How to put together an awesome pirate costume for Halloween!

Avast there Mateys, so you want to be a Pirate!? Or rather you want to dress as a pirate for Halloween. Don't be tempted by those trashy looking ready made pirate outfits that cost a fortune and fall to pieces at a drop of the hat! It is fairly cheap and easy to put together an awsome costume yourself, with a little bit of effort, using things already in your closet and strategic visits to your local thrift and party stores for additional items!

However, to be ready for the big day itself, you will have to start your searching and gathering several weeks in advance to find those really special items of clothing suitable for transforming yourself into a fiercesome or dashing swashbuckler.

Step 1 Pirate weapons are easy to come by!

Basic pirate gear consists of

hat
trousers
vest
cloak
shirt
boots
earrings
eye patch
and pirate weapons, including hook!

parrot - optional!

Getting the pirate weapons is the easiest but probably the most expensive part of your search, as you will very likely have to buy them new from a local party or costume store. You can get a variety of good looking plastic swords, cutlasses and the like from these stores. My most expensive sword cost me around $8 and the other smaller knives, dirks, pistols, eye patch, etc. cost far less - some were even found in the local dollar store - for a dollar each! I also bought my "hook" for $2 in the 75% off sale last year! My eye patch was part of a set which also included a pistol and some gold coins - all for a dollar!

Comments

[Drasa]

Oh boy oh boy! MUST HAVE! Words cannot describe how aresome this is! Great job!

[DaveySprocket]

I'm so impressed by how you've taken all those pieces and put them all together to make an awesome outfit! I think I need to go searching my local op shops (thrift stores) very soon!!

[DaveySprocket]

What a gorgeous find!

[daelans]

thats a pretty nice costume. to shiny for my taste though.

[evilducky_00]

Thanks for the ideas, originally I was just going to buy one but I found great deals at the Goodwill.

[irishwhistle]

I just stopped in here to find out how to make my toddler her own pirate hat (found a great article on resizing a cheap felt model) and found this! I may have to go as her pirate mommy for Halloween, because this article is downright inspiring. What a great looking costume, and so much good information on how to make, really, all sorts of costumes. Now I wish I tried the thrift shop for my son's costume (Indiana Jones) though I can proudly say I didn't go out and buy the franchise-issue costume. I made his out of a fedora, pants and a shirt, of all things. I love the idea of costumes made with REAL things, that you got use from before or can use again.

[stinkymum]

Glad you liked the costume. Those store bought costumes are such a rip off, as they are so flimsy and fall to pieces at the drop of a hat. Glad you were inspired. Best of luck with making your costume. I am sure you will both look great.

[jk55092]

That's a fabulous costume. I really appreciate instructibles like this -- not because I'm looking to make a pirate costume (although, come to think of it, it *would* be cool to have one....) but because it's inspiring me to go to the thrift store and try really hard to look past the tacky surface of what the items are, and down to the cool interior of what they could be....

Sexy boots, by the way.

[stinkymum]

thrift shop shopping is an art form - you never know what you will find among all the tat and junk!

[pokiespout]

You truly are a thrifting queen, and I definitely admire your outfit! Nice work!

[DIYDragon]

hehe Reminds me of my pirate costume last year! I wasn't quite as 'flamboyant' with all the bells and whistles you have there cause I was wearing it to work, and already made fun of. haha Can you believe I was the ONLY person dressed up? Not even customers came in with costumes - I was bummed that they were all no fun! : ( Agreed that the thrift store is a nifty place.

[stinkymum]

What a wonderful word - flamboyant! That's what it is a flamboyant pirate outfit. Thanks very much..

[Camisado]

Awesome costume! But, seeing as how I'm a weapon Nazi, I'd have to rant on the weapons section a little :P OK, first of all, the swords. Designs aside, the swords shown on the pic is to curved and broad for a cutlass. It is almost like it is a Scimitar with a Machete-like design mounted on a cutlass hilt, so I'd suggest you find a straighter and thinner sword. The daggers are great, but pirates mostly used cheap, basic-looking knives. The dagger in the pic is more like a small Dirk, so..... yeah!

[stinkymum]

I am sure you are right and I bow to your superior knowledge.

[Camisado]

*Blushes* LOL but the costume is awesome though!

[threecheersfornick]

Awesome costume. How much did it cost all together?

[stinkymum]

I think the total cost would be about $40 not including things I already had in the closet like the boots, odd jewelry and belts. I looked on line and saw that ready made pirate costumes (usually without any weapons, hats or boots) were around $65 - 100, so it is a lot cheaper to gather your own.

[jessyratfink]

Yay! You look great! I think this is the best pirate costume I've seen. :D

[bomberman3]

for Halloween... or just Fridays!

[stinkymum]

Fridays sounds good to me!