Nautical pirate costume ideas and tips

For those skilled at sewing, there are several commercial pirate costume patterns available. This makes it easy to sew your own pirate costume in the exact colours and fabrics you choose.

If you can't sew a seam for anything, choose from the many commercial pre-made pirate costumes. These are far more limited in sizes and colour choices.

Once you have a basic pirate costume assembled, it's time to choose just the right accessories to complete the look! Pirate costumes just don't look right without the eye patch and tall boots. More battered pirates may find themselves in need of a peg leg or hook to "replace" missing limbs. And of course an earring or two would not come amiss.

You can best complete the look of your pirate costume with just the right makeup. Not just girls, either -- male pirates need some cosmetics to appear suitably dashing (or dangerous, depending on your preference). Heavy eyeliner is a good choice, with shadowing around the eyes.

You can also add fake scars and tattoos to create a pirate costume that is uniquely "you".

If you feel your pirate costume just needs something more to stand out in the crowd, consider carrying some props. A treasure chest of pirate's booty would be a good choice. Pirates would normally be armed to the teeth when searching for a ship to board, so some weaponry such as pistols or daggers is appropriate. It's also hard to imagine a stereotypical pirate not having a parrot on his or her shoulder and a measure of rum or grog in hand.