Create Your Own Jack Sparrow Pirate Costume for Halloween

Thanks to Johnny Depp, pirates are sexy again. That means that pirate costumes are a hot commodity and in particular, Jack Sparrow costumes are hot. Disney has released their own Jack Sparrow pirate costume, but it doesn't look quite as good as it could. You can easily create your own version of the same costume at home and be the loopy drunken pirate this Halloween.

Let's start with the clothing because a Jack Sparrow wouldn't be complete without the right clothing. Do yourself a favor and spend some time rummaging through the racks at the local thrift store. Sparrow wears a lot of loose fitting clothing and since you'll never wear these clothes again, you might as well save a little money.

Jack Sparrow wears grey pants that stop just under the knee. Remedy this problem by rolling your pant legs up to the right length. If you really want to go for authenticity, have four gold buttons sewed onto the side of each leg. You also need an oversized white button up shirt, but make sure you leave the top few buttons undone. Look for a shirt with sleeves longer than your own arms.

Top off the white shirt with a long vest in a dark blue or purple color. The vest should be worn unbuttoned and the longer you can get, the better. You can also skip the vest since Depp didn't always wear one.

You also need a long, dark jacket preferably one with military accents. You might be surprised to find these in your thrift store, albeit in the woman's clothing. Similar jackets were quite the rage during the 1980s and you just might find a passable one hiding out on a rack next to someone's old prom dress.

Finish off your pirate costume with a silver and green ring like the one Sparrow wore in the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie. You can also add a fake musket or really go the Jack Sparrow route by bringing along a jug of "alcohol". Any plastic or glass jug will work and even if you leave it empty, it will help you get into character.

To recreate Depp's hair you'll need to track down some clip on braids, usually found at Halloween costume stores. Also look for a dreadlock wig and clip the braids into place. After you've slipped on the wigs and braids, tie a long length of red fabric around your forehead and let the edges hang loose. You'll need another length of multi-colored fabric to use as Sparrow's sash. All you need to do is wrap it around your waste, tie a knot on the side and you're set.

A Jack Sparrow costume wouldn't be complete without the facial hair and makeup. Depp has a goatee and mustache in the movies, both of which you can find in Halloween stores. You can even get clip on braids that fit onto your goatee to really capture the look. Last comes the eyeliner and Depp wears a lot of it. Ask one of your female friends to line your upper and lower eyelid with black eyeliner and feather out the edges slightly to give you a cat's eye look.

Once you hit that next Halloween party, there's no one who won't know who you are this year.