Although talking about one’s underwear choices is not necessarily an easy conversation to have, it’s an important one, especially with kids. They may not be sure whether to wear underwear under a leotard or not. What is the right course of action here?
Dancers and gymnasts don’t often wear underwear under their leotards. The underwear can bunch up and the visible seams take away from the costume. Keeping a leotard clean when wearing it without underwear is paramount.
We have lots of useful information in this extensive guide, as we’ll answer all your most burning questions about whether to pair leotards and underwear. Make sure you keep reading!
Should My Kid Wear Underwear Under Their Leotards? What About Gymnastic Leotards?
Going back to our point from the intro, it doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about dancing or gymnastics leotards.
In both cases, a child (or adult dancer) should refrain from wearing underwear under their leotards.
Here’s why.
The Underwear Lines Are Noticeable
If you’ve ever worn a pair of leggings, then you know how selective you have to be about your underwear. The tight pants leave nothing to the imagination, after all.
Well, those underwear lines are about 10 times more noticeable when wearing a leotard.
Maybe if it’s a dark-colored leotard, the lines are harder to detect, but for brighter colors, the underwear lines stand out as clear as day.
The leotard material is simply too tight.
You might find that all people are focusing on are your underwear lines instead of your performance, which would be a real shame.
Shifting and Bunching Can Affect Performance
Underwear worn under a leotard doesn’t necessarily stay in one place even though the leotard is tight.
If your underwear were to shift or bunch up, then once again, the visible effects of such would be noticeable to anybody and everybody.
More so, you might find that your performance is affected as you can’t go through your routine as smoothly as possible. You’ll keep wanting to adjust your undies.
You Could Lose Points in a Competition
Although this might not always be the case, in many instances, visible underwear lines count as a wardrobe malfunction.
If you’re dancing or doing a gymnastics competition where you’re judged and scored, your score could be negatively impacted by the presence of the underwear lines!
Is It Unhygienic to Wear No Underwear?
Okay, but what about the hygienic aspect of foregoing wearing underwear under a leotard? Surely, there are some ramifications to be aware of, right?
Yes, of course. A child or adult dancer or gymnast could develop uncomfortable chafing, UTIs, yeast infections, and vaginal folliculitis.
However, that’s when wearing the leotard for prolonged periods.
If you only wear the leotard sans underwear to practice or dance and then get changed, then you shouldn’t have to worry about any unhygienic effects.
Oh, and be sure to wash your leotard after every use!
Are All Tights Suitable for No Underwear? What About Leggings and Bodysuits?
What if your dance troupe doesn’t wear leotards so much as a bodysuit or leggings? Does the same rule apply as with skipping underwear?
Yes, it should. After all, dance leggings and bodysuits are just as skintight as a leotard. Thus, the same risks we discussed in the earlier section can once again present themselves.
Whether it’s a dance exam, a recital, or a performance, skip the underwear.
Should Dancers Wear Pads with a Leotard?
What about female dancers during that time of the month? During a period, the idea of going without underwear and a pad can be mortifying.
Pads are not recommended for dance uniforms for a multitude of reasons.
They’re very bulky, even the everyday use ones.
If the pads have wings, then the wings will wrap around the leotard, making it very noticeable that a girl or woman is on her period.
The pad can otherwise be visible even if it doesn’t have wings.
The only thing that would be more embarrassing than one’s pad coming out during a dance class is during a recital or performance.
You don’t need the whole world to know you’re on your period, after all!
The best thing to do if menstruating when you have to wear a leotard is to use a tampon instead. A tampon doesn’t require underwear, and it’s very discrete.
If you’re still concerned about leaks, then wear a dark-colored leotard.
Do Dancers Wear a Bra with a Leotard?
If wearing a bodysuit, what should a female dancer do about wearing a bra? Is it acceptable to wear a bra or should she forego it?
Ideally, a dancer should not wear a bra.
The bra is not going to be very comfortable to move around in, so a dancer might feel constricted.
That’s not all. It’s also next to impossible to hide the shape and features of a bra under a skintight costume, from the bra straps to the band and the underwire.
If a dancer’s bra straps were to slip, that’d be a fashion faux pas and possibly cause her to lose points if she’s engaging in a judged competition.
The only exception to the no-bra rule is if a dancer is especially. busty. For these ladies, going without a bra might feel even more detrimental than dancing with one.
We’d recommend buying an athletic bra without underwire. The shape of the bra should fit very closely to the body, and the straps should be tight so no errant strap slippage occurs.
The color of the bra should also match the dance uniform as closely as possible.
What to Do If Your Child Is Wearing No Tights?
Your child has a dance performance coming up, and the costume is a leotard without tights. Do they need underwear?
No, just as has been the case the entire time, a child should not wear underwear when dancing in a leotard. The leotard is their underwear.
What to Do If Your Child Is Wearing a Used Costume?
Perhaps the costume your child will dance in belonged to someone else last season and is being repurposed.
You have qualms about your child foregoing underwear and wearing a used costume. Do you have to worry so much about the hygienic implications or are you just overthinking it?
Well, just because a costume is used doesn’t ever mean it wasn’t washed. No respectable dance company is going to give its dancers a used costume to wear that hasn’t been properly cleaned.
Thus, you can trust that the leotard will be clean and safe to wear without underwear.
What to Do If Your Child Still Wears a Nappy?
Let’s say you got your child started with dance really young. They’re still wearing diapers.
Now what kind of rule exists for wearing a leotard with or without underwear?
If your child is still in the stage where they’re wearing a diaper, then any dance costume is going to keep that in mind. After all, most of their dance mates will be in the same developmental stage as well.
How to Ensure Your Child Is Safe and Doesn’t Apply the ‘No Underwear’ Rule to Other Scenarios?
When raising children, you know all too well that you have to tread carefully. If you give them too much freedom in one area, they might apply it to other areas that aren’t as appropriate.
For example, if you allow your child to not wear underwear when at dance practice, they might assume they don’t have to wear underwear at all.
You should be clear with them that they shouldn’t wear underwear for dance practice only because that’s what’s conventional of dance rehearsals. However, in all other scenarios, it’s unconventional.
You might have to remind them of this rule a few times, but it will stick.
Do Teens and Adults Wear Underwear with Leotards?
Regardless of the age of the dancer, from children to teens and adults, underwear lines would still be a distracting presence when wearing a leotard.
Thus, a dancer should never wear underwear in this form-fitting costume.
Is There an Alternative to Not Wearing Underwear Under Leotards?
Okay, but is the only option really to forego wearing underwear when dancing in a leotard?
Yes, pretty much. Perhaps if you wore a bodysuit under a leotard, that would eliminate any underwear line issues.
However, the bodysuit would have to have a cut identical to the leotard or its presence would be too noticeable.
In addition, that’s a lot of extra bulk that’s being created that could inhibit a dancer’s free range of motion.
Conclusion
The best way to think about wearing a leotard without underwear is that the leotard is your underwear.
It will be strange to not wear underwear under a leotard at first, but eventually, it becomes second nature.
If you found this article useful, but still have leotard-related questions, you may enjoy our article Unitards vs. Leotards: The key differences + full guide.