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Pirates of Evangola Costume Guidelines
Powder Monkey, Cabin Boy, Cook’s, etc.
Dress in: Pants, Shirts, head covering, neckerchief & minimal jewelry
It would not be unusual to be wearing clothing that is too big for them, hand-me-downs
Ordinary Seamen Pirates
Dress in: Pants, Shirts, Vest/waistcoat or Short Coat or both and head covering
These pirates would be roughly dressed in clothes showing a lot of wear and tear
Mid-level Pirates
Dress in: Pants, Shirts, Vest/waistcoat or Short Coat or both, head covering They can wear neckerchief and more accessories of better quality
These pirates are better dressed than the ordinary seaman and have more weapons
High level Pirate
Dress in: Pants, Shirts, waistcoat, elaborate head covering & optional neckerchief with more accessories of better quality
It would be expected that these pirates be extravagant and over the top in they way they dressed and acted
Female Pirates
Dressed as males, it wouldn’t be wise to play up your feminine side on board a ship full of rough men
Dress to the level of pirate you are
Wenches
Dressed to play up the feminine side since that was their meal ticket (Keep it PG13)
Chemise, or bodice with several skirts that can be hiked up and some kind of head covering
Ideas of how to put together your costume
Pants
Loose fitting knee breeches from Ren Faire
Dark colored scrubs cut short or cuffed to become knee breeches.
Drop front breeches worn correctly buttoned below the knee or worn loose. might cut the cuff off
Sailor Slops either just below the knee or above the ankle in either natural/off white or stripped fabric.
Modern men’s solid colored dress pants converted into breeches.
Pant Patterns
Loose fitting breeches with draw string style
Breeches:
Butterick 3072
Simplicity 4923
Shirts
Ren faire shirts from faire
Loose fitting collared shirt in any faded worn color but purple
Loose fitting collared shirt in small checks or thin/small stripes. (Blue and white small checks were favored)
Gusset sleeved shirt is ideal
Shirt Patterns
Butterick 3072
Butterick 5008 (most views)
McCalls 4864
Simplicity 4219
Vests or Waistcoats
Loose fitting long vest should be worn open
Waistcoat (long fitted vest) extending to mid thigh in both the front and back
Waistcoat (long fitted vest) front extending to mid thigh but the back of the garments stops at small of the back Made of mid-weight fabrics either solid colored all the way to fancy brocades. Some evidence that sailors favored stripped waistcoats
Vest or Waistcoat Patterns
Butterick 3072
Butterick 4931 with modifications
McCalls 8285 with modifications
Simplicity 4923
Simplicity 4053 with modifications
Short Coat
A loose fitting jacket that ends at the waist to just
below the hips. Often used by sailors because it was practical and comfortable. Usually made of wool, linen or hemp. Could be based on a military/navel unit for a deserter pirate
Short Coat Patterns
Butterick 4293
McCalls 4864 old style
Simplicity 4053 larger sizes
Captain’s Frock Coat
Close fitting coat with long full skirting that comes to just above the knee with large exaggerated cuffs. Typically worn with waistcoat.
Captain’s Frock Coat Patterns
Simplicity 4923 with easy modifications
Butterick 3072
Head Coverings
French Voyager – a knitted cap that has pointed end worn used by the French in the American colonies
Straw hat – worn flat or folded into tricorn
Tricorn – felt or straw.
Round hat – felt hat that looks a lot like the Amish hat only the crown is round
Sock cap – tube of loose woven fabric tied off at top with the top flopping loosely on top of the head
Knit cap
Shoes
Sandals – ideally rope
Buckle shoes either made from converting
modern loafers or period shoes
Ren boots
Accessories and Personal Additions
Long sashes worn around the waist
Daggers
Cutlass
Flintlock pistols
Bobbles, jewelry – pirates are thieves and would steal anything of value so a lot of jewelry could be worn as long as it does not look modern
Haversacks are better than pouches
Ditty Bag- sailor’s backpack
Leather belt – wide belts are better
Rope platted belt
Charcoal under the eye must be done with actual charcoal NOT stage make-up
No eye patches – Hollywood has tainted it
Socks both solid colored or stripped
Socks need garters
The best pirate wench and pirate have miss matched buttons and frayed up hem edges
The Art of Aging Attire
Wash and dry fabric prior to making up garment
Wash and dry several times after garment is made up
Wash garment with a very small amount of bleach to fade
Leave garment hanging on a clothes line in the sun for many days to sun bleach
Wool fabric should not be machine washed, hand wash or dry clean to prevent puckering, unless that is part of the look you want
Garments were often remade into new styles or garments leaving faded strips or old
needle holes
Wash shirts/chemises regularly but do not wash
coats or pants as much, even if they get a bit`stained or dirty – adds to authenticity
Do not have every button match
Sandpaper or cheese grater to scuff or rough up common wear areas such as hems, cuffs,shoulders, elbows, etc
Rub mineral oil into wear areas to get a “greasy” These areas would be cuff edges, thighs of pants, aprons, skirts near were one would “ wipe” dirty hands
Use soot and ashes rubbed into areas one might commonly wipe hands
Burn holes in areas where a fire might pop and create burn holes – use a cigarette or burning twig
Coffee or tea dye can be used to create a dingy look to whites
Carefully cut rough edges and pick out threads to make it look ragged
Put rocks into wet coat pockets to pull change the line as it dries
Do not neatly comb hair
Theatrical products that make the teeth look decayed and dirty – Mehron Tooth FX is a good product that does a convincing job and easily brushes off
Temporary Tattoos: Blue ballpoint pens can be used to create the crude tattoos of pirates. Before the ink dries, brush with talcum powder to make it look more natural
and old. To seal it, spray with theatrical barrier spray or hair spray.
The Meaning of a Tattoo
Anchor – indicates a sailor has crossed the Atlantic
Ship in full sail – indicates a sailor has made it around the Cap of Good Horn
The words HOLD FAST on each knuckle of both hands were suppose to help a man hold to the rigging
Be creative – anchors of a chain for men killed, etc
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