They added a touch of class and a whole lot of glamor (and encouraged bathing.
Besides the fact that people thought it was bad luck to have a woman aboard a ship, the sailors all tended to not bathe at all and have gross teeth from scurvy and other issues.. Every tother sailor will want you to be their captain. Tie the red scarf around your neck so that it can flutter in the salty ocean air and slip on the white nautical cap with the cute blue edging.