Question of the day

[make_your_move]

Black and white stripes.... if they're horizontal they mean 'prisoner'. If they're vertical they mean 'pirate'. Why?

Comments

[belthazar-b.livejournal.com]

Would you like the lengthy historical based answer to this or just the piratical 'ARgh!...Pirates!'?:)

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

The historical based answer (for both if possible). I'm genuinely curious.

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Darn -- and I had a comedy answer all lined up.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Go for it.

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

It's probably anti-climactic at this point.

That's because it requires a minimum of tailoring for them to go from one profession to it's natural successor.

::rimshot::

I'll be here all week...

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Try the veal and don't forget to tip the waiter :P

That was pretty funny!

[quicktongue.livejournal.com]

Tip the veal and try the waitress!

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Hey sweetie ... did you get my email?

[quicktongue.livejournal.com]

I certainly did, and I'm just about to respond to it.

[belthazar-b.livejournal.com]

A prisoner is often given horizontal or vertical stripes so that they can be differentiated from the general populace and identified as a convict in the event of escape. Prisoners have long been given stripes both vertical and horizontal for this reason.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_uniform

Vertical stripes on pirates are, atleast in part, completely theatrical. Historically, pirates would wear whatever clothing they could get their hands on that was both comfotable and loose enough to work the rigging of the ships with ease. Often the only fabric available to a sailor, especially a pirate who was by and large living on the fringes of 'civilized' society, came from a worn out sail or some old bedding. When pillow ticking or other similar material was used to make clothing there would sometimes be stripes woven into the fabric, resulting in both vertical and horizontal stripes. Pirates and sailors alike would sometime paint stripes on their pants or shirts with paint if they were seeking to breakup the rather dull clothing that was typically worn.
The idea of brightly or boldly striped slops worn by pirates has come about largely do to early theatrical productions such as the Pirates of Penzance, with piratical clothing that was over exagerated. There is no historical significane to vertical (or horizontal) stripes on piratical clothing. Stripes of any sort were more of an exception than a rule, and were typically blue stripes in pillow ticking or virginia cloth materials.

Sorry babe, ya did ask for the lengthy answer though.:)

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Can you please reference the pirate explanation?

Thanks for answering though!

[belthazar-b.livejournal.com]

This has mostly come from a smattering of research and conversations with historical seamstresses over the years. I've done a good deal of research about historically correct piratical clothing, and I can't nail down any specific sources with doing some research. I might be able to lookup some documentation if you need it though.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Actually part of the question was why vertical for pirate and horizontal for inmate?

theory:

[sunnidae]

If, when Pirates of Penzance (or whoever used it first and made the meme spread) first came out, horizontal stripes were already in use by inmates, the costume-designers would've used vertical so as to differentiate. :)

Maybe.

And horizontal for inmates so the guards could play tic-tac-toe through the bars? I dunno. :)

[belthazar-b.livejournal.com]

Both horizontal and vertical were used by both pirates and inmates in various places and times. It was not set that inmates wore horizontal and pirates wore vertical. Thats what I was trying to say about pirates wearing stripes, it had no reasoning for it other than the fabric they used happen to ahve stripes, be they horizontal and vertical.

[mgs-naughtycat.livejournal.com]

Unless, of course, you were Calico Jack, and chose to wear outlandish stuff just for the name :)

[lil-kevin.livejournal.com]

The pirates are out there in the real world meeting new people, pillaging new ports of call, ravashing women. The vertical stripes are slimming and hide that Rum gut that they seem to have tendancey to develop.

Meanwhile in prison the guards arestealing all the good food and leaving you the scraps. The horizontal stripes make the inmates look fatter. It helps keep away the sense of starvation and prevents rioting. ;-)

[musicman.livejournal.com]

I vote for your version, seems most logical. I think that other fellow was making up his answer.

[dicea.livejournal.com]

Referees also wear vertical stripes.

There is a joke in there somewhere, but I can't find it so I'd best go take a nap.

[bkleber.livejournal.com]

I knew horizontal stripes meant "prisoner" (or bright orange jumpsuit) but I never heard of the pirate stripes. I guess I really do live under a rock....

[pyrategrrl.livejournal.com]

they are there to my my butt look big. :P *Giggle* (see icon)

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

And here I thought it was just the horizontal hold on my TV was shot...

Stripes?

[crystal-coyote.livejournal.com]

Easy.

Pirates need to look better on camera and the horizontal stripes are soooo thinning...

Actually, I think part of it also has to do with the fact that many crew members were former navy and the vertical stripes were part of some seaman's uniforms (which they kept after discharge).