Photo Courtesy of Madelynn Brooks
Each year, Tampa is taken over by pirates — or as we know, people who dress up in costumes and flood Tampa Bay's downtown streets for Gasparilla, a vibrant festival celebrating the mythical pirate José Gaspar and the founding of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.
Parades, parties, and the famous pirate ship sailing into the bay set the scene for this lively event. Female students from Florida State University led a revolution in the fashion surrounding this celebration.
In 2025, some women at Florida State aren’t just following tradition — they’re redefining it, creating outfits that combine sustainability, and an artistic way of self-expression.
Through sustainable fashion choices, upcycled clothing, and bold reinterpretations of the pirate theme, these women are putting their own unique stamp on the festival.
Recent years show that students are bringing aesthetics into the future — thanks to a growing interest in sustainable fashion and DIY creativity.
Senior marketing major Shawn Hamilton exemplifies these fashion choices. “I definitely took the pirate theme into account. I tried my best to stick with the main colors of black, red, and white. However, it was cold this year, so I knew I needed something warm. So, I went with red leather pants and a long-sleeve lace black shirt.”
Many students for this event went to Goodwill or Plato's Closet to find sustainable, locally sourced materials.
Hamilton emphasizes, “My outfit reflects my sustainability because I thrifted them from Plato’s Closet. I love thrifting and am very passionate about secondhand shopping. It also reflects my creativity based on the makeup I did. I did gold eyeshadow to match my accessories and did a heavy black wing to match the pirate theme.”
The influence of these women's fashion extends beyond individual outfits. But often there is talk about women's clothes being sexualized at festivals. While interviewing Hamilton, the question was posed: what was her take on that at Gasparilla?
Hamilton responded, “My take on that is that women have advanced far passed that. There were women covered head to toe and women dressed in a tiny skirt and crop top. I feel that now women dress however they feel confident. I also think that it should not matter what women wear as long as they feel good about it.”
Some students may say this is a form of art, but people may argue that female college students’ fashion at Gasparilla challenges old ideas about how women should dress.
Hamilton shares her point of view on this topic: “Women’s fashion at Gasparilla challenges old ideas about how women should dress because as fashion evolves so do we. Gasparilla has been going on for a long time and as the years go by women dress how they feel confident.”
“I wore an outfit that covered most of my body, but I felt confident in what I was wearing. Last year I wore a short skirt and fishnets and felt very confident as well. It’s all about confidence in my opinion. I truly believe in ‘look good, feel good’ and however one interprets that,” Hamilton continued.
It’s a celebration of Tampa’s local arts scene, with students taking the reins and bringing it into the world of fashion.
For many FSU women, Gasparilla fashion goes beyond creativity — it’s about self-expression and empowerment. It’s a space where they can redefine beauty standards and create outfits that reflect their values.
Gasparilla’s vibrant spirit of rebellion and freedom resonates with these students, who use their outfits to express their individuality.
Hamilton says, "Gasparilla fashion helps challenge traditional beauty standards by allowing everyone to dress in a similar theme but still being able to make it their own. Everyone also dresses in whatever style they feel comfortable in while interpreting the theme however they see fit.”
This sense of personal empowerment is what sets the 2025 Gasparilla fashion trends apart. Several women at Florida State University are at the forefront of this shift, taking Gasparilla’s traditional pirate aesthetic and reimagining it through a modern lens.
One thing is for certain: as the women attending FSU travel their way to Tampa to show off their fashion creations, the future of Gasparilla fashion will always grow even more bold.
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