Okay, so, the other day I was watching one of those pirate movies with my kid, you know, the ones with the big ships and the sword fights? And it got me thinking, did pirates really wear capes? I mean, they look cool and all, but were they practical for life on a ship?
So, I started digging around a bit. First, I checked out some history books from the library. They had some neat illustrations, but nothing definitive about capes. Mostly, they showed pirates in baggy shirts, striped pants, and vests. You know, the usual stuff.
Then, I went online, just typing in “did pirates wear capes” in the search bar. I found a bunch of websites with people talking about pirate fashion. Turns out, hats were a big deal. Makes sense, right? Being out in the sun all day, a hat would be super important. Some sites mentioned that a hat made from canvas might be worn which had been tarred to make it waterproof, so pirates could wear them even in storms. I think it’s a very practical way for pirates to avoid getting wet in storms, although it might not be very comfortable.
I found some interesting stuff about how rank-and-file pirates wore duller colors. Their clothes would be all faded from the sun and stained with tar and stuff. There was even this one scroll from the 19th century that showed pirates in loose blue frocks and white pants with blue socks. Not a cape in sight!
But then I stumbled upon a discussion about those “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Apparently, the costumes aren’t super accurate. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
- Hats: Super important for sun protection.
- Regular clothes: Baggy shirts, striped pants, vests.
- Colors: Mostly dull and faded.
- Movie costumes: Not always accurate.
So, after all this digging, it seems like capes weren’t really a thing for everyday pirate wear. Maybe a captain would throw one on for a special occasion, but for the average pirate, it was probably more about practicality than looking fancy. They needed clothes that could handle the rough life at sea, and a cape probably would’ve just gotten in the way.
Anyway, it was a fun little research project. It’s always interesting to see how the real history compares to what we see in movies and books. Maybe next time, I’ll look into whether they really said “Argh” all the time!
