But much of the pirate clothing was
developed through necessity and befitted the lifestyle of a
pirate seaman.
Pirate Clothing - the 'Slops'
Many pirates were
recruited from unemployed seaman - there was plenty of work for a
fighting sailor during times of was but during peacetime the seaman
became impoverished and turned to a life of piracy. In 1628 the British
Admiralty established sailor's clothing (which were called 'slops') to
be worn by men who had been press-ganged. This type of clothing
consisted of a canvas doublet and breeches, knitted caps called
Monmouth caps, cotton waistcoats and drawers, stockings, linen shirts
and shoes. So much of this clothing was adopted by the seamen who turned
to the life of a pirate.
Pirate Clothing - the Monmouth
Cap and the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws
The woollen cap referred
to as the Monmouth Cap dates back to the 1500's. In 1571 the Elizabethan
Sumptuary Laws were passed
which ordered everyone over the age of six to wear a woollen cap on
Sundays and holidays in order to help England's wool trade. The Upper
Classes were excused from obeying this law.
Pirate Clothing - Flouting the
Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws.
Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws
dictated what color of clothing and the materials and fabrics which
could be used for each social level.The Elizabethan Sumptuary
Laws therefore enforced what clothing individuals were allowed to own and wear, an easy and
immediate way to identify rank and privilege. Pirate clothing, especially
that of the successful and wealthy pirates took great delight in
flouting the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. Anything went - fine velvets
and silks and such fabrics which had been previously banned to anyone
other than those in the Upper Classes.
Pirate Clothing - The Motley
Crew
The fabrics used in pirate
clothing depended on how wealthy they were and what clothing had been
stolen. Pirate clothing for the ordinary seamen was therefore often
ill-fitting. Motley was a multi-colored woollen fabric woven of mixed
threads in 14th to 17th century England. The clothes of pirate seamen
were mismatched with multi-colors - hence the expression 'Motley
Crew'.Many of the tasks performed by the pirates were extremely arduous
- clothing could be easily ripped, tattered and torn. The pirate
clothing for ordinary seamen, by necessity was tight fitting. Loose
fighting clothes would be dangerous when performing tasks like climbing
the rigging. The clothing of the captain or pirate clothing worn on land
did not need to follow such requirements.
Pirate Clothing - the Fabrics
and Materials
The fabrics used in pirate
clothing depended on how wealthy they were and what clothing had been
stolen. But basically there were no rules. The practical fabrics used
for ordinary pirate clothing included canvass, leather, wool, linen,
cotton and sheepskin. The fabrics and materials used in pirate clothing
when on shore, or by the Pirate Captain, were far more flamboyant and
expensive. Velvet, silk, damask, sarcanet, camlet and
taffeta were included in the fabrics and materials used for this
type of pirate clothing - exotic feathers were also favored.
Pirate Clothing - Colors
The colors of pirate
clothing included the colors which had previously banned by the
Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. Crimson, violet, purple and deep blue
were typical of the colors which had previously banned for anyone other
than the Upper Classes.
Pirate Clothing - The clothes
worn by a Pirate Captain
The typical clothes worn
by a Pirate Captain are illustrated in a description of the clothing
worn by Black Bart (Bartholomew Roberts). He was described as flamboyant
dresser. His waistcoat and breeches were made of velvet in a rich
crimson color. His hat was decorated with an exotic red feather. An
expensive satin and leather sash diagonally decorated the
front of his coat and a sash was tied around his waist. The
clothes of this pirate captain were adorned with gold
jewellery and ornaments.
List of Pirate Clothing
The following list details
the items of pirate clothing and some interesting facts and information
about various items of Pirate Clothing:
-
Motley clothing
- bright mis-matched colors
-
Bandana - A
pirate clothing item which kept the sweat out of the
pirate's eyes
-
Tri-cornered hat
- made of various materials including leather
-
Doublet or coat
- Expensive item of pirate clothing. Long clothes, including
the doublet were a style of pirate clothing best suited to
land. Decorated with ornate braids and fabrics
-
Breeches -
trousers were generally only worn by English pirates
-
Knitted caps
called Monmouth caps
-
Waistcoats -
flamboyant addition to pirate clothing
-
Drawers - tight fitting to allow for the difficult tasks of a pirate
-
Stockings -
Woollen stockings for practical apparel and silk for land
use
-
Shirts - The
puffed sleeves were suited to pirate clothing on land
Pirate Clothing - the
Accessories
The famous accessories of
pirate clothing.
- Gold Hoop
Earrings - A sign of wealth but also believed to serve
a practical purpose in easing sea sickness by applying
pressure to ear lobes.
- Bracelets,
chains, pins and pendants - Gold, silver, precious jewels
and pearls
- Sash - Alsio
called a baldric made of fine fabrics, sometimes overlayed
with a leather sash to take the weight of pirate weapons
- Braids and
ribbons - adorned various elements of pirate clothing but
were also used to braid a pirate beard or hair. Blackbeard
was famous for tying black braids to his beard and hair and
famous for sticking lighted matches under his hat on either
side of his face to terrify his enemies
- Pirate Boots -
Ranged from bootcovers, to Bucket boots up to thigh-high
boots, Pirate seamen often went barefoot - a practical
decision when a task might include 'swabbing the deck'
- Pirate belts -
these wide belts were worn around the waist and diagonally
across the shoulder in order to take the weight of pirate
weapons
- Buckles - Ornate
buckles were used to adorn pirate belts and shoes
- Fancy buttons -
a decorative addition to pirate clothing
- Scarves - a
flamboyant addition to pirate clothing
- Wigs - stolen or
purpose made - favored by Pirate captains
Pirate Clothing - the Weapons
The famous weapons which
accompanied pirate clothing.
- The pirate
cutlass - A heavy curved sword with only one, but deadly,
cutting edge
- Daggers - often
held in the leather sahes or belts
- Pistols
Pirate Clothing - the
Stereotype Pirate
All of the items of pirate
clothing have been covered but other elements became synonymous with the
pirate. These related to the injuries which befell men who followed the
pirate's life. Fighting was an important skill but inevitably pirates
were wounded. Pirates lost eyes during battle - hence the famous pirate
eye patch. Limbs were often amputated as the only resort for a badly
injured leg - hence the wooden peg leg. Hands which were lost were
replaced with hooks.
Pirate Clothing
Some interesting facts and
information about Pirate Clothing. Additional details, facts and information about Pirates in the Age
of Exploration can be accessed via the Elizabethan Era Sitemap or the
following links: