Spats and Glengarry

[Livercunian]

Hi guys!
I wore white (Blancoed) Highlander Spats with a diced Glengarry,Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Kilt,Woollen Hunting Waistcoat,Harris Tweed Jacket,Black & Red Argyll Hose Tops and Army Issue Highland Brogues.
Thoughts please?

[Chas]

Up to you, of course, but I don't like spats for civilian wear - unless you live on an unmade gravel track.

Sorry.

[MacLowlife]

Greetings,

You have achieved an interesting look. I think the combination of tweed, waistcoat and tartan is nice, though I prefer a shorter jacket. Your Saxon coat obscures both your sporran and the better part of your pleats in the rear. One doesn't see many civilians wearing white spats on these pages. Are those diced hose or hose tops?

I have a series of collectible "figures of speech" cards that came in cigarette packs. There is one of pretty dubious political correctness which depicts a man shooting whilst wearing spats and a Glengarry. Things have changed since those cigarette cards came out and many people wear the kilt in ways that they didn't before. Still, I think you have perhaps one step too many military items without being in uniform.

Others may differ and my opinion should not change your own opinions, but I think I would leave the spats for some other occasion.

Thanks for posting

[Nathan]

Since you asked for thoughts, mine are as follows:

Pros:
1) I like the Glengarry. It's a nice fit and I like that you wear it on a jaunty angle.
2) I like the waistcoat a lot.
3) I like the necktie.
4) I like the facial hair style. Works really well with the Glengarry and the overall look.

Cons:
1) I'm not a fan of the long, Saxon-cut, tweed jacket with the kilt as mentioned above. A jacket cut to be worn with the kilt would be preferable.
2) I'm not a fan of spats with civilian wear or diced hose with day wear. Diced hose (especially in this colour scheme) are a very formal look and don't pair so well with tweed. Spats and hose tops are a military or pipe band dressed as military look that never really took hold in civilian wear even at a formal level. As I mentioned, the look is even more out of place with day wear. I recommend a pair of simple plain coloured wool hose like perhaps a lovat green, loden or oatmeal.
3) To each his own, but I'm not such a fan of the semi-dress sporran. If I were to wear one, it would be paired with a black barrathea Argyll jacket. I had a formal prince charlie style sporran which was losing fur and tassels that I converted to a semi-dress. It was neither formal nor day appropriate so I eventually traded it for a nice brown leather day sporran and couldn't be happier with the decision.

Keep on kilting!

[Tobus]

First of all, thanks for posting the photo! I always like to see folks experimenting with things like this and having the intestinal fortitude to throw it out there for others to dissect. There's a lot about your look that I like, and I say that to differentiate between looking great and being 'correct' or 'traditional', which is where these discussions often go. Keeping in mind that we're not in the traditional kilt forum, and you're free to deviate from established traditions, you may wear it however you like. And if you like that look, by all means, keep experimenting with it.

I do have to agree with the others on the jacket. Saxon-cut jackets just don't work with a kilt, either aesthetically or practically. A kilt-cut jacket really changes the visual dynamics to an extent way beyond what you'd expect.

The Glengarry is a matter of personal choice. I don't personally care for them, but they are an absolutely viable choice for civilian wear, even with the dicing.

Love the tie and waistcoat, and the kilt looks like it's a good length. The sporran is even OK, although it's in that confusing "semi-dress" category.

OK, on the hose and spats. As others have said, diced hose and spats are pretty much a military or band uniform thing these days. Oh how I wish it weren't so, because I love the way they look! Spats really add visual interest below the kilt. And while it is true that they never caught on as part of traditional civilian wear, it's not like they were never worn outside of military uniforms. As the image below shows of Sir Colin Campbell, the Marquis of Breadalbane, K.G., "The Queen's Lord Steward" (from 1894), spats can really add a touch of class with daywear, even with plain-coloured hose.

But of course, there's quite a difference between what he could swing back then and what you or I could swing today. Given the lack of evidence that this was ever common for civilians, and even if it had been, today it is seen as a bit of an anachronistic costume. Which is fine if you're into that sort of thing, as long as you are aware of it. I really do wish they would make a comeback, as they'd at least save my shoes from most of the dust and dirt that we have around here.

[Sean D]

I wear spats and hose tops in a band setting and I must say I am not a fan of the white hose and brogues look at all . I am aware that convention is that spats are military etc however I have seen many pictures and colour plates etc where spats are worn with civilian dress and I am of the understanding that spats were worn with civilian dress in years gone by . It is possible that the military adopted and adapted them for their use , however spats were once fashionable with the wearing of trousers as well. I am not suggesting that a military band doublet be worn with civvie dress but I must say I think spats look neat as worn on both pictures . Hope my opinion does not offend anyone just my few cents worth . Thanks

[Tobus]

It is possible that the military adopted and adapted them for their use , however spats were once fashionable with the wearing of trousers as well.

Indeed they were fashionable with trousers. But were they ever part of the Highland civilian tradition? I have only ever seen a few random examples, while the vast majority of photographic examples show no spats being worn. It seems the conclusion would be that they never really caught with Highland dress outside the military.

[McMurdo]

Thanks for the photo and welcome to the forum. As others have said the tweed jacket while I am sure is nice is really not cut for the kilt and thus does not show to the best advantage. To my eye a Saxon jacket with a kilt tends to make the entire outfit look slovenly. I also would go for with a day sporran rather than a semi dress. As for the hose-tops and spats I think the big problem is that they are normally seen as part of a uniform and not generally seen with civilian Highland wear.

I know this sounds like quite a bit however I am certain it would be a more put together outfit with a few small changes, I would switch out the jacket for a tweed Argyll that is cut for the kilt. Forget the hose tops and spats unless they are part of a uniform and simply wear a pair of kilt hose, and change up the semi dress sporran for a day wear sporran. Please take a look at the 1 kilt 10 looks thread here:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

I think the Glengarry looks great by the way.

[Kilted Cole]

Okay, so there is the obvious note on what everyone else has told you about the jacket, so I'll just say I agree with them and lets move one.
Sir, you are one of the few (in my opinion) you can make the glengarry look like it belongs on you. I've tried them and I just don't have the build or the frame for them, so you have my envy on that one. The sporran, its nice, however, I wonder if a simple plane day sporran in black or brown would work better, That falls completely under personal taste, and the one your wearing is very nice and appropriate.
Diced hose and spats.....I am what I feel a minority in this forum, I wear my white and red diced hose tops for day wear. why, because they are functional, they can add a wee bit of flair while contrasting to the kilt that I am wearing, and I can put on my standard socks for warmer days when I don't wish to put excessive wear and tear on my nicer hose. I also am a fan of wearing my Argyle hose for day wear, usually dressier day wear though. Which is what your outfit would fall under for me. Spats, I'm a huge fan of spats and civilian wear, why one might ask, for me I see the aspect of keeping gravel or other debris out of your shoes. I'm not a fan of the military white spats though. you can probably find black or other on different military surplus sites or American Civil War re-enactment sites for those. Just because most don't wear something, should not prevent one from developing their own taste and sense of style. Remember, you're the one paying for these clothes, not everyone else.

[Just Hugh]

I love the look of the spats! Yes, one can find old photos and no current ones with them, but I think it's a style that could make a comeback if people wanted them to. Many traditionally "dandy" styles of dress are coming into fashion like pocket squares and bow ties, so I don't think I'd be surprised to see men wearing spats in New York City in the near future. Kilt styles can evolve along with trousered styles, or separately. With the other traditional elements of this: dicing and waist coat, there is a nod to tradition, with a modernity that can be considered your personal style. I think you mostly pull it off. People will comment, but that is how trends are set.

Having said that, the jacket really is just not correct. It's not a matter of style, like the decision to wear a waist coat or not, it's a matter of tailoring, like wearing a suit jacket with shorts that don't match.

Get a proper kilt jacket, or have that one tailored and continue with the rest. I'll be right behind you with the spats when they catch on!