How to Wear a Sarong

Sarongs as Swimsuit Coverups

There are many kinds of swimsuit coverups, including tunics, jackets, swim skirts and more. However, one of sexiest and most versatile coverup is the simple sarong.

A sarong may be known by other names, such as a pareo or a sari, but each of these garments is essentially a large square or rectangular piece of material that you can wrap around yourself over your swimsuit; covering areas you don't necessarily want to show when you're not swimming. They are excellent additions to your swimwear wardrobe and can be especially useful when wearing various types of bikinis, although they also look great with one pieces.

Advice on How to Wear a Sarong

How to wear a sarong depends on several factors such as the type of swimsuit you're wearing and what you'd like to keep covered.

Color and Pattern Advice

The first rule of sarongs is that they compliment your swimsuit. If you have a swimsuit with a busy fabric pattern, you might choose a solid sarong in a matching color. However, some patterns can look good together as long as the colors match. Think about the way stripes and florals often work together and you'll understand what we mean. Conversely, if you're wearing a plaid suit, a plaid sarong may be overload unless the pattern is a perfect match. Try out the sarong with your swimwear to make sure you have the look you want.

Placement Options

Now that we've covered color issues, let's talk about where to wear your sarong. First of all, there's no incorrect way to don one of these coverups. It really all depends on your goal. Some women like to cover certain body areas, while other women want their sarong to provide some extra protection from the sun.

• As a shawl: This is definitely the easiest way to wear a sarong. Simply gather the material and drape it over your shoulders, letting it fall as low a you like.

• As a head cover: Draping your sarong over your head can help protect your hair from excessive UV rays. Depending on the size of your garment, you can simply pull it over your head or wrap it around like a turban. It really depends on which look you prefer.

• As a dress: To wear your sarong like a dress, try wrapping it around your body just under your arms and securing it with a simple knot.

• As a halter dress: In this variation, wrap the sarong around your torso from back to front, crossing the opposite ends over your chest to tie behind the neck.

• As a skirt: Tie the skirt around your waist and you have an instant skirt. One simple wrap creates a skirt with an open leg slit. A double wrap creates a fully closed skirt. You can leave the material long for a full length skirt, or fold it in half before wrapping it around your waist for a medium length coverup. Finally, folding the material over two or more times before tying creates a sassy mini skirt that still provides some coverage for your backside.

Securing Your Sarong

Just as there is more than one way to wear a sarong, there's also more than one way to secure one.

• Knots: A square knot will serve you well, but a lark's head knot is even more secure. If your sarong is large enough, you may even be able to secure it in place with a bow tie. Experiment to see which one works best for you.

• Sarong clips: Many stores that sell sarongs also sell beautiful clips you can use to hold them in place. Choose clips that compliment the color or pattern of both the coverup and your swimsuit.

Where to Shop

Now that you know the many ways to wear a sarong, you'll want to know where you can purchase some. You might find something to spark your fancy at one of the following websites or you can check your favorite swimsuit shop.

• Nextag.com
• 1WorldSarongs.com
• BatikSarongs.com