Pirate Costuming Guide

The first step to your outfit is money—how much are you looking to spend on an outfit?  If you are looking for a historical costume that will last you years to come, you better be saving up some cash for this one because the cheapest you can find is not going to last.  There are ways to create a unique outfit without hurting your wallet too badly, and to do so can require some sewing skills.  It can also take time; there’s nothing better than spacing your costume spending out so you’re not taking a $500 chunk out of your bank account all at once.  A great costume can take years to acquire.  If your outfit doesn’t need to be historical but you want your outfit to say “I’m a Pirate!” at the next costume event, there are great ways of putting together an outfit that doesn’t come prepackaged and doesn’t leave you with moths in the wallet either.

The next step is color choices.  STAY AWAY FROM PRIMARY COLORS.  You’re not Captain Hook.  There’s no need to be wearing a primary red frock/justacorp.  Look for burgundies, hunter greens, deep blues, golden yellows, burnt oranges, off whites.  Remember: pirates didn’t get to shower too often (if ever) and would have had dirty clothing.  If you’re wearing white, you’re not “dirty” enough.  If you find a piece of clothing for your outfit that you absolutely love but is bright white or a bright color, the best thing to do is tea stain* it or wear it when it’s bright and sunny outside a few times to wash the color out a bit.  It’s best to decide on a main accent color for your outfit and run with that theme with a couple of other colors for flare.  Shades of browns and black are excellent as base colors for your outfit.

Alright, time to choose pieces of clothing.  Let’s start with men’s wear.  At the very least, you’ll need a loose fitting shirt and pantaloons.  Shirts are most often off white or black.  For historical wear, I suggest making your own (suggested patterns below) or you can easily find some great looking shirts on websites and even eBay.  If you’re really on a budget for a top, take an old large t-shirt, rip off the sleeves, and cut the neck ring out and make a v-neck.  Pantaloons are most often black or brown.  These are a bit harder to find patterns for, but are easily found on the web and at Renaissance Faires.  If you don’t need historical, take an old pair of pants (not jeans) and cut the bottom of the leg below the knee.  No one wants to see your knees.  Other clothing items include a frock/justacorp and a vest.  The frock and vest should be different colors or different shades of a color.

Ladies, you actually have more choices in clothing than the guys do.  Historically, female pirates cross dressed for battles and wore traditional clothing for everyday aboard the ship.  You can wear anything the guys can if you want to hide your feminine side, or you can emphasize your inner wench.  Most wench wear includes a chemise, a bodice, and two skirts, one which has been tied up to reveal the bottom skirt.  Tattered skirts are also worn, sometimes two together and sometimes one tattered skirt is worn over a long underskirt.  Most skirts you find especially for Renaissance Faire wear will be either drawstring or elastic.  If you’re not looking for Ren Faire wear, a modern skirt that covers past the knees will work.  Avoid straight skirts.  You’ll need a chemise, or a shirt to wear as an undershirt.  They’re usually white or off white, although they can be any color, and a chemise is usually loose fitting.  A bodice is typically worn over the chemise to show the womanly figure that’s hidden if you’re only in a chemise.

And now, accessories!  Choosing the right combination of accessories will make your outfit unique.  It’s best to avoid skull and crossbone items.  They usually end up being really cheesy, and although the first thing you think of when you see a skull and crossbones is pirates, if you really were a pirate, that’s the last thing you want someone to think because next thing you know, you’re neck is stretched, tarred, and put on display.  First off, footwear.  If you prefer to be the buccaneer sort of pirate, a pair of boots is the way to go.  Most boots come in either black or brown.  There are various types of boots, the most common being bucket boots, but you’ll probably end up in an argument with historical re-enactors.  Leather or rope sandals would be great choices.  Historical re-enactors seem to prefer buckle shoes (remember the pioneers’ shoes from Thanksgiving in elementary school?) Next, you’ll need a belt.  Leather of course is best and most often comes in, you guessed it, black or brown.  You’ll use your belt to hold just about anything you need to carry on you.  Pistol, knife, tankard, or purse, they’ll end up being held by your belt.  You’ll also need to decide on weaponry.  You can always go with the aforementioned flintlock pistol and knife, but other weapons to consider include but of course aren’t limited to cutlass, hatchet, and musket. If you are going to carry weaponry, it’s best to look up your state’s weapon laws.  Most states require you to transport any weaponry in the trunk of your vehicle.  You’ll need some sort of purse to hold your booty as you travel about.  You could go with a simple canvas pouch or something fancier.  If you decide for something fancier, it’s best to coordinate with the other colors of your outfit.