How to Use a Beautiful Sarong in Unlimited Ways

The sarong, also known as a “pareo” in Latin and South America, is a large rectangular piece of fabric that can be worn many different ways.  It is considered an indispensable wardrobe item in many tropical countries.  It is a simple, breezy piece for the beach, swimming pool parties, luaus and the like.  It’s a versatile piece to pack for travel to sunny resorts and hardly takes up any room in a suitcase. But it goes beyond that. Let me tell you how to use a beautiful sarong in unlimited ways!

Let’s Explore How to Use a Sarong in Unlimited Ways!

Besides its usefulness in hot weather, a sarong can be used in cooler weather as well. It can be a third layer over a dress or a top and bottom.  This can jazz up a column of black or white for a party, either tied over as an extra layer or just used as an evening cover to keep the chill off.  Or a sarong can be used as a shawl on cool days.  It can also be worn as a skirt or dress over a long-sleeve top when it’s chilly.  And it can even be worn as a skirt with a jacket and top to work.  I tried it and got compliments!

Although I usually wear a sarong as a skirt or bathing suit cover , it can also be tied into a dress, a wrap, an oversize scarf, a head wrap, a carryall, a swimsuit cover-up or other form of beach wear.  It can be worn as a beach skirt with a top or as a beach dress over only a bikini bottom.  To use it for breakfast in the morning as an alternative to a robe or after a bath while doing your makeup, just wrap and knot at bosom.

Sarongs also distract from figure problems.  Used as a big silk floaty scarf or shawl toned to what you are wearing slices into the silhouette and creates a longer line.  Make sure it falls below the derriere when wrapped, however.

Since a sarong can be transformed in so many ways for so many uses, age doesn’t matter.

What to Look for in a Sarong

The average sarong-sized scarf is 45 x 64″, although a 45″ or 54″ square can also be used.  When buying a sarong scarf, make sure it has enough fabric to wrap around you like you do with a towel and then some more left over so you can tie it.

An easier alternative is a sarong skirt.  I have one that wraps around and ties with its own belt through a loop in the waist.

Tying One On

As a Kimono:

Dress up a plain t-shirt by making a kimono out of a sarong. Put together two diagonally opposing corners of the sarong, tie them, and slip it on with the knot in the back to wear it as a kimono. This also looks good with shorts when it’s hot out.

As a Shawl:

As a Skirt:  

• It’s not that hard to wrap and tie a sarong.  But I, myself, only feel secure when I add a belt.  So what I do is wrap it around my waist, twist (for tautness) and tie the ends together and/or tuck the ends in, and then belt it securely.  Otherwise, I’d always be worrying that it might come undone or open in a way I wouldn’t want.

As a Dress: 

• Wrap the sarong around your body, take the two top ends, cross them over your neck and tie them in back as a halter. Then I would suggest belting it and/or pinning it to keep it secure.
• Wrap the sarong around your body and simply tie at bosom. Once again, I would suggest belting and/or pinning it together securely. But that’s just me.  😀

The video above shows a few ways to tie one on more securely, and it looks great over a black tank and leggings!  To visit Turtle Island Imports, go here.

Style Tips

#1:  Wear a sari or sarong in place of a cocktail dress, over a fitted t-shirt and with an exotic necklace and bracelets.

#2:  Wear a sarong in place of an evening skirt.

20 Outfit Ideas for How to Wear Sarongs

1. Lunch on a Boat, Beach Restaurant, or an Afternoon’s Shopping:  Before tying, adjust the length of a cotton sarong to how long you want it to be as a skirt by folding it.  Wrap it at waist over a t-shirt or blouse.  For safety, secure it by adding a belt:  a narrow canvas one, another scarf twisted and short-knotted, a length of hemp rope, etc.  Then add a straw bag + sandals.
2. Summer Evening:  A white tee + a sarong skirt.  Add sandals.
3. Summer End-of-Day Drinks:  Wrap a thin striped cotton 54″ square on the diagonal over a white cotton t-shirt + thin white cotton drawstring pants.  Add flat straw sandals + pretty bracelets.
4. Important Drinks, Chic Dinners, etc.:  Tie a sarong over a silky bare dress.  Add a gold belt & sandals.
5. Sexy Restaurant Look:  A flowered silk sarong skirt over a bare black silk camisole belted in gold.  Add gold sandals, cuffs & earrings.

   

6. City Day:  Wrap a sarong as a skirt over a shirt and slim pants or shorts. Add your favorite day jewelry.
7. At-home Dinners:  Slide-knot a 45″ or 54″ silk square scarf as a sarong, folded in a triangle over a silk shirt + narrow trousers, preferably matching…this looks very Indonesian!  Try adding a gold belt, jewelry and sandals.
8. Warm Weather Night Look for a Dinner Party at Someone’s Home:  A white silk shirt + a sarong skirt.  Add gold belt, sandals & jewelry.
9. Sophisticated Winter City Hostess Look for Dinners at Home:  A black shirt + black pants + a printed silk square with a black ground tied as in #7 above.
10. Warm Weather Business Look:  A jacket or blazer in a color to match your sarong skirt.  Add heels + a businesslike bag.
11. Warm Weather Business Look #2:  A blazer + a sarong skirt + a neutral or white shell top. Add an oblong (skinny) scarf knotted with one end in front and one behind.

    

12. Ethnic Style:  A sarong or wrap skirt + an embroidered top.  Add ethnic accessories  such as:  A colorful embroidered jacket, an ethnic purse, silver and turquoise jewelry (necklaces, cuffs, bangles and rings.)
13. Beach Look:  Take a 45″ or 54″ cotton square, fold it on the diagonal, and hip-tie over a bathing suit.
14. Beach Lunch:  Tie a large cotton square as above over a t-shirt + bikini bottom.  Add sandals.
15. Lunch in a Hot Place or a Movie on a Summer Evening:  Tie a navy & red cotton sarong over a navy cotton-knit bare dress.  Add bare sandals.
16. Change the Look of a Dress Day or Night:  Tie a thin, silky sarong at the waist over a dress.  Be sure to match or tone the sarong to the dress.
17. Fall Day or Evening:  Wear a simple white shirt or tee with your sarong fastened over leggings. Pull on some boots. Add lots of big jewelry (like three necklaces, big earrings, lots of bracelets and rings — the more the better!) Just be sure your jewelry is large and as ethnic a you can find. For extra drama, try wearing a lace camisole under the shirt unbuttoned.

    

18. Fall Evening at Home:  A long-sleeve black top with a sarong wrapped as a skirt.
19. Wrap a sarong over a black sheath or maxi dress.  Cinch the sarong in place with a belt.  You may also want to push up sleeves.  Add bangles + ethnic earrings + low-heeled sandals with bare legs.
20. A camisole tucked inside a sarong skirt.  Add a long fringed pendant + gladiator-style sandals.
21. A short-sleeve t-shirt in a color to match your sarong skirt.  Add a necklace + bangles + sunglasses if sunny.
22. A tank or tee + shorts + a sarong tied as a skirt.  It won’t matter if the sarong falls open since you’re wearing shorts!
23. A 54″ square over a bare cotton-knit dress.
24. A 54″ square over a linen trouser and jacket turnout.

Not Only Fun to Wear, But Fun to Use in Other Ways as Well!

Here are other ideas for how to use sarongs.  You can probably imagine endless ways to use them!

• Take it to the beach — You can use it as a beach mat, towel or sun shade.
• Take it on a picnic — You can wrap up your movable feast, and then speak out the sarong to sit on.
• Use it around the house — You can use a sarong as a tablecloth, curtain or wall art.
• Keep one in the car — You can use it as a seat cover or lightweight blanket.

And There’s More…

Do you have a sarong or sarong skirt?  How do you use your sarong?  Let us know by leaving a reply below.

Like this post?  You might also like to read:

• “Do You Want To Be Absolutely Cool This Summer?“
• “How to Look Cool in the Heat of Summer“

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Sarongs, Style, Summer Style, Travel