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Pareos

About Pareos

The summer is upon us, folks, which means there is a beach vacation ahead. Are you going to visit the sunny shores once in your lifetime or once a week? Either way, you’ll come across the ultimate puzzle – Other than bikinis and swimsuits, what outfits do you wear to the beach!? Sure, we love our bikinis, but sometimes you require something more. For times when you are not sure of what the hell to wear while leaping towards the tides, pareos are your perfect companion.

Tied around the waist or wrapped around the neck, you can transform them from a square piece of fabric to a dress or a cover-up skirt. Even if your next vacation does not involve sand or surf, the pareos are more than worth the packing space. But, how and when did they come into existence? You can compare much of the pareos to the ancient art of tapa making that uses Ulu bark and paper mulberry bark. The pareo came from the Cook Islands and is the Tahitian word for a wraparound skirt. Initially, women of ancient Tahiti wore pareo, a garment tied around the waist that reaches to the knees. They have now evolved to such an extent that they are an absolute staple in any wardrobe.

Defining the characteristics of the pareos

Undeniably, these fabric pieces offer the feel of ultimate comfort and elegance while travelling or when out on the beach. You’ll find an excellent variety of sizes, styles, patterns, colours and fabrics of them. You can wear them from morning till night as a skirt or a dress. However, often many might have come across the term ‘sarong’ while out hunting for the perfect pareos. Also, many among you would have even been oblivious to the word ‘pareo’. So, we are here, going to unwrap the mystery of the pareo and sarong and offer an insight into these beautiful wrap garments.

The modern-day pareos

These pareo Tahiti are the ones that have slowly evolved from the bark materials to the western-style cloth. This revolutionary change occurred when the western explorers bought over this cloth in the 1700s. From this point onwards these materials were more beautifully dyed and embellished with imagery of ferns, flowers and other natural forms. It was quite common for these attires to show an array of vibrant or bold colours not only traditionally but also as daily wear. Today, you’ll find the pareos in a variety of lengths and styles, commonly dyed in bright colours. They now, usually come in thick silk fabric that ensures you look and feel as beautiful as ever. Pareos also come in materials such as cotton and rayon in the modern-day, but still, follow many of the traditional styles and colours.

Pareos Vs Sarong

The term ‘sarong’ comes from the Malay word ‘sarung’, which means a sheath or a covering. Alternatively, the pareos are similar in appearance and function but originate from Tahiti and the Cook Islands. Moreover, the fabrics used in both come in bright and vibrant colours. Though, they are similar in colours their structure differs quite a bit. A sarong is a piece of fabric that usually is 4-5 feet in length. You primarily wear them as a loose-fitting dress or a skirt. But, the paroes originally featured flower patterns such as hibiscus and are now associated with Hawaiian songs. Of course, the fashion industry modifies the definition with the evolving trends, but historically the humble sarong is still worn by men as a kilt and women as a skirt.

Alternatives of the pareos

It is quite intriguing how you can alter these versatile pieces to pareo trousers or pareos shorts. These trousers and shorts have evolved from the traditional origins of the pareos in Tahiti. With a wide range of exclusive designs, prints and colours, these bottoms ensure to suit every personality. They are undeniably an all-around option to pack into your luxury travel wardrobe. Just remember to style them in a chic way. For example, you could opt for a vibrant hibiscus, or pick something a little subtler with the black or plum colour options. Whether you choose to wear a pareo skirt, trousers or shorts, their sleek style ensures that your outfit will exude elegance wherever you go. Check out the pareo collection from brands like H&M, Nordstrom, and Hermes.

Tying the pareos

By now you know, the pareos are a piece of lengthy square fabric that you can tie in multiple ways. You can tie them into a sarong, dress, jacket or even into a skirt with a buckle. You could pair them with a swimsuit or a dress under your pareos and enjoy their light, flowing feeling. If you want to pull off a skirt look with your pareos, follow a few of these steps. Wrap the pareo around the back of your waist. Then, knot the top corners in front of your body and swivel the pareo so that the knot sits over 1 of your hips. This method is popularly used in Tahiti. Apart from this, there are many more ways how to tie a pareo, which are worth exploring.

Tips on how to buy Pareos online

Considering the versatility of the sarongs, you can wear them in many ways and styles. They come in varying sizes and can be worn by anyone of any size and shape. This is why buying them also becomes a daunting task. Just imagine buying a single rectangular piece of fabric and then styling them as a skirt or dress. Quite tricky. Fret not! We’ve got your back. Here are a few tips on what to look for when you head to buy pareos online in UAE. Read on to find out.

  • Know your style – One of the critical factors in selecting an ideal pareo is to consider your style and preference when buying one. They are available in a wide range of styles and patterns. Some even have fringes and other trims and hems. So, pick your style wisely. Also, people usually use them as beachwear. However, always remember to consider the kind of outing you are going to wear them for.
  • Assess the colour – Originally, they come in bold colours. However, with the continually evolving fashion industry, these are now available in bright colours and prints too. They come in brightly coloured batik prints. Some even come with embellishments, which you can wear for special occasions such as beach weddings.
  • Experiment with fabric – Pareos come in several types of materials; some are traditional, while others are developed for western markets. However, all of the materials are usually lightweight and easy to dye. Batik, silk, woven cotton, chiffon, charmeuse and other human-made fibres are some of the common materials used in making the pareos.
  • Explore their alternative uses – Being diverse garments, their use is not limited being only apparel. There are several other uses of Pareos. For example, you can use them as a tablecloth, a wall hanging, beach blankets, furniture covers or even as curtains.
  • Go for various sizes – Though they usually are a single square piece of fabric, they still come in various sizes. You should consider buying different sized sarongs and pareos. This you can wear together to create many different clothing pieces such as swimwear cover-ups, dresses, shawls, skirts and even scarves.

Of course, the time has blended the definition and use of the sarong-pareo wrap, which is why we now even have apparel, such as tops and dresses, made from sarongs. There are plenty of ideas on the web on how you can transform a single pareo into various forms and style them with some chic dresses. However, you must always remember to style them wisely. This will make sure to satisfy all sorts of people who wish to wear the sarong cover-up.

Question & Answer

How to tie pareos?

Born in tropical countries, the sarong or pareo has come to us not so long ago, but now it is difficult to imagine a summer without them. The advantage of these attires is their versatility as you can turn them into a real beachwear skirt from a simple scarf. Here are a few ways you can tie them: You can tie them as a skirt which is the easiest way. You could also tie them as a sarong dress by tying a knot at the back of your neck such that they look like halter dresses. Alternatively, you could also tie them on one shoulder.

How to wear pareo?

If you think there is only one way to wear your sarong, then you are far away from the truth. There are many ways to wear a pareo, and all of them are simple and hassle-free. You could wear them as a short skirt with a side knot. Alternatively, if you want to go for a more modest look, then opt for the long skirt style. One of the most peculiar and stylish ways to wear the pareos is to wear them as a Brazilian style dress. You could also give them a halter styled twist. For a bolder and sleeker look go for a front open halter style. Apart from these, you could style them as a dressing gown, kimono style and many more ways.

What do pareos mean?

Pareos are a single straight piece of cotton cloth. You usually see people of Polynesia wear them. However, they are also a famous dressing item in other parts of the world. The term is typically associated with Indonesia and other Southeast Asian regions such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. The fabric pieces are usually 4-5 feet in length and can be styled in various ways to best suit your preference. It is famous because of its versatility and freestyle. Usually, you can see ladies donning it on the beach as an addition to their bikinis or swimsuits.

Are pareos flattering?

With the kind of versatility, they portray there is no doubt that one of the most flattering pieces of garments that enhances your beach look effortlessly. You can pair them with anything and everything. Moreover, you can transform the fabric itself into many styles. From short skirts to dresses, they can be converted into apparel of different styles within a blink of an eye. With bold and bright colours and prints, they sure do make a style statement.

Where can I buy pareos online in the UAE?

So, have these unique pieces of fabric tickled your fantasy? If they have, then it is high time you head out to buy one. But where do you get some of the best pareos? Have you checked out Shops.ae yet? It is the finest shopping search engine out there? We suggest you do so now if you want to buy some of the exclusive collection of pareo swimwear, plus size pareo from popular brands like Dolce And Gabbana, Chanel, Zara, Victoria’s Secret, and ASOS. It also features high-quality products from 500+ online pareo sarong stores inclusive of some popular stores as well.

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