Authentic Pirate Clothing: Breaking All the Laws

Most of us who have seen Pirates of the Caribbean associate pirate clothing with a tricorn hat, a full but ragged coat, earrings, eye patches etc.  To what extent are these stereotypes true?  Do they represent authentic pirate clothing or were pirates generally a more sedate bunch than we imagine?

Motley Crew

This is one of those times when the public imagination actually goes hand in hand with the truth.  Pirates really were a motley bunch.  In fact, the word “motley” refers to a fabric that was made in 14th to 17th century England.  It was a woolen material that included threads of many colors.  As time went by, people started referring to anything that was mismatched as “motley.”

Eye Patches, Stumps and Hooks

Pirates also lived at a time when medicine was not that advanced.  So it was quite possible to lose an eye due to a mild injury.  And pirates were engaged in some pretty dangerous things, attacking other ships, fighting sailors etc.  So the chances of an injury were high and, as a result, many of them did wear eye patches.  Those who lost limbs had wooden stumps or hooks in their place.  Sometimes, eye patches also helped out the pirates who had to go below decks but couldn’t take burning torches with them for fear of fire.  In such cases, the pirate would transfer the eye patch to his good eye and keep it there until the eye adjusted to the dark.  After this, it was much easier to get around below decks.

Earrings

Next, we come to earrings.  Did pirates really wear them?  The truth is that when pirates are seen wearing earrings, it’s because it was fashionable for anyone to do so.  Around the golden age of piracy (1650-1750), pirates didn’t usually wear earrings because it wasn’t in fashion.  There were also many superstitions back then that wearing earrings could keep away sea devils or other evil spirits.

Scavenging

As far as the general garb of piratical seamen and captains went, it mirrored the clothes worn by regular seamen and captains but was just a lot more varied because pirates were scavengers and stole clothes wherever they went, adding to their closets.  However, short pants, vests, sashes which were occasionally tied around their waists or around their heads were worn by regular seamen whereas captains wore more ornate coats with shiny buttons and tricorn hats.

Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws

In many ways, pirates were ahead of their time because they refused to conform to what the government said they should wear.  Elizabethan Sumptuary laws demanded that each person wear clothing that befit his/her station.  So lower classes couldn’t wear velvets or bright colors like crimson or deep blue.  Pirates flouted these laws and wore whatever they wanted.

So the next time you’re putting together an authentic pirate costume, feel free to go wild because pirates really did break all the laws, including the ones about what you should wear!