending at the hip feels calm and simple. Pick moisture-wicking fabric with a flat waistband. Since you'll be barefoot or in grip socks, the hem has to clear the floor when you stand on the machine. Thicker fabric also means more heat, so I'd save these for cooler months.
18. Zip-up jacket and matching leggings Solidcore
A light zip-up jacket over a matching bra and legging set makes a pulled-together arrival outfit that adapts once class starts. Wear it in, then unzip and leave it by the machine once the springs come into play. A slim performance-knit jacket in the same color as the leggings gives a coordinated look, with grip socks in a matching neutral. Choose a jacket with a zip garage, the small fold of fabric at the top, so the zipper pull doesn't scratch your chin on the way in.
19. Printed leggings and a solid tank Solidcore
Printed leggings are a quick way to add personality to a mostly neutral activewear drawer. Marbled, tone-on-tone camo or soft animal prints stay interesting without shouting. Keep the top solid, in one of the print's accent shades, so the tank anchors the outfit. Prints on darker grounds hide sweat lines best, which is a real advantage in a class this intense. Test the print in a squat, since some prints stretch thin and turn sheer over the knee and seat.
20. Cropped hoodie and moto-seam leggings Solidcore
Moto leggings with diagonal seam lines and contouring add a tougher edge to the rotation, since the paneling shapes the leg. A light cropped hoodie over a sports bra gives a street-to-studio look; it comes off after the warm-up and the leggings carry the rest. All black is the most striking, charcoal with tonal panels a little softer. Grip socks with a textured sole help in standing sequences. Raised seam panels can press into the backs of your legs when you're seated on the carriage, so check them before a long class.
21. Halter sports bra and leggings Solidcore
A halter sports bra moves the eye up to the shoulders and upper back, which get worked hard in this class. The strap ties or clips at the neck and stays put through high-rep moves. Full-length leggings, matching or in a clean contrast like black and ivory, keep it simple. A keyhole at the chest lets a bit more air in. Halter ties at the back of the neck can press into you when you lie down, so a flat clip closure is more comfortable than a knot.
22. Graphic tee and biker shorts Solidcore
A soft vintage-wash graphic tee keeps you covered and adds personality. Tuck a corner into the waistband of supportive biker shorts or tie it at the side to crop it. It's handy on weekends when you want to go straight to brunch without changing. The shorts need a wide, secure waistband and enough length to stop the inner thighs sticking to the carriage. Wear a sports bra in one of the tee's accent colors underneath, with grip socks and a cap. A boxy tee will flop over your face in a plank, so knot it before class starts.
23. Cutout back tank and leggings Solidcore
Cutouts on a workout tank let out heat during the hardest circuits without giving up coverage. A center-back opening or side slits do the job. With full-length knit leggings, it looks modern but stays fully practical, since the tank holds still through both static holds and quick transitions. A one-color set in espresso, olive or deep plum looks quiet and polished. Make sure the cutouts fall where they won't slide over a sports bra strap, or you'll be adjusting all class.
24. Tennis skirt and a fitted tank Solidcore
A tennis skirt with built-in shorts is a less obvious pick, but it works on the machine as long as the shorts beneath are snug. The skirt adds coverage over the hips, and a fitted tank in a coordinating color makes it preppy and athletic. It's most popular in warm weather and with anyone who likes a little more coverage around the hips. A grip sock and a neat ponytail keep it tidy. Check that the inner shorts are long enough to stop your skin sticking to the carriage when you sit.
25. Color-block workout set Solidcore
Color-blocking uses contrasting panels or different tones on each piece to give the outfit some shape. Think a bra in one shade and leggings in another, or leggings with a contrast waistband and side panel. Colors from the same family look tonal; opposites like cobalt and black or terracotta and cream look bolder. Contrast side panels can make the legs look longer and leaner. Grip socks in a neutral keep the attention on the set. Wash new bright sets separately the first few times so the dark panels don't bleed into the light ones.
Grip Socks, Lotion and the Wash Cycle
The workout is done barefoot or in grip socks, and regular socks or shoes aren't allowed on the machine. Some studios ask for grip socks, so check with yours before your first class. Grip socks also help if your feet sweat or you're self-conscious about bare feet on shared equipment.
Skip body lotion on your hands and feet before class. It makes the handles and platform slippery, and that's the quickest way to lose your footing in a slow lunge. Bring a small towel for the same reason.
For a first class, get there about ten minutes early in the outfit you plan to work out in. The coach will walk you through the machine, and you'll find out right away if a strap or waistband needs adjusting before the clock starts.
Keeping performance fabric working
Wash activewear soon after class, inside out and in cold water, and leave out fabric softener, which coats the fibers and stops them wicking sweat properly. Air drying keeps the elastic from breaking down as fast as it does in a hot dryer. If a set starts to hold odor even after washing, a soak in diluted white vinegar before the next wash usually clears it.
Dress for the Shake, Not the Mirror
For Solidcore, your outfit is equipment as much as clothing: it has to stay put through shaking holds, keep you dry and let you move without thinking about it. A plain black legging with a tank, a bold set or a sweatshirt over a bodysuit all work if they pass those tests. Stick to moisture-wicking fabrics, close fits and pieces that are comfortable barefoot on the machine, and you'll be covered for every plank and lunge. Try a few of these with what you already own and keep whatever you stop noticing halfway through class.
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