What to wear
Loose, comfortable clothes are best, and, especially in the beginning, stocking feet, soft flat shoes, bare feet, or whatever is comfortable for your feet should work just fine.
The T’ai Chi Classics tell us “the body must be stable and comfortable,” so we want to allow the ch’i flowing through us to be unencumbered by external restrictions. We are cultivating a light and nimble quality in our bodies, but we also want to be able to ground, so we tend to avoid footwear that might impede that process.
After some time you may want to head down to Chinatown or go online and buy some T’ai Chi shoes (usually $5-6 at the store; double or triple that online). These are nice to have, but certainly not necessary. For indoors, the shoes with cotton soles are best.