How to Tie a Sarong or Pareo

Sarongs are one of the most popular and universally accepted fashion trends from the tropical islands of the South Pacific. Throughout history, sarongs have been used in many different ways in many different countries throughout Asia and the South Pacific. The sarong is popular in tropical climates and makes great vacation wear.

Dorothy Lamour once wore a sarong many years ago throughout a film called “Her Jungle Love”. One of the main reasons for the movie’s success was purely due to fact that Miss Lamour was wearing a sarong.

Sarongs are inspired by the beautiful tropical lands around the world. Sarongs are flattering to most figure types and are very easy to wear. They come in many unique patterns, designs and motifs. In North America, the fabric of the sarong is generally quite light, 100% cotton, rayon or silk.

Some artists use a heliographic dyeing technique which involves the use of the sun, fabric and light sensitive dyes. It takes about 30 minutes of direct sunlight at 80 F to properly cure the dyes into the fabric. Hawaiian salt is sometimes used on fabric to create interesting patterns. Anything placed under the fabric creates a positive imprint, any under it creates a negative imprint. All of the designs are hand placed and the fabric has been dyed by hand. Some of the print arrangements on the fabric retell ancient Polynesian legends.

How to Wear and Tie a Sarong

With its one size fits all and variety of ways to wear it, the sarong is the perfect casual wear anywhere! There are many ways to wear sarongs. To wrap your sarong, first hold it horizontally behind you. To tie the sarong, hold it behind you with the top of the material centered at the small of your back. Tying your sarong just takes a little patience, practice and experimentation. There are many videos that show over 20 different ways for men and women to tie a pareo. Simply type “how to tie a pareo” on a search engine to see some videos to give you some ideas.

A long sarong makes a wonderful evening gown for a night on the town. The traveler may wrap a sarong as a beach cover up. For a skirt, hold the sarong lengthwise and wrap it around the waist. Worn over the shoulders and head, a sarong functions as a wind-breaker; wrapped around the neck, it becomes a muffler or scarf.

Although the structure of the sarong garment is quite simple, the variations are endless. Because sarongs are often brightly colored with beautiful patterns, they can also be used as decoration.

The most common way to wear a sarong is as a beach accessory. This fashion is acceptable for both men and women in many sarong-wearing communities. Consider practicing wrapping sarongs of different sizes around your body in front of a full length mirror.

In North America, sarongs are often used by women as a cover-up over swimwear. Certain wrap styles gives your sarong a tighter, sleeker fit and shows off a sexy silhouette.

A sarong does not only have to be for the beach, a woman could usee one while camping, and while wearing shorts and a shirt! Most international travelers know the virtue of carrying an extra change of clothing.

As casual wear, the soft cotton tubular sarong is very cool and comfortable. Everyday wear is often a sarong with a t-shirt. When you shop for batik, you may find the tubular sarongs still flat, with the final seam unsewn. Formal dress today consists of a beautifully patterned sarong, worn with a fine blouse. They border a traditional sarong with contemporary flair. The tubular cloths from this same area are women’s sarongs. A sarong wrap around, flip-flops and beach shorts are great for walking or going almost anywhere.

Sarongs with high cut hips make your legs look longer and your bottom look trimmer. Some sarongs have fringes or other trims, although most have plain hems. Carry your sarong with you while touring tropical island destinations, as one must be worn while passing by churches or sacred sites.

Here are some actual uses to which the sarong has been put. With fringed edges on two sides, it is great as a body sarong, scarf, wrap, wall hanging, tablecloth, sheet, and more.

Wall Hanging

Uses of sarongs that are less conventional have been known to include, a sarong wall hanging or a sarong tablecloth. With fringed edges on two sides, it is great as a body sarong, scarf, wrap, wall hanging, or tablecloth. This can be used as a wall hanging or a sarong.

Wedding Dress Sarong

Your beach wedding dress sarong can even double as your honeymoon lingerie and your new husband will love it. All sarongs and pareos are handmade garments that are, one size fits all, full size in length. Our full size sarongs fit beautifully, whether you wear a size 2 or 22! Tying instructions are included with every sarong order. Wear your silk sarong over leggings, shorts or skirts for a romantic, carefree and breezy affect.

A Thoughtful Gift

Handmade to suit the colors, fabric, styles that only a friend or companion would cherish.

Halter Dress

For a halter dress, hold the sarong by the two top corners lengthwise behind your upper back.

Dress

To form a dress, hold the sarong in front of you, laying it just over your breasts.

Mini Dress

The sarong can also become a sexy mini dress for beachfront shopping or evening events.

Blouse

Sometimes the same fabric as the batik sarong, sometimes made of lacey material or silk. It’s always tight in the waist and the whole effect is very feminine. For daily use, its usually any old sarong and a t-shirt.

Mini Dress

The sarong can also become a sexy mini dress for beachfront shopping or evening events.

Towel

At a pinch, your sarong may be used as a sheet whilst sleeping, or as a towel whilst on the beach.

Wardrobe Malfunctions

Makes a great and quick remedy for unexpected accidents, spills, etc.

An Evening Shawl and Bikini cover-up

We have a sarong for every print bikini. As each Sarong is hand made and unique there will be slight differences in pattern and color with each sarong. A sarong makes and ideal wrap whenever a little more modesty is called for after you enter or leave a beach area.

More Ideas

Picnic cloth, oversize poncho unique quilt (make a quilt from several different pieces of pareo).

Care Instructions

For best results, wash your sarong in cold water. The colors will not run after it is washed. Hang your sarongs to dry with fewer wrinkles than machine drying.

The Sarong is thoroughly enjoyable and worth preserving as a stylistic artifact. Whatever your culture, whatever your style, a sarong will come in handy in more ways than one!

Learn 20 different ways to tie a Sarong today. What are you waiting for?