Spats

[gilmore]

It would seem that civilian spats when worn with kilts are (or were) higher than those worn with trousers, judging from the drawings earlier in this thread. Both the Edwardian gentlemen are wearing spats taller than those worn in the 1920's and '30's, and today. I count six buttons on the one in which you can see the buttons.

Virtually all the non-piper's spats I have seen for sale online are shorter and have only four buttons.

Ironically I received in the mail today a pair of hose tops in Morrison tartan that I got at quite a bargain online. When I tried them on, it found that it looks as if shorter, four button spats will not come up the leg high enough to cover them so there is no danger of them popping out over th tops of the spats.

So, now I have to find or make six or seven button, high spats to wear with them. And for my big US size 12 feet. Or wear piper's spats with their peak in the rear, which might be a huge fashion faux pas for all I know. I would not want to be dragged out and beaten senseless at the next Burns supper.

It may very well turn out that the necessary spats are more expensive and harder to find than the hose tops.