What did Pirates ACTUALLY Wear? Fashion at Sea in the 18th c & Our Flag Means Death Costumes

Last week we talked about the gentlemen of the early 18th century, but this week it's all about the Pirate! Media has certainly given us a look for the standard pirate over the centuries, but what did they actually wear in the Golden Age? Did they really look like Captain Hook and Mr Smee? Or did they resemble the swashbuckling, Robin Hood type? Perhaps the dark and gritty Pirates of the Caribbean? Or the cheerful use of ropes and patching in Our Flag Means Death? (not to mention the prolific leather vests)

Unfortunately the resources on pirates are rather slim. They weren't exactly a well-documented group and were surrounded with mystery, even while they were still living. But some of their contemporaries did keep better records, with images of sailors working in the navy or merchant trade being incredibly prolific as the century progressed. In order to piece together the portrait of the pirate, we'll have to look at a few facets of the era and work that they did, starting with those sailors.

Clothing was an essential part of the work that sailors did, requiring protection from both the weather and the ship itself. A simple suit of clothing that they could acquire from any tailor wasn't going to work well. Slop clothing became the standard source in the 17th century, providing durable and cheap options that were adjusted to accommodate the work sailors were doing. Trousers, petticoat breeches, jackets, colored shirts, printed kerchiefs, and more became part of the image of the sailor. Not just in their own time, but they carried through to our modern trope today.

Sources
The Slop Shop: https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/10156
DeBraak: http://www.tylerruddputman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Putman_CMH_DeBraak.pdf
Tyler Putman's many articles: http://www.tylerruddputman.com/publications/
General Carlton: https://www.academia.edu/2323059/The_Shipwreck_General_Carleton_1785_Wrak_statku_General_Carleton_1785_Badania_Archeologiczne_Centralnego_Muzeum_Morskiego_t_I_Gda%C5%84sk_editor_2008
Naval Dress, Meaghan Walker: https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/46218d74-efbe-4a8d-a733-c34be892f95a
For the heat is beyond your conception: https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/17296
https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/9998399
https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/17001

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00:00 Pirates on Record
03:59 Dressed like a Sailor
07:06 Slops
10:12 Maintenance
12:56 Weather
15:42 Garments
24:01 Myth & Legend
25:47 OFMD Costumes