Sarongs

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.