Fashion Point: The sarong

The timeless summer item: elegance that goes back a long way

Before being a fashion statement, the pareo is a traditional garment steeped in symbolism. Originating in Oceanic cultures such as Tahiti, French Polynesia and the Samoan archipelago, the pareu (a name of Polynesian origin) was a rectangular fabric tied around the body. Made from natural fibres and often decorated with tribal motifs, it told the story of the wearer, his or her affiliation and sometimes even his or her marital status.

With the arrival of Europeans in the Pacific in the eighteenth century, missionaries imposed more covering garments, but the pareo resisted, was transformed and gained in popularity.

It was in the 1920s and 1930s, with the development of cruises, exotic travel and the golden age of cinema, that the sarong arrived on European beaches, becoming a symbol of freedom, sensuality and eternal holidays.

An icon of icons

The pareo is the faithful ally of women who love fashion without ever overdoing it. Worn casually around the waist or tied with sophistication, it evokes both casualness and a certain kind of carefree elegance .

Josephine Baker was one of the first to make it a style statement, wearing it on the Côte d'Azur in the 1930s.Sixties icon Brigitte Bardot adopted it in Saint-Tropez as a uniform of freedom, and later it was Jane Birkin who made it an effortless accessory of charm. Today, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna and Zendaya are perpetuating the heritage, each in their own way, with an ultra-contemporary vision of femininity, each certainly thinking back to the historic icons of Grace Kelly, who wore it with canvas espadrilles during her escapades in Monaco, or Jacqueline Kennedy, elegant all the way to the beach, sarong perfectly tied around her hips.

Ines de la Fressange & the art of the French sarong

Ines de la Fressange has never hidden her love of simple, natural, yet distinguished pieces. In her wardrobe, the sarong is not a piece of casual clothing, but a genuine styling tool that can be adapted, twisted and elevated.

Ines de la Fressange has never hidden her love for simple, natural, yet distinguished pieces. In her wardrobe, the sarong is not a piece of casual clothing, but a genuine styling tool, which can be adapted, altered and elevated.

In her summers between the South of France, Capri and the Basque coast, Ines weaves it into a dress, a skirt or a turban, always with that nonchalant, ultra-Parisian allure that characterises her. A crumpled white shirt, a pair of flat sandals, a basket in her hand, a printed sarong tied carelessly... and that's all there is to it.

Our vision of the sarong: elegance, softness and modernity

At Ines de la Fressange Paris, we've designed our own pareos, inspired by Ines' style, and come up with a series of pareos in lightweight cotton or silk voile, with exclusive prints inspired by southern flowers, vintage geometric patterns or shades of blue like the waves of an infinite summer.

Each pareo is designed to accompany you from morning to night:

• On the beach, wrapped around your swimming costume or tied into a light bustier

• In town, as a scarf around your neck or a chic belt over a flowing dress

• In the evening, as a light stole thrown over your shoulders
  
  

These pieces are made to be loved, worn and enjoyed again the following summer.

How to tie your pareo like a Parisienne

Here are a few suggestions inspired by the Ines de la Fressange style:

Tied at the waist like a wrap skirt, to match with a white t-shirt and spartan shoes.

Criss-crossed and tied around the neck for the perfect strapless dress after the beach.

Transformed into a bandeau top, worn with high-waisted flowing trousers.

Worn over the hair in a bohemian-chic turban to enhance a summer look.

Or as an oversized scarf over an open white shirt.

A word from the House

A pareo is more than just an accessory, it's a promise of escape, a caress on the skin, freedom of movement and designs that stay with you.
It's an everyday object that, when well chosen, becomes precious. At Ines de la Fressange Paris, it embodies everything we love: femininity, a taste for beauty and joyful simplicity.

Discover our exclusive collection of pareos!
Natural fabrics, delicate prints, Riviera spirit: a summer in your image, in all lightness.