It’s a little more common for unitards to have short sleeves, and some even feature long sleeves for cool-weather wear. By comparison, leotards rarely if ever have long sleeves. Gender of Wearer You might have noticed that cyclists were not on the list of those who wear either leotards or unitards. That’s because they wear their own special garment that’s unofficially known as a biketard.

When should a dancer wear a unitard? For more physical and certainly more acrobatic dance styles, a unitard allows you to enjoy a full range of flexible movement while offering more protective coverage than a leotard. Why Is the Leotard More Comfortable Than the Unitard? Bust/Chest: To measure your bust, the measuring tape should go over the fullest area of your chest. Keep your arms at your sides and stand in a relaxed stance.You don’t only see leotards associated with sports though, and that’s been the case since the 1970s. Leotards have crossed over into streetwear and are still worn for fashion purposes to this day. When Should Dancers Use a Leotard? What About a Unitard? Do you still have questions about leotards, unitards, and related garments like then? This section will shed plenty of light! What Is the Difference Between a Unitard and a Bodysuit or a Jumpsuit? If you ever hear another dancer talk about leotards or unitards with shorts, they’re referring to biketards. Another unofficial name for these garments is bootietards since they do showcase one’s rear. How to Choose the Right Size Leotard or Unitard Many modern forms of dance have embraced the leotard as well for its excellent upper-body and lower-body flexibility.

There are times to stand out and times to blend in, and you’ll want to wear the right dance uniform to your class or rehearsal depending on what that style of dance calls for. That’s why having a unitard and leotard handy is best. History of the Leotard You don’t have to worry about your arms feeling squished and encumbered since your arms are free in a leotard. There’s no fabric underneath your armpits, making you warm and sweaty. By the 1950s, leotards were still the favored garment by circus performers but soon bled into gyms and exercise facilities as well. These first unitards were a lot thinner than modern unitards are. They also encompassed more of the body, covering a person from head to toe save for their hands and their face.Now that you understand the difference between unitards and leotards better, you might have more questions. This didn’t last forever, though. By the 1990s, gym fanatics and exercisers largely moved away from the leotard. Women began wearing sports shorts and sports bras instead. History of the Unitard How do you select the correctly sized leotard or unitard for you? You need to take some measurements. Let’s discuss them now. A female dancer especially, who has the option to seamlessly switch between unitards and leotards should have both in her wardrobe ready to go.