How to Wear a Pareo: A Guide to Ours

Of everything we make, the pareo is the piece that travels furthest. It is the first thing into the suitcase and the last thing to come off at the end of the day: a skirt by the water, a dress for lunch, a wrap when the evening turns cool. One rectangle of fabric, many lives.

Here is how ours are made, how they differ, and the ways we wear them.

Drawn by hand, in our studio

Every Ola Azul print begins as a drawing. Our design team creates each one by hand, in house, starting from the story of the collection. Nothing comes from a catalog: every print you see on a pareo was drawn for it, and exists only at Ola Azul.

That is why each pareo belongs to a collection, and why it pairs so naturally with the swimsuit drawn alongside it.

Meet the pareos

Joy: the short pareo

A short wrap skirt in 100% viscose, cut to fit like a skirt. It comes in two sizes (S/M and M/L) and sits easily over a bikini bottom from the beach to the bar. Joy Solara · Joy Spice

Julia: the long pareo in polyester

Our long pareo (100 × 143 cm) in 100% polyester. The fabric holds color with intensity, dries quickly and comes out of a beach bag without creases, which makes Julia the one for boat days, the pool and long travel days. Julia Ubud · Julia Bay · Julia Harbor

Joyce: the long pareo in viscose

The same generous size (100 × 143 cm) in 100% viscose: lighter, softer and more fluid, with a matte finish that drapes close to the body. Joyce is the pareo that stays on after sunset, tied as a dress for dinner or worn over the shoulders. Joyce Ubud · Joyce Bay · Joyce Olimpo

Mika: the long pareo in cotton

For those who prefer natural fiber, Mika is our long pareo in cotton, usually in eyelet, with a texture you can feel. It breathes, softens with every wash and ties in all the same ways as Julia and Joyce. Mika Laguna

Polyester or viscose?

Choose Julia (polyester) if your day is spent in and out of the water. It keeps its color bright, dries fast and packs without wrinkling.

Choose Joyce (viscose) if you want movement and softness against the skin. It breathes, falls beautifully and feels at home from the beach to the table.

Both share the same print, size and finishing, so the choice is simply about how you like a fabric to feel.

Finished by hand

Our long pareos are finished with handmade details, tassels, added one by one. They give the fabric a little weight at the corners so it falls well when tied, and they move with you as you walk. Small details, made slowly, so each piece feels like it was made for someone.

Six ways to wear a long pareo

1. Long skirt. Wrap the pareo around your waist lengthwise and knot it at the hip. Let the tassels hang at the side.
2. Mini skirt. Fold the pareo in half lengthwise first, then wrap and knot at the hip for a shorter, lighter skirt.
3. Halter dress. Hold the pareo behind you at chest height, cross the two top corners in front, and tie them behind your neck.
4. Strapless dress. Wrap it around your body under the arms and knot it at the center of the chest, or tuck the end in for a cleaner line.
5. One-shoulder dress. Wrap it under one arm, bring both top corners up over the opposite shoulder and tie.
6. Evening wrap. When the breeze comes in, simply wear it open over the shoulders, like a scarf.

The short Joy is even simpler: wrap, tie and go.

Caring for your pareo

Wash by hand in cold water with a mild soap, and do not wring. Dry flat or hanging in the shade so the print keeps its color for many summers. With the long pareos, keep the tassels and pom poms away from zippers and rough surfaces.

However you tie it, the best pareo is the one that comes home with sand still in the folds.