Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas for a Pirate Lady

Pirate costumes of different varieties are always popular at Halloween.

In a 2005 FamilyFun.com survey Halloween ranked as the second favorite holiday for many Americans. Dressing in costume is a big part of the attraction of Halloween. Certain costumes are traditional and will show up year after year. Pirate costumes are among them. A pirate lady costume is a twist on that costume. It's something that can be assembled rather easily. There are a few variants on the theme and it can offer some choices in style and execution.

Clothing

There are a couple of different approaches to clothing for a pirate lady costume. One concept would apply a male pirate costume. That would mean dark pants (or long shorts), an over-sized shirt and a vest. The other would be a more feminine look with the pirate motif placed on top. A long dress with a lot of room on the bottom (with leggings and even another skirt underneath) or a more feminine blouse with a skirt (or two) could do the job. Boots should be worn with either style.

Head Wear

For any type of pirate there are a few options for head wear. Bandannas work well as head covering. They can be worn with or without a traditional pirate hat. Braiding small trinkets into the hair (coin medallions, shiny jewelry or gems) is a nice touch for a pirate lady costume. You can easily purchase a pirate hat at any costume store or most supermarkets during the season.

Accessories

Accessories often take a costume from good to great, comprising the details that really "sell" the look. Wear lots of flashy jewelry. The bigger and gaudier the jewelry, the better. Rings on various fingers and lots of bracelets and necklaces are nearly mandatory. A stuffed parrot, if available, makes a nice touch. Plastic or wooden swords or daggers work well, and can be adorned with gems. Make an eye-patch from elastic and black cloth.

Makeup

Pirates aren't known for subtlety. That applies to makeup as well as anything else. Bold is recommended. Go with a standard makeup application, like you would wear any day of the week, then turn up the volume. Bold colored nail polish works well. Bright lipstick is recommended. Use a lot of makeup to draw attention to the eyes, without making it look like a mistake. False eyelashes can be used to add to the look, too.

References

• News Blaze: For Families, Halloween Second Only to Christmas