No matter how physically fit that we are, and how much we know that we can rock a great bikini, there are times when we are at the beach or at the pool when we just want to cover up a little. The answer, when we don’t want to sport a one-piece bathing suit, is the ever feminine sarong.
Sarongs are wraps that are generally a large tube or length of fabric, that is often wrapped around the waist or the hips. In North America and Europe, hip wraps are worn as beach wear or as a cover-up over swimwear. Sarong wraps are often made of a thin, light fabric, often rayon, and may feature decorative fringing on both sides. Â Some sarongs have actual ties, which are long thin straps of fabric which the wearer can tie together to prevent the wrap from falling down.
How to Tie a Sarong:
- Fitted Like a Skirt – Hold the sarong around you at the waist, grabbing a corner in each hand. Bring both corners together at one side and tie snuggly above your hip.
- Fitted Like a Halter Top – Center the sarong behind your back, just below your shoulder blades. Wrap the fabric around your body by bringing the two corners forward below your arms. Cross the ends over your bust and tie them behind your neck.
- Fitted Above the Bustline – Drape the sarong across your back while holding a corner in each hand. Draw your arms forward to wrap the fabric around your body. Hold the fabric underneath your arms so that your hands are free to twist each end, before making a knot just above your bust.
Sarong Fun Fact: Sarongs are very common in Sri Lanka and are worn only by men. A similar garment is worn by women, referred to as the “redda”, or wraparound skirt. In Sri Lanka, the sarong is the standard garment for most men in rural and even some urban communities.
You can’t go wrong in beachwear that is the sarong!
Numerous tying methods exist to hold the sarong to the wearer’s body. Some options are ties, pins, tucking the garment in, or tying together the corners of the fabric.
Sarong Fun Fact: The American public is most familiar with the sarong for the dozens of motion pictures set in the South Seas, most of them romantic dramas made in the 1930s and 1940s. Dorothy Lamour is by far the actress most linked with the garment, which was designed by Edith Head.
Sassy, sexy, beach bathing beauties wrapped in a sarong!
Many modern sarongs have printed designs, often depicting animals or plants.
When you’re at the beach, and just want to relax leisurely, or take a walk down the strand, merely wrapping yourself in a sarong is just the right touch to add a bit of modesty to your bathing suit body!
Sarong designs vary greatly and range from checkered square motifs with watermarked diamonds and plaid to simple geometric lines.
As with all fashion, there is a sarong suitable for everyone, no matter what your fashion taste or style preference!
Wear your sarong either short or long!
Cover-up in class and style, and move along in the ideal sarong!
Bathing suit beauty and beach baby!
Author Nancy Mangano is the author of two novels, A Passion for Prying and Murder Can Be Messy. Nancy has woven her love of detective work and her passion for fashion into her books. Visit Nancy on her author website www.nancymangano.com, her author/fashion/style blog www.passionforprying.wordpress.com, Twitter @nancymangano and her author “like” Facebook fan page Nancy Mangano.
A big thank you for your blog article. Fantastic.