Spats

[Nick]

Spats have been discussed a bit before, but I've got a couple new pictures that I think may add to the discussion.

This is a page from a 1917 men's fashion catalog. Obviously none of these gents are wearing kilts, but notice the man in the knickerbockers. He's wearing tall spats. These are different from the spats pipers wear in that they cover less of the shoe, and the top is even, not higher in back than in the front.


These were on eBay several months ago. I didn't buy them because most spats on eBay don't fit me, but if I can find a supplier of boxcloth, I think I might make a pair for myself to wear with my kilt. I'm currently working on a pair, not quite as tall, lined cotton and without the buckles, in a dark gray.


I think the usual 1920s ankle spats are best worn with trousered suits, but I do think that tall spats like these would look smashing with a kilt.

[beloitpiper]

Some piper's spats go higher than you think...

[Nervous Jock]

Spats are the anti christ

[macwilkin]

Those resemble military canvas leggings that the US Army was wearing from the Spanish-American War to the beginning of the First World War. They were adopted again in the 1930's and worn during WWII.

T.

[Nick]

The military gaiters used by the US military covered the opening of the shoe, but they did not cover the top of the shoe like spats do.

Nervous Jock, care to elaborate?

[macwilkin]

The military gaiters used by the US military covered the opening of the shoe, but they did not cover the top of the shoe like spats do.

Nervous Jock, care to elaborate?

Hence my wording that they resemble military leggings.

T.

[Nick]

Sorry, missed that

[Nervous Jock]

The military gaiters used by the US military covered the opening of the shoe, but they did not cover the top of the shoe like spats do.

Nervous Jock, care to elaborate?

Having been in a highland Battalion i've spent many hours blancoing and starching spats, having buttons pinging off them 5 minutes before a parade or having to scrub them clean.

nothing quite matches having to clean them in a bus coming back to Scotland after you've been on parade at the lords mayors show in London behind the Life Guards when you have to go on Rememberance parade the following day.

Let alone the insanity that is white spats & black buttons

how we managed to paint half the globe pink wearing footwear like this i'll never know

[Nick]

That does sound like a pain in the patoot Luckally, spats don't have to be so painfully white. My favoite is gray. Also, some materials, like wool felt, don't have to be starched regularly.

I can relate to the dirt problem, though. I have a pair of white canvas ankle spats I wear when dressed formally and in trousers (doesn't happen often anymore, but it has), and keeping them white was a chore.

Cheers,
Nick

[Nervous Jock]

That does sound like a pain in the patoot Luckally, spats don't have to be so painfully white. My favoite is gray. Also, some materials, like wool felt, don't have to be starched regularly.

I can relate to the dirt problem, though. I have a pair of white canvas ankle spats I wear when dressed formally and in trousers (doesn't happen often anymore, but it has), and keeping them white was a chore.

Cheers,
Nick

They do when you're on parade at Edinburgh Castle
however

They look like the dogs Bollox when done properly. I also have a pair of chain spats to wear with trews, about a third of the work to keep clean :-)