Swimsuit shopping can be a frustrating, confidence-zapping experience. Regain your beach mojo by grabbing a chic sarong before you leave the store. These versatile pieces of fabric may not seem like much, but the effect is always stylish and flattering.
Many options
Sarongs provide you with as much or as little coverage as you desire. Highly functional, a sarong can be tied into a skirt, worn as a dress, or draped as a shawl depending upon your needs. Mexicali Blues Purple Vine Batik Sarong ($14) is designed with the traditional Indonesian batik method and ample fabric to do all the fun sarong wraps that you desire. Wear it as a maxi skirt, a modest dress, or fold it and show some skin. Put a flower in your hair to complete the look and feel like an island princess.
Ready to wear
If you do not want to fuss with figuring out how to tie a basic sarong consider a sarong cover-up dress. In fact you can even match your bikini top to a silk sarong for a luxurious look like in this Shoshanna blue and yellow "Balinese Ikat" print combination. Silk provides an elegant sheer style that drapes beautifully. This sarong dress features a unique decorative gold tone buckle that can be adjusted at the neckline and an elasticized back for ease of wear.
Colors galore
The color options are wide open when it comes to a finding a sarong. Floral patterns and tropical looks are common, but definitely not the only way to go. Choose your favorite color like this red hot sassy sarong or favorite pattern like this cool camo sarong.
Basic black
A sheer black sarong cover up is another possibility. If you are wearing a black bathing suit to start with, a black sarong can give it the look of a little black dress. Black or black and white graphic print sarongs provide the same confidence boost as a boldly colored wrap in a more subtle sophisticated manner. You can easily add metallic or bright neon accessories to quickly change the look.
Mini sarongs
Miniature sarongs may not provide many options, nor do they offer much coverage, but they certainly make up what they lack through their attention grabbing style. These inexpensive accessories are just the thing to give last year's bikini a fresh new look while providing a wee bit of coverage on a hot summer day.
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