Dragonfly Pole Wear: Choosing an Outfit for Your Training

A waistband you keep pulling up or a top you need to check before every move can interrupt a good training session. When choosing pole wear, start with how it fits your body and the moves you practise. Colour and style can follow.

At Dragonfly, we develop, cut and sew our clothing at our own workshop in the Czech Republic, using fabrics made in Italy. We refine our cuts through testing and feedback from athletes. Here is what to look for when choosing a Dragonfly outfit for your own training.

Stretch that lets you move

Pole training asks a lot of your clothes: reaching overhead, bending, squatting and moving through wide leg positions. Our Italian fabrics with LYCRA® fibre combine stretch and shape retention, with a soft finish against the skin. They are designed to move with you. When trying on a pair of shorts or a sports bra, check that the fabric follows your movement without pulling uncomfortably at the seams or edges.

A close fit should still feel comfortable. If an opening digs in or you have to keep adjusting the garment, compare the size and cut before deciding that you need something tighter.

Leave the skin you need for grip uncovered

For many pole moves, grip comes from contact between your skin and the pole. Ordinary stretch fabric does not replace that contact. Choose your outfit around the areas you need free, whether that is your upper thighs, waist or shoulders.

Our beginner’s guide to pole grip explains how clothing, skin and studio conditions work together.

Choose the shorts and top separately

• Mandy shorts have a mid-rise waist and cover more of the bum than Hot Pants. They are an option if you prefer a less revealing back cut.
• Emma shorts combine a high waist with side drawstrings, so you can adjust the length around your thighs.
• Nicole sports bra offers medium support, a double-layered front and an open-shoulder design. Check its fit against your own support needs and the movements in your session.

You do not have to choose the same size for your top and shorts. Use your measurements and the Dragonfly size charts for each piece.

Try the outfit for the session you have in mind

For technique work, check grip access and how the garments stay in place. For choreography, include the reaches, turns and floorwork you normally practise. For a performance, rehearse in the full outfit and check the organiser’s clothing requirements.

Try a squat, a knee lift and an overhead reach within your comfortable range. You should be able to move without repeatedly pulling your clothes back into position. Follow the return conditions while trying on new items.

If hot yoga is part of your week too, our guide to what to wear to a first hot yoga class will help you choose for the heated studio.

Know how your clothing is made and cared for

You can read about our workshops, materials and approach to production in the Dragonfly brand story. Follow the care label on each garment to help keep it in good condition between sessions.

For a closer look at fabrics and everyday care, read our guide to choosing sustainable pole wear and aerial clothing.

Ready to put an outfit together? Explore Dragonfly pole dance clothing and choose the coverage, support and colours you enjoy wearing.