How to Tie a Sarong: 8 Easy Ways to Wear a Pareo, from Beach to Lunch

The short answer: fold the sarong in half lengthways, wrap it around your hips with the long edge at the waist, and knot the two top corners at one hip. That is the classic sarong skirt, and it takes ten seconds. For a dress, wrap it under the arms and knot it above the bust, then twist the corners behind the neck for a halter. Our pick to practise on is the Johanna Ortiz Solar Drift Object Pareo in Ecru and Black, a 170 by 130 cm cotton pareo with a printed border that frames every knot. Shop the full beachwear edit and the Johanna Ortiz page.

A sarong is the most useful piece in a beach bag. It is a towel, a skirt, a dress and a shawl, and it packs to the size of a paperback. The trick is size and fabric. A good sarong is at least 160 cm long and 110 cm deep, so it wraps fully with room for a knot, and it is cotton, voile, silk, rayon, so it ties without sliding. Below are the eight knots we use most, all tested on a full size cotton pareo.

Sarong vs pareo: is there a difference?

Very little in practice. Sarong comes from the Malay word sarung, a tube of cloth worn around the waist across Southeast Asia. Pareo comes from the Tahitian pareu, a printed wrap from French Polynesia. Today both words describe a rectangle of light fabric worn as a cover up. Fashion houses tend to say pareo, beach shops tend to say sarong, and the knots are identical.

8 ways to tie a sarong at a glance

How to tie a sarong as a skirt

1. The classic hip knot

Hold the sarong behind you with the long edge at your waist. Bring both top corners round to the front, wrap one side across your body, then take the two corners to one hip and tie a double knot. The longer the sarong, the more it overlaps, so a full size pareo gives you a skirt that stays closed when you walk.

2. The mini skirt

Fold the sarong in half lengthways first, then tie it exactly like the classic hip knot. The fold doubles the fabric, which makes the skirt opaque and gives it a neater line.

3. The front tie

Start with the long edge at your back, bring both corners forward, cross them at your navel, take them round the back, then return them to the front and tie a bow. It reads like a wrap skirt and sits flat under a fitted swimsuit.

How to tie a sarong as a dress

4. The strapless dress

Wrap the sarong around your body under the arms, short edge vertical, and knot the two top corners firmly above the bust. Roll the knot under once so it does not slip. This is the easiest dress, and the one we recommend for the walk from pool to bar.

5. The halter

Hold the sarong behind your back at bust height. Bring both top corners to the front, cross them over the chest, twist each one twice, then tie them behind your neck. Johanna Ortiz suggests the same idea for its pareos: knotted at the shoulder for a dress like silhouette.

6. The one shoulder

Wrap the sarong under your left arm and around the body, then take the two top corners up to the right shoulder and knot. A printed border, like the one on the Solar Drift Object Pareo in Ecru and Green, runs diagonally across the body and does all the styling for you.

How to tie a sarong as a top and a shawl

7. The wrap top

Fold the sarong into a long band about 30 cm deep. Place the middle across your chest, cross the ends behind your back, bring them forward and tie at the front. Wear it with beach pants for a full look from one piece of cloth.

8. The shawl

Open the sarong fully and drape it over your shoulders. On a cool evening, a printed cotton pareo is warmer than it looks and far more interesting than a cardigan.

How to choose a sarong that ties well

• Size. Look for at least 160 by 110 cm. The Johanna Ortiz pareos measure 170 by 130 cm, enough for every knot on this page.
• Fabric. Cotton and voile grip a knot. Slippery polyester comes undone.
• A border. A printed frame shows the shape of the knot and makes a simple skirt look designed.
• Weight. Light enough to dry fast, dense enough to be opaque when folded once.

Pair a pareo with a designer one-piece swimsuit and a wide-brim straw hat, and the whole beach wardrobe is done. For the rest of the bag, read what to pack for a beach vacation.

Our picks

1. Solar Drift Object Pareo in Ecru and Black

Cotton, 170 by 130 cm, with a black border around an ecru field of palm fronds. The high contrast reads clean as a skirt.

2. Solar Drift Object Pareo in Ecru and Green

The same pareo with a deep green frame, softer against a tan and lovely knotted at one shoulder.

3. Whispering Tides One Piece in Wine and Green

A slip-on one-piece in a wine and green leaf print that sits beautifully under either pareo.

Frequently asked questions

How do you tie a sarong so it does not fall down?

Use a double knot, then roll the waistband over once so the knot is locked against your body. Cotton holds a knot far better than polyester.

What size sarong do I need?

For skirts and dresses, at least 160 cm long and 110 cm deep. A 170 by 130 cm pareo covers every knot, including a full length dress.

What is the difference between a sarong and a pareo?

Only the origin of the word. Sarong is Malay, pareo is Tahitian. Both are a rectangle of light fabric tied as a cover up.

Can you wear a sarong to dinner?

Yes. Tie it as a long skirt with a fitted top, add flat leather sandals and gold jewellery, and it reads as a resort skirt rather than beachwear.

How do you tie a sarong as a dress?

Wrap it under your arms and knot the two top corners above the bust. For a halter, cross the corners over the chest and tie them behind the neck.