The pirates who carried out dangerous and long sea voyages during the age of exploration have become synonymous with a specific style of pirate clothing. Much of the pirate shirts were developed through necessity, but gradually it created a pirate stereotype.
There is little evidence of the renaissance clothing of common seamen in the pirate crew, but it is believed that they used to dress similarly to other seamen of the period as they were also seamen. However, some pictures of seamen of that time shows common seamen in the pirate crew dressed like a ragtag bunch. They, actually, used to wear cloths stolen from sea travelers. That is why their pants and coats were often loose. Pirate Pants were generally called breeches. Pirate costumes were accessorized with knitted caps called Monmouth caps, bracelets, chains, ribbons and braids and the like in the medieval era.Famous weapons that accompanied pirate dresses included the pirate cutlass- a heavy curved sword, daggers- often held in the leather belts and pistols.
Medieval clothing bore the impression of Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws that declared the color of clothing and fabrics which could be used by each social level. The Sumptuary Laws were made to make it easy and immediate way to identify the rank and privilege of a person in the society. Use of some colors such as crimson, violet, purple and deep blue was banned for the lower and middle strata.
However, pirate, renaissance particularly the successful and wealthy pirate captains, took great delight in flouting the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. They joyfully made use of the banned colors and fabrics. There dresses were gaudy. They would wear breeches made of fine velvet. A satin and leather sash would run across pirate captain’s coat, which used to be decorated with precious stones such as ruby and metals like gold. They would also wear waistcoats, which were allowed only for upper class. Pirate captains preferred over-the-knee boots, flat or short heel boots during their dangerous and long sea voyages as that kind of boots were very helpful to them in dangerous acts.
There was a purpose behind the way pirate captains prefer such a flamboyant style of renaissance clothing. Fundamentally, there pirate era clothing had to symbolize their status as ruthless sea robbers and the amount of wealth they accumulated by capturing ships of sea travelers.
The reign of Queen Elizabeth, which is thought to be the period when cultural renaissance thrived in England, had also left its impression on the style of clothing of that time. Renaissance costumes were intended to illustrate the social standing of the wearer. One could largely distinguish between aristocracy or nobility and the lower-downs. Women would be seen wearing an under and over skirt, tops, blouse, bodice, a shirt, hat or snood.
