swanky sarong style

For a breezy summer statement – take the styling into your own hands

When the summer comes, I’m often conflicted as to my style.  The trend-setting designer in me wants to maintain a big city look but the carefree wave-lover in me wants to go totally Wahine (Polynesian Goddess).

So, what’s a girl to do? This summer I’ll be expressing my own personality, conflicted as it may be, by wrapping my favorite fabrics around myself for an updated take on the sarong/pareo.

Sarongs are perhaps the best multi-tasking piece of clothing ever conceived of, and those of you who know me know how much I value multi-function fashion.  Very simply, a sarong is a piece of fabric typically measuring 2 yards by 1 yard that is historically decorated with ornate and colorful motifs.

Because of the simplicity of the pattern, a sarong literally begins as a blank slate which leaves the artistry to the fabric printer.  By using dyes and paints in batik or tie-dye style and employing the colorful weaving technique as seen in Ikat, the plain piece of fabric becomes wearable art.  Then through extravagant wrapping and tying, the fabric becomes clothing.

As interesting as the history may be, I want to concentrate on how to urbanize this basic traditional item by making it modern and new.  If you already have a sarong that you love and you can to this post for wrapping and tying techniques fit for any urban fashionista, go straight to the last paragraph, and enjoy!

Let’s start with the fabric itself.  I’m all for the oceanic tie-dye prints and the floral Polynesian prints if you’re looking for an island  look, and for those fabrics patterns you can shop online for a finished product.  Simply Google “sarong”. But, if you’re looking to mix things up and show your trend-setting taste, opt for a more contemporary fabric.  An inspired trip to the fabric store will most certainly reveal your inner designer and turn out something uniquely fabulous.

I personally will be working with some scrap fabrics I have on-hand in the studio to create my urbanized sarong.  That means I will be using anything from Scottish plaid prints to delicate ombre, laser burnouts, and cartoon skeletons.  I’m not kidding when I say let your inspiration lead you.  After all, the very definition of avant garde is ‘the advanced group whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.”  Let’s goal ourselves at creating a statement piece.

A few things to consider when choosing your fabrics

• Lightweight woven fabrics with a soft hand and superior drape are ideal but a light jersey fabric will work if you’re wanting a stretchy drape in your fabric.

• Opt for double sided fabrics, those that are dyed so the color is on both faces of the fabric rather than those that are printed leaving you with one face side and one blank/white side.

• Choose a pattern that works in all directions so that you can use the fabric both vertically and horizontally.

• Choose silks for a city look and choose cotton for travel and beaching.

• Ensure your fabric bolt is wide enough to give you all the endless styling options you’ll want (1 yard wide is ideal).  If the width of the raw fabric is the proper width, you can always cut it to the length you need (2 yards for dress sizes 2 to 8.  Buy a longer piece if you wear a larger dress size).

• Go as bright and bold or as subtle and subdued as you want.  You’re the designer, go with your instincts.

Finishing your fabric

The best way to finish the edges of your fabrics, assuming they are delicate and drape well, is by serging a rolled hem edge.  If this is too much work and you don’t have a serging machine lying around, you can add a trim around the circumference of the fabric (ribbon etc) and use a zigzag stitch to attach it ensuring the main fabrics edge is folded back 1/4″ and the trim is placed on top of the fold covering its raw edge.  You may choose to add a trim totally for design purposes too!

If all this is too much hassle, simply allow your woven cotton fabric to fray evenly and you have no sewing to do at all.  For my upcoming Hawaii trip I’m taking that route myself.

For those of you who are really inspired – channel the traditional artists and hand paint or tie-dye a plain piece of fabric yourself!  Just think what a fun gift this could be too.

Turning your fabric into a garment

There are nearly infinite ways to tie your sarong, and you’ll want to defer to your creativity and take your personal body shape into account to wrap and drape in the most flattering way.

To get your juices flowing, check out Black Pearl Design’s video or photo instruction.  You’ll surely find at least a few styles you’ll want to start with and you can take it from there.

Remember, don’t be embarrassed to brag.  Send me photos of your inspired designs and styling techniques!