Sarongs and Beach Cover-ups: How to Choose and Buy at a Good Price
Sarong, kimono or cover-up: what is the difference
A sarong is a rectangular piece of fabric that you tie at the hips, on the chest or at the neck. It is versatile, takes very little room in a bag and easily becomes a skirt or a dress. A beach kimono and a cover-up have sleeves and go over the top, so they cover the shoulders from the sun better. A beach shawl is good in the evening on the seafront when the sea breeze turns cool.
The size of a sarong is usually measured in centimetres, for example 160×110 cm. A smaller piece will barely wrap around the hips, and a large one will do for a dress and as a cover for a sun lounger.
What to put in your request
- Type — sarong, kimono, wrap skirt, shawl.
- Material — chiffon is light and dries quickly, viscose is soft, cotton and linen are denser, mesh is openwork but covers almost nothing.
- Size — length and width in cm or a universal size.
- Colour and print — for example, a tropical pattern or plain.
- To go with — whether it should match a specific swimsuit; then add a photo or name the colour and print.
- Brand, if you have a favourite.
- Quantity — for example, two sarongs in different colours.
- Budget, if you want to name one.
Example: “I need a chiffon sarong of about 160×110 cm to go with a black swimsuit, preferably with a tropical print, not see-through. Delivery to Johannesburg, budget up to R 120.”
How the offers work
You write one request, and beachwear sellers reply in the chat: they send photos and give the price and delivery terms. BlaBlaPrice compares the replies and shows the best one first, and the seller's reviews are next to each. Sellers see where their offer stands and can improve their terms to win your request. Contacts are hidden until you choose a seller yourself. It is all described in detail on the “How it works” page.
What to look at before buying
Ask for photos of the fabric in daylight and, if possible, held up to the light. Chiffon and mesh look denser in photos than in real life. Check whether the edges are finished: a raw edge on chiffon soon frays. Ask about the composition: pure viscose sometimes shrinks after washing, while a blend with polyester creases less but breathes less.
Do not buy a sarong “blind” to go with a swimsuit you already have: the colour on a phone screen is distorted, and black often turns out charcoal. It is better to ask the seller to compare with a photo of your swimsuit.
If you are putting a set together, also look at swimsuits and beach dresses and tunics, because two pieces in a matching tone sometimes come out better value together.
