Hollywood found the ultimate treasure chest with Pirates of the Caribbean. Jack Sparrow and his dreadlocks are now found at every door during Halloween and every costume party. And for good reason pirates give the sexy allure of adventure, danger, and excitement on the high seas! Command your own ship, invade merchant vessels with cannons booming, overpower military galleons (just to be brazen), and plunder gold and goods. Not to mention doing all this among the backdrop of hot tropical skies, blue ocean, white sandy beaches and hidden treasure. Honestly, who doesn't dream the life of a pirate? The Hollywood version, of course!

Pirates have enjoyed a glorious renaissance in the last few years, and costume manufacturers have jumped to the demand with creative, elaborate and sexy costumes. From authentic Jack Sparrow outfits to lacy female captains and lusty tavern wenches, you'll be sure to recruit yourself for a glamorous life on a stolen vessel, if just for one evening. So, what selection is available in the marketplace? Pretty well anything you can think of! Here's a few ideas to get you started:

Buccaneer: Historically, buccaneers are closer to the modern romantic fantasy of a pirate: the English crown paid escaped slaves, rebels, mercenaries and rogues as licensed privateers to fight against Englands shifting enemies, from the Spanish to the French to the Dutch. Attacking ships and plundering towns, buccaneers lived an independent and even democratic life, voting for strong captains and dividing the spoils. Many ran pirate bases and some retired as wealthy merchants. Henry Morgan is one of the most famous, who became a wealthy plantation owner, was knighted in England, and even became deputy governor of Jamaica!

As a buccaneer, a good look is a puffy white or black shirt, overcoat, sash, black boots, a sword and an eye patch. Buccaneers had their own type of sword, the boucan, a long knife with a curved end, originally used for hunting.

Captain Jack Sparrow: Your costume will include a white puffy shirt, a vest, sash and belts, and boot covers. Dress in loose blue trousers and brown leather boots. Add a black overcoat, buy a (plastic) cutlass and scabbard, and a pirate hat with attached beaded braids. Grow a mustache and goatee you can braid, and complete your outfit with makeup and mascara. Why fight when you can negotiate?

Elizabeth Swann: A perfectly ordinary aristocrat, until pirates stole her away! Look for a flowing white gown costume with gold embroidery and petticoat. Add a red admiral's jacket and hide a dagger to show that you're no ordinary damsel in distress.

Tavern Wench: You can find a large variety of pirate wench costumes. Common themes include ass-kicking ankle boots, a kerchief headpiece or pirate's hat, and a short skirt or dress. A tip for wearing a skirt is to wear a petticoat underneath to create a sexy flare effect in the skirt. Use your wild imagination to add accessories, such as gaudy jewelry, an eye patch, scarves or sashes, and long jacket. Wear a sword to keep back the drunken, lusty sailors, but take their plundered gold!

Lacy Fantasy Pirate: What happens when you mix a pirate with a haughty, aristocratic woman? A sexy, lacy pirate queen! Put on a lacy dress, a hide corset, and top with a pirate hat full of lace and feathers. Add gems and rubies, knee-high boots and a toy pistol, and you got a lady whos not afraid of the high seas!

Pirate Captain: If youve just read the above about buccaneers, you now know that many pirates were hired by the English to harass the Spanish and other competing European powers in the Caribbean. The burgeoning British Empire even sent actual naval officers to aid in pirate raids! As a commissioned naval officer, you wear a red jacket with gold accents. However, youre also a pirate, with the black boots, gruff beard, hat and eye patch!