Printed Pareo

Wrap the sarong around your body from the chest, crossing the ends behind your neck and tying them in a knot or bow at the nape to create a cross-back beach dress. Adjust the length and level of openness as you prefer — longer and more covered for a walk to the restaurant, shorter and more open for sun and sand moments. The print creates movement with every step and the flowing fabric drapes with a lightness that no conventional beach dress can replicate. Golden leather flat sandals and sunglasses complete the look.

Wrap the sarong around your waist, tying the ends in a knot at the side or front to create a flowing skirt over your swimwear or over jeans or shorts. A side knot creates a natural leg slit that is both practical and visually interesting. A sarong skirt is one of the most elegant ways to transition from the beach to lunch — your swimwear stays on underneath, the skirt provides the coverage and sophistication needed for any summer context. Add a t-shirt or shirt on top and the look is complete.

Fold the sarong lengthwise until you get a strip of the right width to cover your chest, wrap it around your torso and tie the ends behind your back or in a front knot to create a bandeau or asymmetrical top. The front print creates the main visual interest and the flowing fabric creates a finish that conventional tops rarely achieve. With white linen trousers or denim shorts and sandals, this sarong top look is one of the most admired and most photographed of the summer.

Fold the pareo diagonally into a long, narrow strip and use it as a headscarf, a turban, or a bandana. The print on a head accessory takes on a completely different dimension – more intimate, more editorial, more personal. With a one-piece swimsuit and oversized sunglasses, the pareo on the head transforms a basic beach look into a visual reference that seems straight out of a 70s fashion editorial. It also works as a hairband or as decoration for a summer bag or basket.

During the day, wear the pareo as a fluid cover-up over your swimsuit—simply draped over your shoulders or tied in a front knot at your waist—for walks between the beach and the promenade. At night, transform the same pareo into a complete outfit for an informal summer dinner: wrap it around your body in one of the dress styles described above, add gold or silver stiletto sandals, long drop earrings, and coral, red, or deep nude lipstick. The print under the night light has a different quality than it does in sunlight—warmer, richer, more sophisticated. A single piece, a full day of completely different looks, and a versatility that no other summer wardrobe item can match.