Posts Tagged ‘Buccaneer’

Special Touches to Make Your Pirate Costume a Hit on the High Seas

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Maybe you’re purchasing your pirate costume or creating it for yourself, a few and thoughtful extras will highlight you at your party. If you really want to make a splash this year’s Halloween party remember these valuable little pointers, and people will see what a true buccaneer you really are.

Pirates have never given any thought to hygene. Not surpising when you are living on the high seas fending for your very life . Hygene and health don’t seem to matter very much. It simply is not feasible to squeeze in a bathing session amid swashbuckling times. So here is how to take your pirate costume to the next level and avoid paying out your valuable doubloons and dirtying it up a little. Actual dirt works well. Just pop outside to your garden and grab a handful of soil or mud to smear on your clothes, face and hair.

If you’re simply too well refined to use real dirt, buy some dark face paint at any local costume shop. For a cheaper option, powdered chocolate works well. Just pick up a tin of dried chocolate milk mix at your local grocery store. Dust a some of it over your clothes and face. The powdered chocolate option is great for hair, because it washes out more easily than dirt or oil-based paints. Any of these options are likely to stain your clothes, but a real pirate has more important things to do than laundry, anyway.

Since Pirates don’t care much for showers, think about how they feel going to the dentist. A true captain of the high seas wears his or her gnarly smile with pride. Take a look down the aisles of your local costume retailer for non toxic paint that can be used on your nashers.

Another option are low cost plastic gold teeth caps, (because they are not really gold!!) to be found in the pirate costume section. With these, you can show off your success at pillaging booty. It is not just any pirate that can wear these. Only rich pirate boys and girls have the cash for gold capped teeth.

For an extra special touch, make sure your pirate costume includes the seafarer’s most noble companion: the parrot. Buy an inexpensive stuffed toy one, and fasten it on your shoulder with a hook and loop product maybe like Velcro. You could always stitch it to your costume, but these sorts of fasteners can be bought with adhesive backing. This method requires no sewing skills, and guarantees that you can simply take off the parrot if necessary.

pirate costumes

Pirate costume and it’s history

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

In 1492 Europeans discovered America and after that date the Spanish often sailed there. The lands that they visited were known as the Spanish main. From these lands they took treasures from the Aztecs, in a land now known as Mexico. They strapped up their vessels and set sail to Spain. Often they would be attacked on their home back by Pirates.

The Queen favourite was Sir Francis Drake. He worked as an explorer and also a privateer.Drake made it his lifetime quest to steal from the Spanish on the high seas, most particularly when England ans Spain were at war in the 1500s. As payment for his efforts he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

Three famous Spanish galleons were strapped up with treasure from the Spanish main. These were dutifully attacked by Captain Jean Fleury, who captured two and let one escape. A suprising characteristic of Spanish ships was they rose high in the sea therefore making it easier to unload.

In the Caribbean there were many ships with pirates on board looking to rob the Spanish of their treasure. Pirates who made the island of Hispaniola their home, were known as buccaneers. The name buccaneer is from the Spanish for fire on which their meat was cooked. These Buccaneers started their trade of attacking Spanish vessels in the early 1600′s

Perhaps the most famous was Henry Morgan, who raided ports and towns of Spain in the 1660′s and as a result, became very rich. The King of England went on to appoint him Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.

As we know, these colourful characters of the past gave us traditions and stories which we still celebrate today. The well known and loved pirate costume has adapted with changing fashions into a favorite theme, and movie theaters regularly show the exploits of these old sailors, glamorized in a way to make them heros.

pirate costume bandana and beads accessories

Monday, August 24th, 2009

The golden rule, when thinking about any accessories to go with your outfit is to ‘think bad’. You want people to be wary of you. You are a buccaneer and a criminal. Dress in a rugged and ‘ready for trouble’ style. Anyone remembering this when they are choosing which accessories to go with their pirate costumes are almost certainly onto a winner.

Another possibility is a bandanna. Many a swashbuckler has worn one of these over the years and they still look cool today. Maybe you even have an old scarf or piece of material lying around somewhere that could be used.

Beads worn in small plaits or dreadlocks can look really good with pirate costumes. Think about Captain Jack Sparrow in the popular series of adventure films. There are a lot of accessories that you might pick up for next to nothing. Again, use your imagination. What about hanging some old-fashioned looking keys from your belt on a piece of wire or string? Or perhaps you could get hold of an old pocket-watch chain to wear along with your waistcoat? There are all sorts of little touches that can be added to your outfit that will make it look so much more authentic. Even small things such as wearing a couple of leather strips (perhaps old boot laces) on your wrist can make all the difference.

Take a look at shots of pirates from films will give you some good ideas. Spend some time on your computer.It will be rewarding and save you a lot of frustration.

If you are still struggling for anything to go with your outfit then check the sites of some online suppliers. Companies that sell pirate costumes usually tend to have a very good selection of bits and pieces to go with them.