Spats

**beloitpiper** · 27th May 08, 11:30 PM

I'm thinking of what I'll be wearing to the Milwaukee Highland Games on June 7th, and I want to wear a Cumming kilt. Nice thing is, it has matching argyle hose-tops. Bad thing is just that, they're hose tops. Do you think I could get away with wearing spats and my converted kilt jacket? Or should I just wear green hose? I'm a spats fan. Personally, I think I could rock the spats...but I respect you guys and your fashion tastes, so I want to know if you think it would be faux-pas, kitschy, ugly, corny, cheesy, goofy, awkward, costume-y, or any other thoughts you might have.

**KiltedKop45** · 27th May 08, 11:39 PM

I personally love spats, but only wear them wilst piping.
They really DO ROCK the outfit though.
Sounds like you are in a bit o a bind.

**James MacMillan** · 28th May 08, 12:41 AM

I haven't been to all that many highland games, so I can't really say what would be appropriate for the highland game that you are going to. However, at the games I have been to, I must say, I've seen every form of get-up imaginable. The attendees seem to break into two basic different groups. Those that have put on the kilt because they think they need to wear a kilt to a highland game, and those that wear the kilt as a normal piece of clothing……. Which group are you in?

Maybe a couple of other questions would help.

Is this a formal evening event? (I think argyle hose look really nice when worn with formal evening attire.)

Are you part of a pipe band? (Spats look really nice when it is part of a pipers band uniform.)

Would you wear spats if you were not wearing the kilt? (I find that if I just wear normal clothing with my kilts, I feel the most comfortable.)

If you weren’t wearing the kilt – what would you wear?

**beloitpiper** · 28th May 08, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

Maybe a couple of other questions would help.

Good idea.

Is this a formal evening event? (I think argyle hose look really nice when worn with formal evening attire.)

Ha, certainly not! Not enough throwing-of-heavy-things to be a formal event.

Are you part of a pipe band? (Spats look really nice when it is part of a pipers band uniform.)

Not this time. I'm going stag (that's a Clan Gordon joke).

Would you wear spats if you were not wearing the kilt? (I find that if I just wear normal clothing with my kilts, I feel the most comfortable.)

No. But I wouldn't wear a sgian dubh, hose, glengarry, or sporran either...

If you weren’t wearing the kilt – what would you wear?

Maybe some nice pants and shirt. Perhaps a sports jacket.

**Jack Daw** · 28th May 08, 03:32 AM

Wear 'em. We rarely get to so you might as well. I have a pair with black buttons and haven't worn them but once.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 28th May 08, 04:02 AM

In this day and age, spats just are not seen worn outside of a uniform. So unless you are wearing your pipe band uniform, In my opinion they'd look a bit out of place. If it were me, personally, I'd opt for the green hose, sans spats.

M

**JerseyLawyer** · 28th May 08, 05:31 AM

I'd wear the green hose. Spats are only really appropriate with military-style uniform. And I admit that I even hate it when bands wear anything less than No. 1 dress with spats.

In the interests of full disclosure, I'll mention that I loathe spats.

**Finn** · 28th May 08, 05:38 AM

I feel that that spats are appropriate only with the pipe band uniform. I think that they just wouldn't look right, no matter how dashing you are in the uniform.

**Clockwork John** · 28th May 08, 07:08 AM

Do you own tall boots? Doc Martens perhaps? You could probably get away with the hose tops if your boots were tall enough to conceal the fact that they were tops and not full hose, and then you wouldn't have to worry about looking out of place in spats.