Pirates have gained a reputation for wearing bright and distinctive clothing and accessories during the Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1730) even if, in reality, most of what we think they wore comes from works of fiction like Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel Treasure Island. Pirates were first and foremost seamen and so they wore the clothing typical of all mariners of the period. It is true, though, that some pirates, especially the captains, did dress to impress, and colourful silks or feathered hats were a way to demonstrate success to one’s victims and crew alike.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1839/pirate-clothing-in-the-golden-age-of-piracy/.