How to Tie a Sarong, Because It’s by Far the Easiest Beach Coverup
You can use them as a quick coverup, as a towel, as a picnic blanket or even as a hair scarf, in a pinch. The sarong is pretty damn versatile. Just ask the women of India, Southeast Asia and Africa who have been wearing them for centuries. And while the western beach-ready version isn’t quite the same thing, a sarong simply refers to a large swath of fabric wrapped and knotted around the body.
As far as beachwear goes, a sarong is much easier to wear than a tunic you have to pull over your head (considering you’ll probably knockoff your glasses and sunhat in the process), and far more comfy than denim cutoffs (who thought this was a good idea in the first place?). Sure, you could simply knot two corners at your hip and call it a day—nothing wrong with a classic—but for those who are interested in playing with some new styles, here’s how to tie a sarong nine different ways.
(Pro tip: You can always use an extra hair tie or butterfly clip to hold your sarong in place if you don’t have enough fabric to tie a true knot.)
1. Side-Tie Skirt
Step 1: Fold your sarong in half to form a triangle. (If you prefer a longer style you can skip this step.)
Step 2: Wrap the fabric around one hip and knot at the other hip.
2. Halter Dress
Step 1: Wrap the sarong around your back.
Step 2: Bring two ends up and under your arms.
Step 3: Cross them in front of your chest and knot the ends behind your neck.
3. Twisted Halter Dress, Version 1
Step 1: Wrap the sarong around your back.
Step 2: Bring two ends up and under your arms.
Step 3: Twist the two ends around one another in front of your chest as many times as you’d like (we suggest two to three times) before knotting the remaining fabric behind your neck.
4. Twisted Halter Dress, Version 2
Step 1: Wrap the sarong around your back.
Step 2: Bring two ends up and under your arms.
Step 3: Tightly twist the each end as you would a strand of hair. (Pro tip: Hold one end in your mouth to free up both hands for twisting.)
Step 4: Bring both ends around the back of your neck and knot in place.
5. Strapless Dress
Step 1: Wrap the sarong around your back.
Step 2: Connect the top two corners in front of your chest and knot the excess fabric as closely as possible to your chest.
6. Open-Front Cardigan
Step 1: Drape the fabric over your shoulders lengthwise.
Step 2: Take the top two corners and wrap them behind your back.
7. One-Shoulder Dress
Step 1: Loop the sarong under one arm.
Step 2: Knot the top two corners above the opposite shoulder.
Step 3: Grab some excess fabric near your waist or hips and knot it at your side.
8. Sweetheart Strapless Dress
Step 1: Wrap the sarong around your back.
Step 2: Pull the top two corners across your front
Step 3: Twist the corners around one another once. (Each corner should now be oriented toward the side it started on.)
Step 4: Pull tight and wrap the corners under your bust and around your back. Knot into place.
9. Side-Slit Dress
Step 1: Wrap the fabric around your back and knot the two top ends in front of your chest.
Step 2: Gather some excess fabric at your waist or hips and knot as well.
Step 3: Twist the sarong so the middle knot is positioned at your side.
