By Story Star Publishing correspondent Jane Haynes

Of the many wonderful things that the reader of fantasy fiction can experience, the escape into another world of endless possibilities and adventure must be the greatest. Indeed, the beauty of watching fantasy fiction re-enacted on screen is seeing that world brought to life, and from that we can be truly inspired. In my opinion the very same goes for fashion; while some may deem the world of dark shades and skyscraper heels as fickle and straight-laced, fashion can sometimes be a whole lot of fun and just another artistic expression of creativity.

For this reason, this week’s feature is going to focus on the fun extremes of costume and uniform, and how we can be inspired to interlace them into the modern era. This week, we will be taking out style inspiration from Disney’s Pirates of Caribbean and the flamboyant attire of Captain Jack Sparrow. While some may raise their eyebrows at the inspiration for this article, when you break it down, it makes perfect sense. After all, pirates were a nomadic people; travelling the high seas and encountering foreign lands and the full spectrum of society was their way of life. Naturally then, their style was the essence of the eclectic Bohemian: a mélange of fabrics, colours, cuts and patterns inspired by the most diverse cultures of the world.

While pirates may be renowned for their unkempt appearances, Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl crew portray attire which is flamboyant and rich in culture – their clothing serves as significant a role as their treasure chests in recounting their many adventures. A pirate’s costume is a hodgepodge of influences and styles.

As well as the strong military influences apparent from tailed overcoats and peaked hats, the hallmarks of their overseas adventures are seen in their typically Oriental and Eastern garments: headbands and turbans, sashes and harem trousers in a range of extravagant fabrics and colours. Indigenous tribal influences can be found in their tribal jewellery and regalia.

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Taking fashion notes from a pirate like Jack Sparrow may sound a little extreme (or crazy!) but the typical pirate style – eclectic, bohemian and comprised of a diverse spectrum of styles from all over the globe – is the perfect inspiration for the more creative dresser among us.

1) For the dramatic, signature pirate look, focus your outfit around materials such as leather and suede, with a contrast of loose and fitted pieces. For a chic daytime look team structured skinnies and a waistcoat with a loose, bell-sleeved shirt and the signature buckled boots in knee-high or ankle height. Colder days will call for a double-breasted overcoat instead of the waistcoat but a striking, suede buttoned number will capture the boho pirate tone perfectly.

2) Given that we are still enjoying summer weather,  now is a great time to get the Eastern-inspired relaxed look which is the signature of the Black Pearl crew. Centring around the harem trousers, cropped or full-length, they are typically teamed with either a loose cotton blouse belted at the waist, or an off-the-shoulder shirt.

3) When it comes to the detail, focus on loose, open clothing and oversized pieces and then taper them to fit the female form with accessories such as belts and sashes. Embroidery, abstract patterns and buckles will give a distinctly bohemian slant to the look, while flourishes of lace-up detail and ruffle sleeve-ends give a more flamboyant finish.