Pirate costumes are a very popular choice when it comes to fancy dress, but what are the best accessories to go with them?

Not every buccaneer had a wooden leg, an eye patch and a parrot perched on his shoulder. With a little bit of research and some imaginative thinking you can soon come up with some far more original ideas than that.

Let's start with jewellery for instance. Anyone wearing pirate costumes are, essentially, villains. You want to show your badness in your overall appearance. You want people to know that you are a rebel and that you have no time for decency or convention. A display of nose-rings, earrings and tattoos will go brilliantly with your new 'bad boy' image. Don't worry; I am not trying to talk you into desecrating your face and body just for the sake of a fancy dress party. If you get on the internet and have a look at some websites you will soon find a choice of hundreds of clip-on facial piercings. Likewise, there is a huge selection of temporary tattoos that would go perfectly with any pirate costumes. There is no need to be concerned about looking too nasty, swashbucklers have a natural charm.

The golden rule, when thinking about any accessories to go with your outfit is to 'think bad'. You want people to be wary of you. You are a buccaneer and a criminal. Dress in a rugged and 'ready for trouble' style. Anyone remembering this when they are choosing which accessories to go with their pirate costumes are almost certainly onto a winner.

Another possibility is a bandanna. Many a swashbuckler has worn one of these over the years and they still look cool today. Maybe you even have an old scarf or piece of material lying around somewhere that could be used.

Beads worn in small plaits or dreadlocks can look really good with pirate costumes. Think about Captain Jack Sparrow in the popular series of adventure films. There are a lot of accessories that you might pick up for next to nothing. Again, use your imagination. What about hanging some old-fashioned looking keys from your belt on a piece of wire or string? Or perhaps you could get hold of an old pocket-watch chain to wear along with your waistcoat? There are all sorts of little touches that can be added to your outfit that will make it look so much more authentic. Even small things such as wearing a couple of leather strips (perhaps old boot laces) on your wrist can make all the difference.

Having a look at pictures of pirates from films and television can also give you some good ideas. Spending a little time on your computer could be rewarding and save you a lot of frustration.

If you really do find it difficult to think of anything to go with your outfit then try checking the websites of some fancy dress suppliers. Companies that sell pirate costumes usually tend to have a very good selection of bits and pieces to go with them.