How to dress the parrrrt for a pirate murder mystery game
From Pirates of the Caribbean to Treasure Island, Hook to Blackbeard, there is so much pirate culture to choose from and a boatload of inspiration for the perfect costume. When you think about dressing up as a pirate, a crushed velvet coat, frilly shirt, and really big hat aren’t your only options. There are plenty of ways to get dress the parrt without breaking the bank.
In honour of our pirate themed murder mystery game, Murder on the Pearl of Wisdom, we have put together our top costume hacks to help you get into spirit (and perhaps the rum!) Just remember to have fun and be the pirate you truly Arrrr!
You don’t have to spend your whole treasure chest!
One common mistake people make is to think that you have to rent an expensive costume to really look the part. This is not true. While you can absolutely go that route if you want to, one of the key reasons we decided to create a pirate murder mystery was because making your own costume is a blast!
You can often cobble together a perfectly respectable pirate look from the clothes and objects you already own. A stripy t-shirt or makeshift bandana can be plenty to demonstrate that you are in costume, though in our experience a little extra effort goes a long way and will help you get into character.
Show off your sea legs
Your bottom half tends to be a rather simple part of your outfit, with shorts, capris or cut-off trousers giving a classic pirate look. When getting dressed up you can use what you have or you can get creative and make your own, there really is no such thing as going overboard! Cut off an old pair of trousers, add a colourful patch on the knee, and fill your pockets with all manner of useful items.
A pair of full length trousers or leggings tucked into boots is a commanding look, or go just the opposite with raggedy pyjama bottoms and bare feet! (Just watch out for splinters or crew mates in boots!) Get comfortable with your sea legs and
Top tips for top tops!
While you are likely to find a top suitable for a pirate in pretty much any thrift shop you go to, you can also find plenty of options in your own wardrobe or that of one of your crew. A white shirt with the right belt can work wonders, whether you go fitted with ruffles or over-sized and jaunty.
Depending on your character, and old t-shirt can be artfully torn to show the wear of life at sea. You can also go more colourful or dramatic depending on the kind of pirate you want to be. A fitted jacket can have you looking tip top while a long buttoned coat can give the impression of a more proper pirate.
Sort out your crow’s nest
You can go as fancy as you like with your hair. (Even rope together a couple of sea turtles!) Chuck some rollers in and go for impressive curls a la Captain Hook, wear a wig, or go for the sea tousled look and don’t brush it at all! Or grab a scarf/tea towel/scrap of cloth and go for a classic pirate’s bandana look instead.
Do it prop-erly
Your home can be a treasure trove of suitable pirate props, from repurposing the cardboard inner of your kitchen paper to use as a telescope to makeshift ‘weapons’ to wield. Scour your house for anything that looks like it could go on a ship. If you are hosting the pirate murder mystery, get your room ship shape with plenty of wooden furniture, well draped sheets, and lots of pirate fashion.
With a little imagination you can transform anything into a pirate prop, and scavenging in a charity shop will usually lead to striking gold! With our Sisters Grimm mysteries you will find tons of fun extras like wine bottle labels to help you host your party prop-erly, and without any fuss.
The pirate is in the details
To truly nail the pirate look, you want to look, act, and feel like a pirate! Grab yourself one of our special pirate themed cocktails, a tankard of grog, or even just a couple of fingers of apple juice in a mug and drink like a pirate. Then get ready to shake yer booty with our rocking Spotify playlist.
Our top tip – clean out an empty bottle, stick one of our bespoke pirate bottle labels on and fill it with apple juice or something similar, so you can be swigging ‘rum’ all night long!
Having a prop like this in hand can help you keep up the act, and ensure that your head is in the game while convincing your crew mates that you are to be overlooked. Each of our characters comes with their own recommended outfit and props to give you an extra helping hook when sorting out your costume.
Check out our pirate themed mystery game
Murder on the Pearl of Wisdom is available to play now. With murder afloat, our host guide and character booklets will give you everything you need for a pirate themed night sure to make a splash. Go with your gut, have fun getting ready, and you are sure to be the best pirate we’ve ever heard of!
