Houston Chronicle Article

[Captain Morgana Bloodheart]

I happen'd across this article this mornin'

'Tis a wee bit inaccurate..they called Depp and Bloom "Corsairs" but

a pretty good little article.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/h...eatures/2707328

Pirate fashion school: learning the 3 'Arrrs'

By LIZ EMBRY

Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Stylish landlubbers are sailing into stormy fashion waters, now that pirate motifs are the latest style statement. And no, we don't mean wooden legs and eye patches.

Instead, skull and crossbones and Jolly Roger flags are adorning sportswear, T-shirts and accessories. Cargo magazine's July / August issue includes a page devoted to the trend. The men's magazine even claims that "the skull is the smiley face of our day."

Maybe the uptick in seven-seas-inspired styles is linked to the surge of pirates in recent pop culture. Pirates of the Caribbean heartthrobs Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are downright sexy corsairs. This summer's goofy comedy Dodgeball featured Steve the Pirate, a lovable character with a firm grasp of the pirate vernacular. And who can forget mainstays like feel-good party pirate Captain Morgan or Rolling Stones rocker and quasi-pirate Keith Richards?

Entertainment Weekly reported recently that rocker Dave Navarro has been spotted wearing a skull-emblazoned jacket by Libertine. The hipster-friendly men's and women's clothing label has a fan base that includes the likes of Mick Jagger and Brad Pitt. Libertine's fall collection features sweaters and jackets bearing skull and crossbones.

High-end accessories include Prada's leather skull-and-crossbones key chain, $138, available at www.neimanmarcus.com. The upscale Ralph Lauren Purple Label dresses up the look with a necktie that's accented with tiny skulls for $135.

But you don't have to drop a load of hard-earned doubloons to claim this trend. For a girly spin, Urban Outfitters carries a rhinestone skull and crossbones pin for $16, available at www.urbanoutfitters.com. The store also carries a T-shirt that reads "Pirates arr cool." The teen-friendly chain Hot Topic has wristbands that say, "I ¢¾ Pirates" for $2.99. The store's vast T-shirt selection includes designs with slogans like "Ninjas and Pirates do not get along" and "Just a pirate chasing booty."

For fashionable pirate wannabes who want to walk the line between merely looking like a conniving cap'n of the sea and living the pirate life, the voyeuristic "Talk Like a Pirate Day" takes place Sept. 19. The unofficial holiday's official Web site, www.talklikeapirate.com, has a bevy of booty for sale. Items include pirate-themed T-shirts for the entire family and cheeky unmentionables like men's boxer shorts and women's thongs.

Arrr!

[Black Hearted Pearl]

The teen-friendly chain Hot Topic has wristbands that say, "I ¢¾ Pirates" for $2.99. The store's vast T-shirt selection includes designs with slogans like "Ninjas and Pirates do not get along" and "Just a pirate chasing booty."

Personally, the article is little late on the fashion trend. Pirate inspired clothing hit hot last year on the fashion world's runway. As far as Hot Topic being a teen friendly place...it's more like a Goth friendly place than a "teen friendly" place IMO.

Personally, I like to wear subtle indications of a pirate. That way I can wear it to places like the PTO meeting. Only if someone looks really closely, do they figure out they have been talking to a pirate.

[piratelassie]

Personally, I like to wear subtle indications of a pirate. That way I can wear it to places like the PTO meeting. Only if someone looks really closely, do they figure out they have been talking to a pirate.

aye, subtlety is a very good thing.Like piratey accessories with a "normal" outfit. Can you imagine blatantly piratey clothing at a prep school? I've tried. Doesn't go over so well, even though its in dress code technically. But then it's always nice ta just break out the whole kit when situation permits...