| You bet! They were most definitely in the minority | | | | You will however need to be armed. A loose fitting |
| but they were never the less there and very able. | | | | chemise and equally loose over dress can hide many |
| So don't worry about sacrificing your well established | | | | weapons. |
| credibility among your fellow renaissance faire friends | | | | Boots |
| when you buy a really cool and very authentic pirate | | | | Thigh high boots, maybe for that Halloween party |
| costume...one you wanted bad, you wanted real bad! | | | | but not at the local renaissance faire. It would not be |
| Rest assured you are in the right when you carry | | | | quite authentic and would most definitely be |
| your own cutlass! | | | | uncomfortable walking around in them at the fair all |
| More later about who you can base you character on | | | | day. You will want them to be black leather and calf |
| but first let's get to that killer outfit designed with | | | | high. They will not be as fitted as most women wear |
| the essentials. Did I mention that this is also a | | | | today but loose and roll down a little at the top. |
| costume that is not only renaissance faire appropriate | | | | Lady Mary Killigrew |
| but will wear well at that Halloween party where we | | | | She was a daughter of a pirate and married to a |
| adults get to dress up or down, your call. | | | | pirate from Suffolk England. Her husband was |
| Chemise | | | | appointed by Queen Elizabeth I to the rank of |
| The chemise, the foundation for ALL renaissance era | | | | Vice-Admiral and was charged with suppressing |
| clothing or costumes is important. The fortunate thing | | | | piracy. When the good captain Sir Killigrew went to |
| about a pirates costume is that if they were a pirate | | | | sea the Lady Mary "commandeered" her castle staff |
| and were caught they typically were executed. So | | | | and went to sea herself. Her luck finally ran out in |
| flaunting the statuary laws by dressing above their | | | | 1570 when she captured a German merchant carrying |
| station and risking a fine was not a major concern, | | | | freight and sailed it to Ireland to see what she could |
| know what I mean? All chemise styles, fabrics and | | | | get for her pirates work. |
| colors, except purple of course are appropriate for | | | | One problem the owner of the vessel she pirated |
| your new festival garb. Stick to the full length version | | | | was a friend of Queen Elizabeth, this is not a good |
| even though you are running with the guys. | | | | thing. There are multiple versions of what took place |
| Over dress | | | | next but the outcome was that she quit the pirating |
| If you are going to base your costume on the pirate | | | | business...and took up fencing stolen goods! What a |
| why not be the captain? Do you want to be climbing | | | | gal! |
| the rigging or swabbing the decks? Didn't think so! | | | | |