Polewear for Real Bodies: Pole Wear That Actually Fits

Let's have an honest conversation about pole wear sizing.

For too long, activewear — and pole wear especially — was designed for one very specific body type. Small waist, narrow hips, a bust that politely stays put without any structural help. If that's not your body (and for most of us, it's not), you've probably experienced the frustration firsthand.

Shorts that roll down mid-climb. Waistbands that dig into your hips. Bra cups that lift away the moment you go upside down. Sizing that jumps from a 14 to "plus" like it's a different category entirely. Seams that sit in all the wrong places on thick thighs.

We started RARR in 2013 because we were done with that. We wanted polewear for real bodies — and we've been designing it ever since.

What "Polewear for Real Bodies" Actually Means

It's a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. But for us, it means specific things.

It means designing shorts with waistbands that actually stay put — not just when you're standing still, but when you're climbing, spinning, gripping and sweating. A pole short that stays put is one with a firm, structured waistband that doesn't roll, gap or slide. Our high-waist and super-high-waist styles have a double-lined, four-piece contour waistband built specifically for this. It sits. It holds. It doesn't move.

It means designing for thick thighs without apology. Thick thighs are incredible on the pole — that's where your grip lives. Our shorts are cut with a higher leg opening and a scrunch bum design that works with your body, not against it. No compression that restricts blood flow. No inner seams that dig in. Just fabric that moves with you.

It means sizing that treats every size with the same care. Not "here's our range, and here's a plus size range that's just bigger versions of three styles." We carry XS through 5XL across our collections, and the design intention is the same at every size — flattering, functional, and made to move.

And it means being designed, tested and worn by real people with real bodies before anything goes live. Not fit models. Not mannequins. Actual humans with different shapes, doing actual pole tricks.

Pole Shorts That Stay Put (Really)

The number one complaint we hear from pole dancers about their shorts? They move. They roll. They creep. They end up somewhere you didn't put them.

Here's what makes the difference:

Waistband construction. Our super-high-waist shorts feature a four-piece contour waistband that sits near the rib line — high enough that even the most aggressive hip circles won't shift it. The double lining adds firmness without stiffness, so it holds without biting in.

Fabric with the right recovery. Pole shorts need to stretch with you and spring back. Our nylon-elastane blend does exactly that — no sagging, no bagging, no fabric that gives up halfway through class.

Scrunch bum design. This isn't just aesthetic (though the lift is undeniable). The scrunch seam also anchors the back of the short between your glutes, which keeps the whole short in position during movement. It's a design feature that works harder than it looks.

The right cut for your thigh shape. Our higher-cut leg opening means fabric isn't bunching at the inner thigh or cutting into the leg crease — a common issue in shorts designed for narrower thighs. The cut is generous through the seat and thigh so the short sits cleanly, not pulling or twisting.

Polewear for Thick Thighs

Thick thighs and pole dancing were made for each other. That grip, that power, that strength — thick thighs are genuinely one of the greatest assets you can have on the pole.

What's not made for thick thighs is poorly designed pole wear. The inner thigh is where a lot of shorts fail — fabric that pulls, seams that dig, cuts that bunch. We've worked hard to eliminate all of that.

Our scrunch bum shorts sit cleanly against the skin without restricting, so you get full skin contact on the pole — which is exactly what you need for grip. The higher leg cut means no fabric bunching at the inner thigh during floor work or climbs. And our sizing runs to 5XL with the same design quality all the way through.

If you've ever felt like pole wear wasn't designed with your thighs in mind, we want you to know: it is now.

Pole Wear for Curves

Curves are not an edge case. They're the majority. And yet so much pole wear still treats a curved body like it's a sizing variation rather than a body type to design for from the start.

Our Curvy & Plus Size collection runs XXL to 5XL and includes our most popular styles — scrunch bum shorts, high-waist shorts, bralettes, bodysuits and sets — designed to contour and celebrate every curve. The waistbands are designed to sit and stay. The bras are designed to support and shape. The fabrics are chosen for how they move with a curved body, not against it.

We also have a physical store in Hallam, South East Melbourne, where you can try everything on before you buy. Because we know fit matters — and sometimes you need to feel it in person.

Polewear That Actually Fits: Our Fit Philosophy

Here's our honest fit philosophy, built over 13 years of making pole wear:

Fit is not just about size — it's about design. A size 16 in a poorly designed short will never fit as well as a size 16 in a well-designed one. The cut, the seam placement, the waistband construction, the fabric choice — these all matter more than the number on the label.

Pole wear should work harder than regular activewear. You're asking it to do more. Inversions. Climbs. Spins. Floorwork. Grip. It needs to be designed for those demands, not just for looking good standing still.

Skin exposure is a feature, not a flaw. We know showing skin can feel vulnerable. But on the pole, skin contact is how you grip — it's technical, not just aesthetic. Our designs give you the skin exposure you need while making you feel confident doing it.

Confidence comes from fit. When your shorts stay put, your bra holds, and your outfit moves with you — you stop thinking about your clothes and start thinking about your tricks. That's what we're designing for.

Our Real-Body Favourites

If you're new to RARR and looking for a starting point, here's what our community reaches for again and again:

For thick thighs + staying power: Matte Black Super High Waist Short — our bestselling short for a reason. Four-piece contour waistband, scrunch bum, higher leg cut, available XS–XL.

For curves + confidence: Plus Size & Curvy Collection — the full range in XXL to 5XL, same designs, same quality.

For bigger busts + real support: Yasmin Plunge Bralette or Felix Open Mesh Bralette — both designed with structural support that holds through inversions.

For a full set that works together: Browse our full pole wear collection — everything is designed to mix and match across collections.

A Note From Us

We started RARR because we wanted pole wear that worked for our bodies. Bodies with curves. Bodies with big busts. Bodies with thick thighs that leave marks on the pole (in the best way). Bodies that had been told, in a hundred small ways, that the standard range wasn't quite for them.

Thirteen years later, we're still making pole wear for those bodies. We're making it in Hallam, South East Melbourne. We're testing it in real pole classes. And we're genuinely proud of every piece that goes out the door.

If you've struggled to find polewear that actually fits — welcome home.

Shop the full collection →

FAQs

Does RARR make polewear for thick thighs?
Yes — our shorts are cut with a higher leg opening and no inner thigh seam that digs in. Our scrunch bum design anchors the short in place so fabric doesn't bunch or pull during movement. We size from XS to 5XL.

Do your pole shorts stay up during pole dancing?
Our super-high-waist and high-waist shorts feature a double-lined, four-piece contour waistband specifically designed to stay in position through climbing, spinning and inverts. No rolling, no creeping.

What sizes does RARR carry?
Our standard range runs XS–XL, and our Plus Size & Curvy collection extends from XXL to 5XL. The same design quality and care goes into every size.

Is RARR plus-size friendly?
Absolutely. We carry a dedicated curvy and plus size collection from XXL to 5XL, and our Hallam store stocks pieces in extended sizes so you can try before you buy.

Where is RARR Designs based?
We're based in Hallam, South East Melbourne, Australia. We ship Australia-wide, and 50% of our range is made right here in Australia.

More reading: Boob-Approved Pole Wear: The Honest Guide for Bigger Busts · Pole wear collection · Plus size pole wear