Shorts, Shoes and Whips – What (Not) to Wear on a Pole

What’s the best thing to wear when practicing your pole dancing?

The clothes you choose can make a huge difference to your pole work. Wear the right thing and you’ll have more grip, feel a lot less pain and avoid the odd, um, unwanted exposure too.

Pole dancing is all about gripping at the right times and with the right parts of your body. Skin tends to be sticky, but clothes (as a rule) are not, so it’s important to have enough skin on show to let you climb, hang off and spin round your pole.

It’s simple really

Almost all pole schools – including my own – recommend wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Simple and effective! Here are a few other points you should consider too:

• Short shorts are much better than long shorts. Your upper thighs are very important for many pole moves, and long shorts won’t give you nearly as much grip in this crucial area.
• Football shorts tend to be very slippery. You’ll probably find you stick to the pole much better with a pair of cotton-based shorts instead.
• Wear big knickers. If you’re going to be doing moves like the Eye Opener or Teddy, wear a big pair of knickers underneath to avoid any Britney incidents! Ones like these from Figleaves are perfect.
• Grip better – If you find you’re not sticking to the pole as much as you’d like and want a bit more purchase then a tight vest top is perfect. Many people are amazed at the extra grip they get from just the upper arm and armpit.
• And though they look lovely, smock tops aren’t really suitable as they tend to invert when you do!

A private showing

If you’re lucky enough to have your own pole at home you can be as creative and inventive with your wardrobe as you like. Just wearing knickers and a bra is a great way to work out: it keeps you cool and there’s a lot more skin exposed to help you stick to the pole. Some people even like to work out naked!

If you do normally wear a t-shirt, going topless will make some moves such as the Half Flag or Gemini feel quite different. With so much more skin on show you’ll have a huge amount of extra grip, but it can be quite disconcerting – not to mention painful! – when you end up stuck to the pole rather than sliding gracefully down as you usually would.

So try a couple of easy moves before leaping into the Hercules, and experiment with grip in other areas, for instance by using your hands and feet to vary your body pressure against the pole.

Accessorize!

Pole Exercise may be a great workout, but there are few things that can’t be made even more fun with a few choice accessories. If you want to spice up a routine you’ve put together or you’re planning a little show and tell then go for it!

Accessories can make all the difference in turning a good pole performance into one that looks truly spectacular. I’ve seen everything from feather boas to whips used to great effect – just let your imagination run wild!

What you wear on your feet can also make a huge difference to pole work. We’ll be looking at that soon – stay tuned!

Looking for more?

• Get More Grip and Look After Your Skin – How Boots Can Help →
• Put On Your Pole Dancing Shoes – Looking After Your Feet on a Dance Pole →
• 5 Ways to Beat Sweaty Hand Syndrome →
• Find out about the Pole Exercise DVD →
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