Pirate Clothing in the Golden Age vs. Today’s Piratecore

Imagine stepping onto a creaky ship deck in the 1700s — salt in the air, a cutlass by your side, and a dripping-with-drama coat swirling in the wind. Now imagine scrolling through TikTok in 2025, seeing someone rock that exact same vibe — but with eyeliner, platform boots, and a steampunk twist.

Welcome to the wild world of pirate fashion, where Golden Age authenticity meets modern-day piratecore aesthetic — and trust us, it’s more than just a costume.

In this blog, we’re throwing open the treasure chest on how real pirates used to dress, what today’s fashion rebels are wearing, and how categories like Bridgerton dresses, cottagecore dresses, pirate shirts, medieval pants, Scottish kilts, pirate coats, and steampunk fashion are creating a whole new fashion wave.

🌊 The Golden Age of Piracy (1650s–1730s): Not Just a Fantasy

Let’s get one thing straight — real pirates weren’t always as glamorous as Hollywood makes them out to be. Their clothing was functional, rugged, and often stolen (duh). But if you were high-ranking or successful, you definitely had the drip.

🧥 Pirate Coats: Drama + Authority

In the Golden Age, pirate captains wore frock-style coats — long, flared, and heavy, with oversized cuffs, embossed buttons, and rich fabrics. They weren’t just about flair. These coats signaled power, wealth, and danger. Plus, they kept you warm on stormy seas.

👉 Today’s piratecore coats borrow this same silhouette but swap out thick wool for breathable velvet, suede, or faux leather — all the boldness, none of the bulk.

👕 Pirate Shirts: Loose, Layered & Legendary

Back then, pirate shirts were lightweight and billowy. Mostly made from linen or cotton, they allowed mobility during fights or while climbing ropes. The lace-up neckline was a flex and a way to cool off.

👉 Modern piratecore brings back the lace-up pirate shirt but styles it with corsets, belts, or tucked into skirts and kilts. Iconic gender-neutral fashion moment? Absolutely.

🧑‍🌾 Medieval Pants: Functional Pirate Essentials

Tight pants on a ship? Nah, real pirates weren’t risking it. They wore loose medieval-style trousers with drawstrings — easy to move in, easy to repair, and often cuffed at the ankle to avoid snags.

👉 Piratecore stylists love these today too, but with higher-quality stitching, deeper tones (black, maroon, forest green), and a more tailored look.

🏴‍☠️ Piratecore in 2025: When Romance Meets Rebellion

Okay, now let’s talk Piratecore 2.0 — the trend that’s exploded on TikTok, Pinterest, and beyond. Piratecore isn’t about copying history; it’s about channeling the energy. It's giving:

Main character on a ship.

Escaped royalty turned sea rebel.

Fairytale forest witch with a dagger.

👗 Bridgerton Dresses: Regal, but Make It Pirate

Piratecore and regencycore are basically soulmates. Picture a flowy, puff-sleeved Bridgerton dress in pastel blue — now layer it with a corset, boots, and a pirate coat. Boom. You just became the captain’s muse and the actual captain.

Our Bridgerton-style dresses at The Pirate Dressing bring romance and edge — the perfect hybrid.

🌼 Cottagecore Dresses: Forest Nymph Energy

When you blend cottagecore and piratecore, you get a soft, dreamy version of pirate fashion — perfect for landlocked rebels. Think vintage florals, lace-up waists, puff sleeves — worn with leather belts, cloaks, and pirate boots.

Our cottagecore dresses aren’t just for fairy circles and flower picking — they’re made for sea witches and runaways too.

🧑‍🎤 Steampunk for Men and Women: Piratecore’s Techie Cousin

Let’s be honest — piratecore wouldn’t hit as hard without a sprinkle of steampunk. The gears, the goggles, the Victorian drama? All of it fits perfectly with pirate aesthetics.

At The Pirate Dressing, we blend steampunk for men and women with piratecore seamlessly — think corsets with holsters, long coats with brass buttons, high boots, and top hats that scream "mad inventor meets sea rogue."

🛡️ Unconventional Piratecore Pieces That Slay

🏴 Scottish Kilts: The Surprise Hit

Real talk — Scottish kilts weren’t pirate-exclusive, but many seafaring rebels were Scottish. And let’s be honest, kilts give major drama. In today’s piratecore, kilts are worn by everyone — styled with pirate shirts, vests, or even steampunk harnesses.

They’re non-binary, non-basic, and totally badass.

🎩 Accessories That Anchor The Look

It’s not piratecore without the extras. Belts, boots, wide-brimmed hats, corsets, chokers, vests — it’s about layering textures and time periods to create a look that feels you.

Want to feel like a pirate queen on Monday and a steampunk bounty hunter on Tuesday? Go for it. Piratecore = no rules.

🔥 Why Piratecore is Blowing Up Right Now

Gen Z is rejecting fast fashion, craving uniqueness, and embracing all things mystical, historical, and rebellious. Piratecore is:

Gender-fluid 🏳️‍🌈

Creative 🖌

Empowering 💥

Aesthetic AF 📸

Whether you’re dressing up for a renaissance fair, creating a fantasy Instagram reel, or just wanna feel fierce while working from home — piratecore is the mood.

⚓ Set Sail with Piratecore from The Pirate Dressing

At The Pirate Dressing, we don’t just sell clothes — we sell the fantasy. We design piratecore and fantasy fashion that fits your aesthetic, your vibe, your adventure.

Explore our top piratecore categories:

👗 Bridgerton Dresses – For the sea queen in you

🌼 Cottagecore Dresses – Soft meets savage

👕 Pirate Shirts – The OG essential

👖 Medieval Pants – Comfortable, historical, and fierce

🏴 Scottish Kilt – The rebel’s choice

🧥 Pirate Coat – Bring the drama

⚙️ Steampunk for Men & Steampunk for Women – Invent your pirate persona

🎯 Whether you’re heading to a cosplay event, building your witchy wardrobe, or manifesting main-character energy — we’ve got you. Start building your piratecore look at ThePirateDressing.com and join the crew.