How to Wear a Sarong: Easy Ways to Tie It, Way Past the Beach

If you've ever packed a sarong for vacation, tied it around your waist once, and called it a day, you're not alone. A lot of people only reach for theirs at the pool. But a sarong is sneaky. It's basically a beautiful rectangle of fabric that can become a whole closet's worth of outfits, and most of them have nothing to do with sand.

We'd know. We've been making sarongs by hand in Bali since 1991, all in a 100% soft rayon that drapes, breathes, and dries fast. So, let's walk through how to wear a sarong when you're nowhere near a pool, including the tying part, which is usually the bit that trips people up.

How to tie a sarong as a skirt

This is the look everyone's catching onto right now, and it's the easiest place to start.

1. Hold the sarong behind you, lengthwise, like a towel across your lower back.
   2. Bring both ends around to the front.
   3. Pick your height: low on the hips for a relaxed drape, or up at the waist for a longer skirt.
   4. Tie the two ends in a knot, then roll the waistband down once to lock it in place.
   5. Add a plain tank or a tucked-in button-down and flat sandals. Done.

Longer wraps give you that moves-when-you-move feeling. Shorter ones are nice over leggings if you still want a little beach in the mix. Have a look at our sarong collection if you want to see the lengths and prints.

How to tie a sarong as a dress

When getting dressed feels like too much, this is the one-piece answer.

1. Hold the sarong open behind your back, with the top edge level with your underarms.
2. Wrap both ends around to the front and cross them over your chest, so the fabric overlaps and there's no gap at the sides.
3. Take the two top corners up over your shoulders and tie them behind your neck, or at one shoulder for an off-center look.
4. Adjust the drape and the overlap so it sits how you like, and you're dressed.

A soft, easy dress for a warm afternoon. No zippers, no fuss. This look works best with our plus size sarong (91"), since the extra length gives you enough fabric to wrap, overlap, and tie comfortably.

How to wear a sarong as a light layer

On a breezy evening or in an over air-conditioned restaurant, a sarong doubles as a wrap.

1. Drape it open across your shoulders like a shawl.
2. Let the ends hang loose or tie them softly in front.

It covers your arms without adding heat, which is the whole trick with our 100% soft rayon: coverage that breathes. If you want a little more structure for that job, a sheer knit shrug does the same thing and stays put.

The packing trick

Here's the real reason to love them. One sarong can be your skirt on Monday, your wrap on Tuesday, and your cover-up on Wednesday. It folds down to almost nothing, weighs next to nothing, and because the rayon dries quickly, you can rinse it out in a sink at night and wear it again the next morning. For travel, that's gold. You pack light and still feel put-together every day.

A few sarong outfit ideas to start

- Sarong skirt + white tank + flat sandals
- Sarong skirt + denim shirt knotted at the waist
- Sarong tied as a dress with sandals for a warm afternoon
- Sarong draped over your shoulders on a cool evening, and you're out the door

None of these ask much of you, which is sort of the point. Comfortable, covered, and still you.

A few questions we hear a lot

Can you wear a sarong if you're not at the beach?
Absolutely. Worn as a skirt over a tank, or knotted over trousers, a sarong looks right at home on a regular weekday. The beach is just where most of us met them first.

What are your sarongs made of?
100% soft rayon. It's lightweight, drapey, breathable, and quick to dry, which is exactly what you want in warm weather or a packed suitcase.

What size is a sarong?
Because you control the wrap, a sarong fits a wide range of bodies. We make two sizes: our standard sarong is 67" x 45", and our plus size is 91" x 45". You decide how high it sits, how snug it is, and how much coverage you want.

How do you keep a sarong from falling down?
A couple of easy tricks. Tie a secure knot and roll the waistband down once to lock it and use the coconut clip that comes with every one of our sarongs to hold the wrap right where you want it. A snug wrap at the waist always holds better than a loose one slung at the hips.

How do you wash a sarong?
Hand wash in cool water and line dry. The rayon dries fast, so it's back in rotation quickly.

What's the easiest way to learn the different ties?
Watch someone do it once and it clicks. We've filmed a few short videos showing different ways to wrap, knot, and tie, so you can follow along at home. Watch our sarong tying videos

Ready to try it?

If you've had a sarong sitting in a drawer waiting for its next trip, pull it out this week and try one of these at home. Worst case, you've got a new outfit. Best case, you finally see why we've been a little obsessed with these since 1991. And if you don't have one yet, we've got a whole rack of them, handmade in Bali in that soft rayon, waiting for you to pick a color. Shop our sarongs