What to Wear Under a Sarong

I must admit, before getting my first sarong in a subscription box, I never even heard of the term before! Assuming you may be in the same boat as me, a sarong is a large piece of fabric that women commonly wear as a swimsuit coverup, but it can be styled into any outfit. Sarongs originate from Southeast Asia, East Africa, and many of the Pacific Islands. I want to make an effort to style my new, and first ever sarong, so I am bringing you this blog post on what to wear under a sarong. It really is the ultimate layering piece, but my particular sarong is a bit too thin to wear on its own without something worn underneath. All of the pieces that I am layering with are probably in your closet already, and they are super comfy!

Here I am doing a focus on styling sarongs outside of swimwear. I will be explaining what I am layering underneath and why, as well as including instructions on how to tie your sarong to copy my look. All of my tying techniques are super simple, I promise! Tying is definitely not in my skillset, so let’s keep it easy. I also have similar pieces that you can shop to recreate my looks! Time to get started.

The Sarong and Handbag

In this what to wear under a sarong tutorial, I am featuring the Peter Som Dream Floral Print Sarong in Meteorite, as well as the Danielle Nicole Macrame Handbag. Both of these are specifically curated and available in Rachel Zoe’s Summer 2020 Box of Style. They are not sold by retailers, so if you want your own, you have to buy them from resellers such as Poshmark, Mercari, eBay, thredUp, etc. Below you can shop these two items. However, if resellers are not your jam, do not worry. I have an affordable dupe for the Danielle bag plus many cute sarong options for you to shop in this post!

Style Notes

You will notice in this post that I wear the same shoes, jewelry, and handbag in each look. That is because my focus is more on what I am wearing under the sarong and how to tie the sarong, so I want to keep everything simple. The handbag just screams summer, as do sarongs in general. Block heels can literally go with any outfit, and the glass beaded bracelets add a subtle touch. Since my sarong is black, I am opting for many black pieces. If your sarong is another color, then you will want to branch out and try other colors to layer with. Consider this post to be inspirational!

What to Wear Under a Sarong

1) T-shirt dress

The first look in my what to wear under a sarong tutorial features wearing my sarong like a dress. I am layering it over a basic black t-shirt dress. The sarong itself is too thin to wear alone as a dress, but the t-shirt dress supports the look that I am going for, while still being comfortable.

How to tie the sarong:

1. Put the sarong behind your back, holding the top right corner in your right hand, and the top left corner in your left hand. You should be holding the sarong longways, like rectangular beach towel.
2. Bring the right corner around the left side of your neck, and then the left corner around the right side of your neck. Tie the corners behind your neck to create a wrap effect.

Shop the look:

2) Jeggings and a t-shirt

My second look features a black t-shirt and jeggings. I am tying the sarong into a vest, turning it into your new favorite fashion accessory! The vest, or kimono look, will really show off your layering pieces. A pair of jeggings with lots of character will stand out, and I like the no-nonsense look of a tee.

How to tie the sarong:

1. Tie a knot in two diagonally opposing corners.
2. Slip the knot over your head and allow it to fall to the back.

Shop the look:

3) Bralette and bermuda shorts

Third, I am wearing my sarong like a wrap shirt. Doing so this way is nearly impossible to hide your bra, but you also do not want to feel like anything is hanging out. A lace bralette is great here because it is pretty from all angles and meant to be seen. Bermuda shorts are trendy right now, so why not?! Of course, you can wear any bottoms here that you like.

How to tie the sarong:

1. Gather up the entire sarong, with the right side in your right hand, and the left side in your left hand.
2. Put the sarong behind your back, along the bralette.
3. Bring the right side of the sarong behind the left side of your neck, and then the left side behind the right side of your neck and tie a knot.
4. Arrange the sarong around the bralette.

Shop the look:

4) Bodysuit and soft shorts

Fourth is wearing the sarong as a skirt. This is typically how you see them worn as a swimsuit coverup. Again, since the sarong is thin, I do not want to wear it alone as a skirt. I am layering it over what I call ‘soft shorts.’ That may not be the technical term, but that is exactly what they are. Soft shorts typically have an elastic waistband and are made of a soft material. The length of them are also appropriate because they do not steal the show away from the sarong. To mix things up from a regular shirt or cami here, I am wearing a bodysuit. It can never come untucked from your soft shorts.

How to tie the sarong:

1. Put the sarong behind your waist, holding the top right corner in your right hand, and the top left corner in your left hand. You should be holding the sarong longways, like rectangular beach towel.
2. Tie the two corners together, and you can experiment with where you want the knot to sit. I like it on the side.

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Related Post: How to Add Color to a White Dress

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Shop the look:

5) Cami, belt, and jeans

The final look in my what to wear under a sarong tutorial is my favorite, as is the first picture of the outfit. All of the layering here will make you look like such a fashion genius and like you had to work really hard, but we all know how easy this is! For this look I am wearing the sarong kind of like a staples dress or a tunic. I am layering a cami underneath, as I like the look of the straps. Since we are going to be allowing for a side slit in the sarong, your legs will be shown off. I recommend some jeans here, but you can do jeggings, shorts, or whatever you want. The belt ties everything together and solidifies the fashionista vibes. I have circle belts in many colors and prints because they look great with all outfits.

How to tie the sarong:

1. Put the sarong behind your back, holding the top right corner in your right hand, and the top left corner in your left hand. You should be holding the sarong longways, like rectangular beach towel.
2. Tie the two ends together into a knot under your left or right armpit. The knot should be at the top of the sarong, allowing the side to hang open like a slit.
3. Tuck the excess fabric from the knot under the sarong.
4. Put the belt on, which will help the sarong stay split open.

Shop the look:

Shop My Sarong Picks:

Conclusion

We are at the end of my what to wear under a sarong tutorial, featuring five inspirational ideas. As evidenced here, sarongs are not just for the beach or the pool! You can wear them daily as a fashion accessory and even as an article of clothing. Do not stop here. Allow this post to inspire you to create your own layered looks, and be sure to experiment with other ways that you can tie them, as well as other colors. You can even wear sarongs as scarves, headbands, tie them to the strap of your handbag, and more. The possibilities are endless, and you should have at least one good sarong in your closet. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

What is your favorite way to style a sarong?