How to Thrift Pirate Costume DIY (Halloween Costumes)

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How to Thrift Pirate Costume DIY (Halloween Costumes)

Ahoy, matey!

Creating pirate attire doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank or settling for flimsy pieces from party stores.

With a little creativity and a keen eye, you can piece together the perfect pirate costume straight from your local thrift shop and fabric stores.

Whether you’re inspired by Captain Jack Sparrow, drawn to the golden age of piracy, or simply want to embody a modern pirate, thrifting allows you to capture an authentic look with budget-friendly finds.

Think stretchable fabric for comfort, a loose shirt tailored to your chest size, and a pair of tall boots that will have you ready to sail the high seas.

Add in accessories like a treasure map, belt, and scarf, and you’ll be well on your way to building a pirate persona that balances creativity with a touch of historical accuracy.

Here are some tips to put together the PERFECT thrifted Pirate Outfit:

Black and White Striped Skirt

Check the skirt rack for anything with black and white stripes, especially maxi or midi skirts.

Even if it’s too long, you can cut and fray the hem for that rugged pirate vibe.

Striped pants or a striped shirt could also work if you can’t find a skirt.

If you don't want to wear a skirt, find some old pants or some simple wide leg black pants, that you can cut with rough triangle frays just past the knee.

For a more modern pirate twist, leggings or black skinny jeans can work under layers.

And if you want more of a punk gothic vibe, get some black and white striped tights and then layer a white dress and black vest over that.

White Flowy Shirt

While thrifting, look for an oversized white shirt with billowy sleeves, ruffles, or a loose fit.

Long sleeve or short sleeve, either works great!

Peasant-style blouses in the women’s section are also perfect, lace up front is a bonus!

Button-up shirts with ruffles or pleats are perfect finds and can be easily altered for historical accuracy.

Pirate shirts are easy to duplicate with a white tee shirt too, check out this post.

Black Vest

Thrift stores usually have tons of vests, specifically that black vest pirate look.

Look in the men’s suiting section or women’s tops for a simple black one.

You can even cut off sleeves from a jacket or use a lace-up corset for extra flair and even a steampunk vibe.

A dark-colored vest, waistcoat, or lightweight jacket is essential for layering in cooler climates, so base your costume off comfort and layer up as needed.

Tall Black Boots

Search the shoe section for knee-high, over-the-calf and even thigh-high boots.

They don’t need to be pirate-perfect; even slouchy boots or faux leather will sell the look.

If you can’t find high black boots, shorter boots can work too or if boots aren’t available, use boot covers made from stretchable fabric found at fabric stores.

Wide Black Belt

Wide belts, find a simple wide belt at the local thrift store or buy one on Amazon.

Look for a chunky leather one, especially with a big buckle...or a plain one and add your own custom embellishments to it!

Bonus points if you find one with studs or gold details for that treasure-hunting flair.

Extra Accessories and Finishing Touches:

Scarf or sash to tie around your waist or head (Go for RED)
Costume jewelry--gold hoop earrings, bangles, amulets, red ruby, coins, etc.
Stuffed parrot to sew right on your shoulder (absolute bonus points for a real parrot!)
Eye Patch (made of leather and cord or felt)
Tricorn Hat (or other pirate hat--can also be made easily with felt and elastic, see this post here)
Frock Coats or similar pirate coat (depending on weather, this can be a great addition)
Toy sword from the kids’ section
Hook (can be made with aluminum foil or a coat hanger, see this post here)
Channel your inner Captain Jack Sparrow by layering trinkets, braids, bones, beads, and scarves
Add a treasure map prop if you’re feeling adventurous (see DIY Treasure Map post here)

A plain white shirt or a double breasted overcoat can be pirate-ifyed easily with some ruffle wide lace from the craft store.

Just stitch it to the inside of the wrist (of the coat or the shirt) for the perfect addition to any pirate costume DIY.

Be sure to go heavy on the eyeliner too!

Have fun with your hair and make up.

Remember, Pirates would typically wear casual clothes, known as "Slops" (think Mr. Smee from Peter Pan) when they were working on the ship...but they had fancy "plundering" clothes too, so when they boarded and looted another ship they would wear much finer clothes to drive home the piracy and insult in opulence and decadence.

So you can dress as simply or over the top as you want with a pirate costume--a combination of both is super great too.

PIRATE COSTUME COMES IN UNDER $25

This thrifted pirate costume was very inexpensive...and could have been cheaper, but I got really good quality items for much less than a cheap, flimsy store bought costume.

These wedge J-41 boots were only $9.99--and totally worth it because I wear them all the time.

The skirt cost about $4.99, the vest was $3.49 and the shirt was $6.99--but it was way too perfect with the lace up front and flowy behind!

So just about $25 for this thrifted Pirate outfit...of course you can shop with coupons (we get Military 25% discount at our thrift store) and find pieces from home that will work too!

If you find pieces, like the skirt or the boots that you will wear again, that's another bonus!

That's it!

Thrifting a pirate costume is not only fun, but it’s also a treasure hunt of its own.

From rummaging through racks of coats and boots to transforming simple fabrics into swashbuckling details, you’ll discover how easy it is to channel your inner pirate.

By combining thrifted finds with small touches from fabric stores or party stores, you can create a perfect pirate costume that feels both adventurous and personalized.

With a little imagination, your DIY ensemble will not only celebrate the golden age of piracy, but also reflect your unique creativity—making this thrifting project the real treasure map to costume success.