Buying The Perfect Leotard

The essential guide to comfort, style and color

Leotards are more than dancewear basics, they’re dance necessities. So even if you’ve worn—and worn out—countless leos or you’re just starting on your dance journey, you can always benefit from learning how to pick a leotard you’ll love. Our supersized selection of leotards from Balera, Capezio, Bloch and more offers an almost-endless amount of options—but have no fear, your guide to buying the perfect leotard is here!

Comfort

Matte nylon/spandex is your go-to for the studio with the flexible fabric and sophisticated matte finish, it will carry you through practices, auditions, conventions, warm-ups, cool-downs—whatever you need! Its versatility, plus its stretchy, fitted style, make it a dance bag essential.

When it comes to your leotard’s material, cotton remains the most absorbent and hypoallergenic option. For dancers with any skin or sensory sensitivities, a cotton leotard will work every time. Even the most hard to please little dancers will find comfort in the soft, breathable fabric.

No matter the fabric, leotards should give you a snug fit, almost like a second skin. Why? So you can avoid a leotard that bunches at the shoulders or gives you a droopy bottom. Aside from unsightly style, leotards with tight straps that dig into the shoulders or loose ones that constantly fall down are not only uncomfortable, but annoying too.

Silhouettes

Now it’s important to determine the best silhouette, or style, of leotard for you. Long sleeve leotards are for all you prima ballerinas in training, as it’s the leotard preferred by many professionals. If you want to emulate the greats, go for a leotard that emphasizes your technique and form (which also happens to be ideal for when temps drop.)

Short sleeves are the goldilocks of leotard cuts as they give you the range of motion and extra coverage that’s just right, while cap sleeve styles provide a sophisticated touch.

Camisole-style leotards are tried-and-true classics, a must-have in every dancer’s wardrobe.

Whether you’re a prima ballerina in training or into going all-out in jazz class, this style fits right in.

Support

Many of our leotards in adult sizes offer a shelf bra, which offers light to moderate support in combination with the leotard itself.

If you’re needing more support, we have tons of bra-friendly leotard options. A tank-style leotard is another timeless silhouette and it provides extra coverage when wearing bras, thanks to its thicker straps. (Bonus: This style of leotard seems to magically look good on everyone.)

Other bra-friendly tips include shopping for styles with a racerback, high back or thick, crisscross straps as these features all help provide additional support. A high-back style means you can wear your favorite bra underneath without worrying about your bra straps showing. Or, match the color of your leotard to your bra, which can look like an extra little style detail or go practically unnoticed.

Pssst...Need help finding the right size? Check out our Fit Guide to get it right before you order.

Color

Choosing a color is the most personal decision when buying a leotard. Of course, you may need to follow your studio dress code and select the color that your teacher requires. Some of our best-selling leotards are available in 20+ color options so you can choose your favorite hue. From classic Black and Pink to bold Black Cherry and soft and sweet Violet, there are tons of ways to express your individuality. Skin-tone and neutral shades are also popular underneath costumes to ensure modesty.

At the end of the day, the most important factor in determining your next leotard is one that moves with you. Dance leotards, like dance shoes, should feel snug but comfortable, and should allow you to dance the way you want.

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