Pirate Fashion - Grade 12 History

Some laws such as the 'Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws' dictated what colours and fabrics you could and couldn't wear depending on your social class. Some fabrics were:

(hint: upper class could wear these, but lower class couldn't)

• Cotton

• Velvets

• Silks

• Canvas

Answer explanation

Pirates typically did not adhere to these laws, and some Captains actually insisted that their crew were well dressed.

The Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws banned the lower class from wearing this/these colour(s):

(but some pirates wore them anyways)

• Crimson

• Violet

• Deep Blue

• All of the above

Types of fabrics that pirates wore depended on:

• How wealthy / successful they were

• What was available to be stolen from other ships

• Laws about clothing and classes

• Where they were located

Pirates wore the exact same clothes on land that they did while working on ship.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

On land, pirates actually changed their clothes so they were dressed more "flashy".

While working on the ship they favoured more practical clothes, but land was a way to dress up, brag, and show off how rich and successful they were.

The stereotypical pirate captain that inspired most media adaptations was:

• Black Bart

• Black Beard

• Anne Bonny

• Calico Jack

Answer explanation

He (Black Bart) was lots of crimson velvets, a hat with an exotic red feather, expensive satin and leather sashes, and even lots of gold jewelry!

The Tri-cornered hat worn in the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, (famously by Jack Sparrow) WAS historically accurate.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

No! With how big and bulky it was, it was dangerous as it not only blocked vision but also would be easy to be carried away by the wind.

A knitted hat, called Monmouth was much more popular.

The fabric(s) that was/were considered practical and favoured by sailors were:

• Broadcloth

• Kersey

• Cotton

• Shag

• All of the above

Pirates wore both silk and leather sashes (in the movie and real life!) for:

• To add layers to their person

• To hold weapon weight

• Fashion purposes

• To have tighter fitting clothes

Answer explanation

Silk sashes were common, and then leather was overlaid (on top) to bear the weight of weapons (swords and guns).

Some pirates (Captains) wore wigs just like the upper class did. How were they sourced?

• A) Stolen from the rich

• B) bought and made specifically the Captain

• C) sewn and crafted on ship from stolen cloth, cotton, and sometimes wool

• All of the above are correct

• Only two of three answers are correct

Answer explanation

They were stolen from the rich and also made specifically for the captains.

Did pirates wear hair accessories in real life?

(beads, ribbons, etc.)

• Yes - But only the hair

• No - not historically accurate but in the movie

• Yes - In both hair and beards