Bet! They were definitely a minority, but never the less there and very capable. So don’t worry about sacrificing your well-established credibility among your renaissance fair friends when you buy a really cool, very authentic pirate costume…one you wanted badly, wanted badly! Rest assured, you are correct when you carry your own machete!

We’ll talk more about who you can base your character on later, but first let’s get down to that killer outfit designed with the bare essentials. Did I mention that this is also a costume that is not only renaissance fair appropriate, but will wear well to that Halloween party where we adults can dress up or down, your call?

Shirt

The shirt, the foundation of ALL Renaissance-era clothing or costumes, is important. The good thing about a pirate costume is that if they were pirates and they got caught, they were usually executed. So flaunting statutory laws by dressing above your position and risking a fine wasn’t a major concern, know what I mean? All t-shirt styles, fabrics, and colors, except purple, of course, are appropriate for your new holiday outfit. Stick to the full version even if you’re racing with the boys.

Overdress

If you’re going to base your costume on the pirate, why not be the captain? Do you want to be climbing the rig or cleaning the decks? I don’t believe it! However, he must be armed. A baggy shirt and baggy dress can hide a lot of weapons.

Boots

Thigh-high boots, maybe for that Halloween party but not at the local renaissance fair. It wouldn’t be entirely authentic and would definitely be uncomfortable walking around the fair in them all day. You’ll want them to be black leather and high-top. They won’t be as tight as most women wear these days, but instead will be loose and roll down a bit at the top.

Lady Mary Killigrew

She was the daughter of a pirate and was married to a pirate from Suffolk, England. Her husband was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I with the rank of Vice Admiral and charged with suppressing piracy. When the good captain Sir Killigrew put to sea, Lady Mary “commanded” the castle staff from her and put to sea herself. Her luck finally ran out in 1570 when she captured a German merchant shipping cargo and sailed him to Ireland to see what she could get for her pirate labor.

One problem: the owner of the pirated ship was a friend of Queen Elizabeth, this is not a good thing. There are several versions of what happened next, but the result was that she got out of the hacking business… and she took up selling stolen goods! What a Girl!