A Hastily-Assembled Pirate Costume

You may be wondering what inspired the idea for my "hastily-assembled pirate costume". Well, it was my socks.

You see, they landed in this "X-marks-the-spot" shape when I took them off one night. And thus inspired the idea for me to make a pirate costume out of things I already owned. What could be a better idea for a Halloween costume then using your own imagination?

This is actually not a hard thing to accomplish, as I have quite a bit of a pirate-y fashion sense to begin with, and I'm sure several of you do too. So follow me on a treasure hunt around my house while I assemble my pirate costume!

I know most people who think of pirates think open poet-type shirts, or in some cases, no shirt at all. But as a female, that's not exactly the route I'm wanting to go.

Enter my collection of Pirates of the Caribbean shirts. Yes, I'm a proud Jack Sparrow fan, as well as a huge fan of Pirates of the Caribbean ride down in Disneyland. So what better way to not only display my love for Cap'n Jack but to wear his picture over my heart?

If you're not a Jack Sparrow fan, there's always wearing a simple Jolly Roger or Skull and Crossbones t-shirt. Or, if you insist on being authentic, then grab that poet shirt out of the back of your closet and put it on.

You know, even female pirates wore pants. Pants are just way easier to wear when you've got pillaging and looting to do. You just don't think "pirate" when you see a skirt.

Luckily I have these pants, which have a nice pinstripe, very pirate-y. Depending on the weather where you live, you can also opt for black jeans, capri pants, leggings. I guess it depends on the type of boots you're wearing as well. You can always tuck your pants into your boots.

I can't say there's a need to be authentic, because really, pants are pants. They're just there to cover your booty.

Pirates like to "rock the bling", as the kids say these days. (Do they still say that?) Displaying one's personal wealth can be a fashion statement. Although I wouldn't advise doing so while in battle because it would be real awkward to get a necklace caught on something in hand-to-hand combat.

Lucky for me, I've inherited as well as been gifted and collected some really awesome pieces of jewelry in my lifetime. So it's kind of a question of tastes (what you prefer) along with what leans towards "pirate-y" when browsing your jewelry box. Over-sized costume jewelry is great for this! Gems, silver and gold chains, jade, other semi-precious stones, bracelets, rings, earrings... Use whatever you like!

Maybe if I'd been more into Adam Ant I'd have a long coat with shiny gold buttons and brocade trim. Sadly, I don't. I guess pirates just made do with what the fashion of the times was and long coats were "in".

Me? I'm making do with my wool pea coat. It's warm and living in Oregon, trick or treating is usually done in the cold, if not extremely wet weather. Plus it's got buttons. It's as close as I'm going to get.

Trench coats, short jackets, whatever you've got that you feel fits in with the type of pirate you're going for, wear it! There's no right or wrong to this costume.

I wear boots just about every day. Yeah, even in the summer. I'm a little crazy.

So, it only took digging through my boot collection to find these! Yes, these are actual boots I own. The wonders you can find at TJMaxx. You really want a pair that folds over at the top, ala a classic buccaneer touch. Shiny buckles and straps are optional.

Now, if you're not fortunate enough to own pirate boots, a pair of Dr Marten's would work equally as well, or you can check out the boots below for some authentic pirate boots!

Pirates don't go anywhere without their hat. It can be their trademark, it protects them from sun, wind, and rain, and it's quite a fashion piece.

Oddly, I do not have a traditional pirate hat. I know, I know, me without a tri-corner hat.

Enter the pair of Pirates of the Caribbean Mickey Mouse ears my friends got me in Disneyland several years ago. Not only do they feature a bandanna, but a gold hoop earring in one of the ears! You can't beat this, as it covers several aspects of pirate fashion all at once.

Now, if you don't have a pair of these fabulous ears and don't live anywhere near Anaheim, CA, you might find a pair on eBay. Or you can go the traditional route, find a tri-corner hat with a giant ostrich plume, or even construct one from folded newspaper. Hat choices are endless, but you must have a hat to be a pirate!