get the look: space pirate fashion

I recently watched this episode of Star Trek, and it made me think: really, why wouldn’t you want to dress like a space pirate? Seriously: the clothes are comfortable and practical to move in, but still look totally badass.

Some space pirates of note (click to enbiggen):

• Okona (from the episode)



• Han Solo



• mal reynolds/anyone from Firefly



• riddick



• many, many anime characters
• Honorable mention since he’s not a space pirate but whatever: Rufio

Note that these are all dudes. But Zoe from Firefly proves that women can also pull off pretty much this exact look:

See also Cation Design’s Genderbent Han Solo costume. This zombie space pirate is also pretty good.

So what makes one look like a space pirate? Probably most of all a swagger and a devil-may-care attitude. A touch of cyberpunk, a touch of Old West. But if we want to get specific, it pretty much comes down to this:

• vests
• gun belts
• BOOTS
• fwooshy coat

All of which I can totally make. This could totally be adapted to a streetwear look (at least, streetwear for me. Maybe not for other people) or done up as a full-on costume. I’m not sure which way I want to go. Probably both! Costume details in everyday clothing can definitely make them more fun. In any case, I am a big nerd and enjoy plotting sewing based on science fiction or random media (comic books are a big one) rather than the latest issue of Vogue.

I’ve been pondering a lot about the balance of practical sewing vs. fun crazy sewing. On the one hand it’s awesome to use my sewing skills to get basics that really fit, but it’s boring to only sew those things. I’m definitely planning more projects on the “unique and possibly super weird” side coming up. The line between “regular” clothes and costume pieces in my wardrobe is often kind of blurry, so it doesn’t need to be totally either-or. And since I sewed a lot of basics – t-shirts, underwear, etc. – in 2013, it’s probably about time for something more frivolous!

MVPAK

Shortly after having a baby, my husband Tom and I realized that we would need to leave the house with said baby. And we’d need to take various supplies with us. Tom, objecting to the term “diaper bag”, suggested that the requisite container be dubbed “the pirate adventure kit”.

As our baby has gotten older, the quantity of strictly necessary gear has shrunk, to the point where I’m usually just better off stuffing a few diapers, wipes and a toy in my purse. But this leads to bits of baby detritus everywhere.

Enter the MVPAK, or Minimum Viable Pirate Adventure Kit, a bag designed to go inside other bags and keep things more or less organized. Of course it needs a skull and crossbones. (Note for those not in the tech industry: I am making a joke about this.)

Plan:

And execution (shown with diaper and wipes for authenticity or something):

Note the nautical theme on the inside pocket fabric. Sorry for some crappy pictures. I think the baby was gnawing on my phone and fogged the lens?

There are a million tutorials for this kind of zippered pouch online, so I won’t bother with specifics. Sewing little bits of fabric over the ends of the zipper does seem to make for a nicer finish. The pockets are sized to fit baby wipes and/or a plastic dinosaur for chewing on.

It’s all stashbusted. The zipper was from something or other, the outside is a fat quarter I bought for some unknown project, the lining is leftovers from these pants, and the inside pocket is a scrap from a pair of boxers I made in the summer of 2007. The fusible webbing and scrap of black fabric for the skull and crossbones are just the kind of thing I always have around. It totally fits June’s stashbusting sewalong theme, being a container for things.

Plus pirates are awesome.