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Sarongs are this summer’s unexpected breakout star. Although this beach staple has long been a holiday essential, what’s unusual is that this season, the style is being worn in the city too, either over trousers or as a skirt. Whether you save your sarong for vacations or not, we thought it was time to examine the differences between its sister design, the pareo, while also sharing our favourites:
Although they look similar, the pareo and the sarong have different origins. The former hails from Polynesia and Tahiti and the latter has ancient roots in South East Asia. Both are usually patterned but the pareo is more closely linked with TROPICAL MOTIFS. It’s also usually larger. ‘Sarong’ is derived from the Malay word “sarung” meaning “to cover”, and is a rectangular piece of fabric that was WRAPPED AROUND THE WAIST, often secured with a knot or tuck. The pareo has always been WORN CREATIVELY and in varying ways, whether as a skirt, top or a shawl. It’s a personal FORM OF EXPRESSION, whereas sarongs were originally more functional. The pareo became HOT FASHION PROPERTY in 1936 after Dorothy Lamour wore one in The Jungle Princess, earning her the title ‘the sarong girl’.
Dries Van Noten is the source of the sarong’s renaissance, specifically its spring/summer menswear 2026 show when the style was worn over khaki trousers and flip-flops. H&M has a great budget-friendly version that would work well with a shirt, tucked in for the office. Alternatively, wear yours with a T-shirt and flat sandals at the weekend, a silk camisole and gold jewellery after dark, and with your favourite swimwear on holiday.
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Lead image: The-Are
Ella Alexander is Citizen Femme’s fashion features editor. She started her career at the Evening Standard, and has since held senior editorial roles at Vogue, The Independent and Harper’s Bazaar, where she remains a contributing editor. She also writes for The Telegraph, Sunday Times Style, Service95 and CNN. She is an author, having co-written Dame Zandra Rhodes’ memoir, Iconic: My Life In Fashion In 50 Objects, published by Transworld in July 2024. Her favourite travel destination is Catania, Sicily’s second city.
