Is the sarong the world's most versatile and practical garment for both women and men? Here are twenty ways to tie one.

How Women Tie Sarongs

Style I

Hold the top two ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Wrap the upper two ends in front of you. Cross and twist the two ends, cinching them comfortably against the body, and tie them behind your neck.

Style II

Hold the top two ends of the sarong in the horizontal position behind your back. Wrap the two ends in front of you, folding one side over the other across the chest. Twist the two ends a little and then tie them behind your neck with a double overhand knot.

Style III

Hold the top two ends of the sarong in the horizontal position behind your back. Wrap the two ends in front of you, folding one side over the other across the chest while twisting the ends three or four times into a coil. Tie the twisted ends behind your neck. Move the flap in front to the side and let it drape freely.

Style IV

Hold the top two ends of the sarong in front of you in the vertical position. Wrap one end under your arm and behind you at bust level. Bring it together with the other end on the opposite side. Twist the top ends once, and tie them into a knot just under arm. Next, grab the edges of the sarong on each side a little below waist level; raise and fold the edges of the sarong, lifting it about six inches to the waist. Gather the two the two edges of the fold at your hip on the same side the upper part of the sarong is tied around your bust, and tie the ends into a knot or use a sarong buckle to fasten them. Adjust the bottom end as needed.

Style V

Hold the top ends of the sarong in front of you in the vertical position. Wrap the top two ends around the back of the neck, and tie them. Grab the edges of the sarong a below waist level, raise it a couple of inches to hip level and wrap it behind you, moving one edge all the way around to the opposite hip. Tie the two edges in a knot at the hip, and adjust the top portion of the sarong.

Style VI

Hold the top ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Wrap the two ends around front. Move your grip about a foot toward your chest along the top edge of the sarong. Twist once, and tie the two parts together in a double overhand knot until they’re snug against the bust. Now reach down to the two ends that are hanging in front of you, bring them to the front, fold them once or twice into a pleat, and tuck the top of the pleat into the top of the sarong at bust level. Straighten the pleat against the front of your body.

Style VII

Hold the top two ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Wrap one end all the way around and drape it over the opposite shoulder. Holding that end with one hand, wrap the other end across the bust, behind your back, and bring it together with the end over the shoulder. Tie the two ends into a knot at the shoulder. <

Style VIII

Hold the top ends of the sarong across your back in the horizontal position. Take one end and place on top of shoulder behind arms and bring the other end to meet end on top of the shoulder. Tie on top of the same shoulder.

Style IX

Hold the top two ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Wrap one end across the bust, finishing up under the opposite arm. Choke up about two feet on the other end, twist once or twice, and tie that to the first end above the bust. Grab the hanging end and drape it over your shoulder on the same side so it hangs freely down the back.

Style X

Hold the top twos ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Wrap one end around your bust to the opposite shoulder, and let the excess drape down your back. Bring the other end around your bust, and continue wrapping it around your back. Tie that end of the other end hanging over the opposite shoulder.

Style XI

Hold the top two ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Wrap one end around your bust to the opposite shoulder, and let the excess drape down your back. Bring the other end around your bust, and continue wrapping it around your back. Tie that end of the other end hanging over the opposite shoulder.

Style XII

Hold the top two ends of the sarong across your back in the horizontal position. Wrap the two ends all the way in front of you. Tie a double-overhand knot at the ends. Loop that knot behind your neck. Grasp the front sides of the sarong about waist level, and tuck each side across your body to the opposite side. Fluff the front out.

Style XIII

Hold the top two ends of the sarong in front of you in the vertical position. Wrap the top two ends behind your neck, and tie them in a knot. With the front draping nicely, grasp each side of the sarong a little below waist level, and lift the sides to create a fold. Wrap the fold against the front of your body at waist level to the back. Holding those ends together behind you, twist the sarong at waist level so the ends meet above either hip. Tie the ends into a knot above that hip, or use a sarong buckle to secure them, and blouse out the top to adjust the draping.

Style XIV

Hold the top two ends of the sarong in back of you in the horizontal position, but leave it about two-thirds longer on either side. Wrap the shorter end around your bust until it meets the top edge of the longer side under your arm. Twist out a coil from the longer side at that point, and tie it to the short end at the side of your bust. Now lift the hanging end above your head, fold the excess toward you and inside, and drape that end over your shoulder. You may either leave it hanging freely, or you can tuck it into the back if you wish.

Style XV

Hold the top two ends of the sarong behind your back in the horizontal position. Bring the top ends in front of you, tie a single overhand knot, adjust the fit under your arms, and pull the two ends until the knot is cinched comfortably in the middle of your bust. Then tie the second overhand knot to secure the sarong, and fluff out the ends so they drape nicely; or you may choose at this point to wrap the two hanging ends around your bust and to the back, tying them there for a bustier look.

How Men Tie Sarongs

Style XVI

Hold the top ends of the sarong behind your back at waist level in the horizontal position. Wrap both ends in front of you at the waist, folding one side under the other until each end reaches the opposite hip. Give one end a little twist or small fold for extra bulk, then holding it near the top edge; roll the top of the sarong over that end until it’s cinched. Hike up the sarong on that side, if needed. We’ll use this basic tying method again with other styles as well. Now pull the loose top end until it’s snug, place it against the top edge, and roll the sarong over that end as well.

Style XVII

Hold the top ends of the sarong behind your back just above the waist level in the horizontal position. Take one end and place against the side of your waist. Take the other end and wrap to the opposite waist and tuck it at the waist.

Style XVII

Hold the top ends of the sarong in back of your waist in the horizontal position. Wrap both ends in front of you at the waist, folding one side under the other until each end reaches the opposite hip. Give one end a little twist or small fold for extra bulk, then holding it near the top edge; roll the top of the sarong over that end until it’s cinched. Hike up the sarong on that side, if needed. Now pull the loose top end until it’s snug, place it against the top edge, and roll the sarong over that end as well. So far, this is the Arenui Style. Now spread your feet and hike one side of the sarong to at least mid-thigh. Lean forward, grab the bottom end of the side that’s hiked up, and twist it into rope. Pass this “rope” under your legs and up your back, thong-style. Cinch until comfortable, and then tuck the end into the back of the sarong.

Style XIX

Hold the top ends of the sarong in front of you at waist level, but this time in the vertical position. Tie the top two ends behind your waist. Spread your legs and lean over. Gather the sarong at the sides, passing it under the legs and up the back. Then grab the two ends that are now behind your back, and wrap them around each side of the waist. Cinch the ends until the sarong is comfortable, and tuck them into the top. If you’re thin waisted, the two ends might actually cross over, which is okay.

Style XX

Hold the top ends of the sarong in back of your waist in the horizontal position. Wrap both ends in front of you at the waist, folding one side under the other until that end reaches the opposite hip. Give that end a little twist or small fold for extra bulk, then holding it near the top edge; roll the top of the sarong over it until it’s cinched. Hike up the sarong on that side, if needed. Now, holding the unsecured end, fold it over vertically about two or three inches, now fold it back on itself, again about two or three inches, and repeat this alternate folding until you have a pleat even with your navel. That’s right, this is the pleated sarong look. Finally, tuck the top of the pleat inside the sarong in front of the waist.