That’s a funny thing, do pirates wear capes? I seen them in movies, them fellas, lookin’ all fancy. But in real life, I don’t know. Maybe some of them did. Maybe them big shot pirates, the ones with all the gold and jewels, they mighta worn capes. Makes ’em look important, you know? Like them kings and queens.
But them regular pirates, the ones workin’ on the ship, I don’t think so. Too much trouble, I reckon. Gets in the way when you’re climbin’ ropes and fightin’ and such. Life on a ship, it ain’t easy. It’s hard work. They probably just wore what was simple and didn’t get caught on nothing. Them pants, them shirts. That’s it.
And them clothes, they wouldn’t be clean neither. No way to wash ’em good on a ship. Just salty water and sweat. They was probably all dirty and smelly. Only when they got to land, maybe they cleaned up a bit. But on that ship? Nah, they was just workin’ hard. No time for lookin’ pretty. These pirates, they was always dirty and ragged while aboard ship. It was a tough life, bein’ a pirate. A lot tougher than what you seen in them movies.
I heard some fellas talkin’ ’bout pirates way back. Long time ago. They said them Irish pirates, they wore these long shirts, like dresses. Called ’em “line” or somethin’. Sounds kinda funny, don’t it? Pirates in dresses. But that’s what they said.
Now, them pirate movies, they ain’t real. Not one bit. They make ’em look all cool with them fancy clothes and swords. Real pirates, they probably wished they looked that good. But they didn’t. They was just tryin’ to make a livin’, the best they could. A hard livin’ at that.
This one fella, Robert somethin’, he wrote about what pirates wore. Long time ago. 1716, they say. He said they wore short jackets. And different kinda pants. Some wore shoes, not them big boots like in the movies. And they wore different things on their heads. Bandanas, them three-cornered hats. All kinds of stuff. Do pirates wear capes? Probably not, if you ask me.
And when it rained, they had to wear somethin’ to keep dry. They made hats outta canvas, and they put tar on ’em. Made ’em waterproof. And they mighta had capes made outta the same stuff. For when it really stormed. So, maybe some pirates did wear capes. But only when it was rainin’ real hard. They needed to keep dry, you see.
- Pirates in the Caribbean, they mighta worn scarves.
- Or turbans.
- And straw hats.
- Hats with wide brims, to keep the sun outta their eyes.
See, it all depends on where they was, what the weather was like. And what they could get their hands on. They probably didn’t have a lot of choices. No fancy stores on them pirate ships, that’s for sure!
The main thing is, them clothes had to be tough. Had to last a long time. ‘Cause they weren’t gettin’ new ones very often. Maybe they stole clothes from other ships, I don’t know. But they probably just wore what they had till it fell apart.
So, do pirates wear capes? Maybe some did, sometimes. For the rain, or maybe to look fancy. But most of ’em, I think they just wore regular clothes. Clothes that were good for workin’ and fightin’. Nothin’ special. Just plain, simple clothes. ‘Cause bein’ a pirate, it wasn’t about lookin’ good. It was about survivin’. It was about gettin’ that gold and stayin’ alive. And that’s the truth, as far as I can tell.
I reckon them pirates, they was just regular folks tryin’ to make a livin’. A hard livin’, but a livin’ all the same. They weren’t no movie stars. They was just men, tryin’ to get by. And they wore what they had to wear. Capes or no capes. That’s just how it was.
These clothes, they was probably all ripped and torn, too. From all that work and fightin’. Imagine climbin’ up them ropes, with a hole in your pants! And them shirts, probably all stained with sweat and salt. Not a pretty sight, I tell ya. But that’s what it was like to be a pirate. Hard work, rough life. Not like them movies at all.
Them pirates, they wasn’t worried about fashion. They was worried about stayin’ alive. About findin’ the next treasure. About not gettin’ caught by the law. That’s what was on their minds. Not whether their cape matched their boots. ‘Cause most of ’em probably didn’t even have boots!
