Make a Pirate Costume
From LoveToKnow Costumes
Pirates have been growing in popularity for some time and clothes really do make the scalawag, but if you can’t afford high sea prices, why not make a pirate costume yourself?
Life of a Pirate
Life on a pirate ship was hard, to make matters worse, pirates weren’t given much space to store clothing. What you wore when you got on the ship was what you normally had when you left it. Of course, if your clothing happened to be somewhat nice, they never stayed that way for long. Months spent battling extreme conditions had a way of ruining good threads.
Make a Pirate Costume: What Pirate Are You
There are many kinds of pirates, from the dapper and daring to the refined captain, and the scalawag we all know and love. Choosing the type of pirate that you want to be will determine what clothing you will wear.
The Captain
As the captain, you are the head of the ship, the man behind the wheel, and the guy who wears his booty all over his person. The captain does not have to be refined as much as cunning and ruthless. A nice frilly shirt doesn’t hurt and Calico Jack Rackham was known for being a rough and tumble pirate with a refined taste in clothing.
Shirt: Do not go for formfitting apparel here. The goal is go frilly and flowing and if you can get your hands on an old tuxedo blouse with giant ruffles then you are on the right track. Check out local thrift stores and costume shops (especially after Halloween when everything goes on sale).
Breeches: Very familiar to colonial Englishman the knee breeches were often worn by the refined pirate captain. First, pull on a pair of white women’s stockings or plain white dress socks. Purchase a pair of black sweatpants several sizes too small and squeeze yourself inside them then pull the elastic cuffs to just below the knee.
Pants: An alternative to breeches are long pants that are similar to “sultan” trousers. Think back to the days of M.C. Hammer during the early 1990’s with those balloon pants or jams pants. They’re like those but solid in color.
Footwear: Captain’s that wore breeches didn’t normally wear high boots and settle for a low-ankle boot or shoe close to a loafer. They fit the style of colonial America. Those that wore pants dawned leather boots knee-high boots that wore often rolled down to make boot cuffs.
Overlay: The overlay was either a vest made from brocade, velvet or suede. The color scheme is unimportant, but should be somewhat flashy without being tacky. An optional overlay piece is the pirate coat that is long with bell sleeves and a split back. Traditional pirate coats reached deck level whereas military men wore more traditional waist coats.
Hat: The standard tricorn is the hat of choice. A tricorn hat looks like a triangle when placed on the head, and to modern people may appear funny, but they had purpose. Being out at sea meant a lot of bad weather. The hat easily caught water and ran it off the back or sides. These hats also kept the sun out of the eyes.
If you wish to be a captain but prefer to be rougher around the edges, then you'll certainly want long pants and high boots or breeches and loafers. A dirtied leather tricorn hat over felt laced with gold trim, and a long pirate trench over a waist coat.
 Captain 1 |  Captain 2 |  Child Captain |
The Scalawag
You are the man that makes the ship run. You are the deckhand, the cannon loader, the guy in the crow’s nest or the pirate bucketing the bilge. You are dirty, messy and disheveled with a mean spirit that wants all the booty you can carry.
Shirt: Unlike the captain. you aren’t as concerned with looking in charge. The shirt you wear will either be a tunic style or some sort of jersey knit. If you can find a satin shirt that is dark in color you can make it look the part by:
- Removing the buttons then sewing the shirt closed
- Remove the collar by cutting it off with a pair of scissors (don‘t worry about being perfect)
- Remove the cuffs in the same manner as the collar
- Make a slit from the neckline to about 6 inches down the chest
- Poke holes down the split shirt and add shoelaces as a way to close the shirt
- Tatter the bottom of the shirt and add strategically placed holes and slits
Pants: Purchase a pair of black slacks and cut the legs off at mid-calf then tatter the bottoms. If you want to look even more of a mess then considering removing the wait from the pants entirely (even better if stay up on their own. Cover the waist area with a series of scarves. The best fabric choices would be fabric that flows like satin and velvet. A wide leather ring belt and baldric would also be worn.
Hat: The scalawag’s hat came in the form of a large bandanna that was placed over the head and tied in back.
Footwear: A pair of oxfords or loafers will be well suited for the scalawag especially if they are discolored, scuffed and holy. Traditionally the scalawag would be barefooted on deck and soles slip on wet would but that simply is not practical for you.
 Scalawag 1 |  Scalawag 2 |
Accessories
The accessories of a pirate can make him the mean cutthroat he can be:
- Carry a sword - a cutlass is the weapon of choice
- Guns were very popular and including a flintlock to your belt is impressive
- Shiny rings and baubles add a little bling to the outfit and shows off your expert thievery as does wearing expensive silks in vibrant colors
- Carry a set of keys on your belt along with a tankard and perhaps a whip
A Final Word
One good way to get an understanding of what a pirate wears is to watch movies and specials about them. Rent movies like Pirates of the Caribbean starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack or Cutthroat Island starring Geena Davis. Films like Treasure Island also offer much historical merit. From these films you can get an idea of the clothing you can wear and how you could modify things you find to fit the bill.
Learn More
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