What Is a Pareo? Meaning, Sizes and 6 Ways to Tie One

A pareo is a rectangle of light fabric that you wrap around the body and knot to wear as a skirt, a dress, a shawl and a beach cover-up; pareo is the Tahitian name for what Southeast Asia calls a sarong. Coveti files them under sarongs and cover-ups, and the six printed cotton pareos from the Alémais Resort 2027 collection lead the picks below. For step-by-step knots, see our guide on how to tie a sarong.

Key facts

• A pareo is a rectangle of light fabric wrapped and knotted at the body; pareo is the Tahitian name for what Southeast Asia calls a sarong.
• A standard large pareo measures about 100cm by 195cm, enough to tie as a skirt, a dress and a shawl.
• A kaftan is a sewn robe with sleeves pulled over the head, while a pareo is an unsewn rectangle shaped only by the knot.
• Alémais Resort 2027 drop two includes six printed cotton pareos, each 100cm by 195cm, five in organic cotton with eyelash fringing.

This guide covers what a pareo is and where the word comes from, how it differs from a sarong and a kaftan, which fabrics work best, what size to choose, six ways to tie one, how to choose a good one, and how to care for it. The full set of Alémais styles is in our Alémais pareos guide.

What is a pareo?

A pareo is one flat piece of cloth with no seams, no darts and no fastenings. Its shape comes entirely from how you wrap it and where you tie the knot. Because nothing is cut to a body, one pareo fits almost anyone, and the same piece can be a hip skirt in the morning, a halter dress at lunch and a shawl at night.

The word comes from Tahiti, in French Polynesia, where the wrapped cloth is traditional dress. The same garment exists across Southeast Asia and the Pacific under other names, sarong being the best known in English. In fashion today, pareo and sarong are used almost interchangeably for a printed beach wrap.

Pareo vs sarong vs kaftan: what is the difference?

Pareo and sarong

A pareo and a sarong are close to the same thing. Both are a rectangle of fabric wrapped at the body. In common use, a sarong is often sewn into a tube and worn at the waist, especially in Southeast Asia, while a pareo is usually left as an open flat rectangle and tied in more ways. On a beach rail the two names describe the same printed wrap.

Pareo and kaftan

A kaftan is a sewn garment: a long, loose robe with sleeves, pulled over the head. It has a fixed shape and is worn the same way every time. A pareo has no fixed shape at all. A kaftan gives more cover with no tying; a pareo gives more ways to wear it and folds smaller. Our guide to beach cover-ups compares every type.

What fabric is best for a pareo?

The best pareo fabric is light, quick to dry and soft enough to knot without a bulky lump.

• Cotton voile and lightweight cotton: breathable, soft against skin, and easy to wash. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides. All six Alémais pareos are cotton.
• Viscose and rayon: fluid, with a good drape, and they dry quickly, though they can crease.
• Silk: the lightest and most fluid, with a sheen that suits evening, but silk marks with water and is better kept for a shawl than the sea.
• Linen: crisp and cool in heat, with more body, so knots sit larger.
• Polyester chiffon: dries fastest and resists creasing, but breathes less in heat.

What size is a pareo?

A standard large pareo is a rectangle of about 100cm by 195cm, the size of every Alémais pareo below. That length wraps fully around the body with enough left to tie a firm knot, and the 100cm width falls from the waist to the ankle on most people, from the chest to the knee when worn as a dress. Smaller squares and half lengths also exist; they cover the hips only and work as a short sarong skirt and a head scarf. If you want one pareo to do everything, choose the large rectangle.

Sizing and fit

The Alémais pareos are one size: 100cm by 195cm, in printed cotton, five with eyelash fringing at the ends. There is no size to choose; the knot sets the fit.

Six ways to tie a pareo

• Hip skirt: fold the pareo in half lengthways, wrap it around the hips and knot the two top corners at one side. The fold sets the length.
• Long wrap skirt: wrap the full width around the waist, overlap the ends at the front, and roll the top edge down twice to hold it, then knot.
• Halter dress: hold the pareo behind you at the back, bring the two top corners forward under the arms, cross them over the chest and tie them behind the neck.
• Strapless dress: wrap it around the body under the arms, then twist the two top corners together and knot them over the chest.
• One-shoulder dress: wrap it under one arm and knot the two top corners over the opposite shoulder.
• Shawl: fold it in half to a long triangle and drape it over the shoulders at dinner, tied loosely at the front.

Every one of these takes under a minute and needs no pins. A pareo in a light cotton holds a knot better than a slippery silk.

How to choose a pareo

• Choose a large rectangle near 100cm by 195cm if you want to wear it as a dress as well as a skirt.
• Choose cotton for the beach and the pool, since it breathes, dries and washes easily.
• Look at the edges: rolled hems and fringed ends keep the weave from fraying.
• Pick a print that works with your swimwear and with a white shirt, so the pareo also comes to lunch.
• Hold the fabric up to the light: a little transparency is fine over swimwear, less if you plan to wear it as a skirt in town.

The Alémais pareos and what to wear with them

Every Alémais pareo is a printed rectangle, 100cm by 195cm. The organic cotton styles are finished with eyelash fringing at the ends. Here they are with the drop two pieces that wear best beside them.

Source: the Alémais product pages, read by Coveti Editorial on 15 November 2026.

1. Sophie Cotton Pareo

The Sophie Cotton Pareo is printed organic cotton with eyelash fringing, 100cm by 195cm, and its artwork comes from the house collaboration with the artist Sophie Wahlquist. Tie it over swimwear for the beach club and fold it into a tote for the trip home.

2. Esperanza Cotton Pareo

The Esperanza Cotton Pareo is a multicoloured printed rectangle of organic cotton with eyelash fringing. Knot it at the hip over a swimsuit, then wear it as a shawl when the evening cools.

3. Mariel Cotton Pareo

The Mariel Cotton Pareo is printed cotton in green, 100cm by 195cm. It matches the olive Mariel shirt, short and pool dress from the same family.

4. Alba Cotton Pareo

The Alba Cotton Pareo is blue printed organic cotton with eyelash fringing. Wear it as a sarong by day and drape it over the shoulders at dinner.

5. Lucena Cotton Pareo

The Lucena Cotton Pareo is a multicoloured printed rectangle in organic cotton with eyelash fringing, and the right length for a halter dress tie.

6. Martina Cotton Pareo

The Martina Cotton Pareo belongs to the Martina family of tie-dye print pieces, in organic cotton with eyelash fringing. It ties as a long skirt under a silk top for dinner.

7. Mariel Shirt

The Mariel Shirt is a relaxed olive organic cotton shirt with a point collar and concealed placket. Worn open over a swimsuit with the Mariel pareo at the hip, it makes a full beach look.

8. Mariel Short

The Mariel Short in olive organic cotton, with an elasticated drawstring waist and in-seam pockets. With the shirt it is the walk-to-lunch alternative when the pareo goes in the bag.

9. Martina Denim Fisherman Hat

The Martina Denim Fisherman Hat is a printed wide brim high-low sunhat in cotton, with an 18cm back brim to shade the neck. It suits the Martina pareo and every other print.

10. Raffia Fish Crossbody Bag

The Raffia Fish Crossbody Bag is natural Madagascan raffia macrame with crochet applique and tassels, made by hand. Raffia is the fibre of the raffia palm leaf, and it sits well beside cotton fringe.

How do you care for a cotton pareo?

The house does not publish care notes for the pareos, though it lists most of its organic cotton pieces as a cold hand wash. These habits suit printed cotton generally.

• Rinse it in cool fresh water after the sea and the pool, so salt and chlorine do not sit in the fibres.
• Hand wash cold with a mild detergent and do not wring; press the water out in a towel.
• Dry it in the shade, since strong sun fades a print over time.
• Comb the fringe straight with your fingers while it is damp.
• Fold it, never stuff it, so the creases stay soft.

Wearing a pareo around the world

In Australia, a pareo is everyday summer kit from December to February, on the beach in the morning and over shorts for lunch. In the US, demand runs through the summer months and again in winter for sun trips to Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico. In the UK and Europe, the pareo is packed for winter sun in the Canary Islands and the Indian Ocean, then again for the Mediterranean in July and August. In the Gulf, the beach season runs through the cooler months from November to March, and a long wrap skirt gives more cover between the beach and the hotel.

For more beachwear, browse Agua by Agua Bendita, Zimmermann and Johanna Ortiz, and our edit of beach cover-up dresses.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pareo?

A pareo is a rectangle of light fabric wrapped and knotted at the body to wear as a skirt, a dress and a cover-up. Pareo is the Tahitian name for what Southeast Asia calls a sarong.

Is a pareo the same as a sarong?

Almost. Both are a wrapped rectangle of cloth; a sarong is sometimes sewn into a tube, while a pareo is usually an open rectangle tied in many ways.

What size should a pareo be?

A standard large pareo is about 100cm by 195cm. That size wraps fully around the body and is long enough to tie as a dress.

How do you wear a pareo?

Tie it at the hip as a skirt, wrap it under the arms as a strapless dress, cross it behind the neck as a halter, and fold it as a shawl for the evening.

What is the best fabric for a pareo?

Lightweight cotton is the most practical: it breathes, dries quickly and holds a knot. Silk is lighter and more fluid but marks with water.

Can you wear a pareo as a dress?

Yes. A large pareo wraps under the arms and knots over the chest as a strapless dress, and crosses behind the neck as a halter dress.

Does Alémais make pareos?

Yes. Resort 2027 drop two includes six printed cotton pareos, Sophie, Esperanza, Mariel, Alba, Lucena and Martina, each 100cm by 195cm.

Read next: how to tie a sarong, Alémais pareos, beach cover-ups.

By Coveti Editorial. Updated 15 November 2026.