Wrapping it up

Whether you are off to the sun-kissed beaches of Bali or to the shores of Goa or just staying in the city -- a piece of cloth the same size ...

Whether you are off to the sun-kissed beaches of Bali or to the shores of Goa or just staying in the city 8212; a piece of cloth the same size as a dupatta can help you beat the heat. The sarong may sound exotic but it is the easiest way to update your wardrobe.

Start at Ravissant if you are really brand conscious. They stock France8217;s Gottex Sarongs these are must-haves on the beaches of St Tropez and Cannes but they cost a whopping Rs 5,000. Or, check out Ensemble and Melange.

Mosaic8217;s Rekha Bhatia makes scarves and sarongs for both these stores. As does Pamela Singh nee Bordes. Her cotton sarongs, with tassels, cost Rs 1,200. Wendall Rodricks has also started a range of sarongs in his Goa store and it comes as no surprise that they are his fastest moving garments. But Anokhi, at Kemp8217;s Corner, is the best bet for those who don8217;t want to spend a bomb. Their indigo and pastel-coloured sarongs sell for just Rs 220. Among the celebrities who favour this rectangular-piece of cloth are model AchlaSachdev and Pooja Bedi-Ebrahim. Among the best bodies in the city, these women also use sarongs in the summer as a signature style. quot;I basically wear my sarongs at home with a bodysuit. They are comfortable and great for lazing around in,quot; says Pooja. She buys cotton fabric and has her tailor attach a strap to it so that she can tie it easily. In Rs 400, Pooja has sexy skirt that8217;s an ideal way to beat the heat.

Achla doesn8217;t even spend that much time on her sarong. Says she, quot;I hold both ends, twist them across me, and tuck it in. I have an instant skirt.quot; She pairs it with a short, stringy top and sandals. Textile designer Rekha makes owning a sarong even easier. She suggests using a dupatta.

What is really addictive about the sarong is its price. Achla discovered that in Bangkok, three years ago, where she picked up stitched sarongs for a steal. Pooja was introduced to this lightweight option when she was just 16. Her mother, Protima Gauri, lent her some sarongs before Pooja left for a trip to Goa. quot;Ireally got into them and even did a photo-session wearing sarongs.quot; These days, try getting her out of one.

The other attractive aspect of the sarong is its versatility. For instance, the long-legged Pooja and Achla wear their sarongs short, on occasion. quot;You can make it any length depending on how you tie it. You can even just tie the two sides together. Though this looks a bit messy, and does not give you a good shape, it looks good over a swimsuit,quot; says Achla.

Which brings you to the fact that the sarong wins hands-down as the complete beach gear. This strip of cloth can be anything you want it to be. Most popularly worn over swimsuits, a sarong can be tied in various ways. Rekha says, quot;In Goa, I live in my sarong and bathing suit.quot; You can tie it around your neck and make it a dress. Or, for a more sexy look, just tie the two end across your hips. At the beach, the sarong can be a mat to lie on, a place to put all your beach stuff on, like tanning lotion, book and sunglasses. And after a swim, thesame sarong can be used for a quick dry down. After that, gather all your stuff, tie it up in your sarong and viola, a handbag!

Story continues below this ad

In the evening, pick up a gossamer sarong and a bodysuit and you are ready to hit the party scene. And if you8217;ve shopped too much, the same sarong can be used to bundle all your extra goodies. We recommend that if you are going to the beach: Don8217;t leave home without your sarong!