Civilian Spats

[AKScott]

Thank you both for helping fill in some gaps in the historiography. Strange how spats/gaiters where recommended wear in 1914 but we see so few photos or paintings showing them being worn...

I opine it is because they served no useful purpose outside fashion conciousness, and are a pain in the neck. Kilted, they aren't going to keep you any warmer, and they aren't going to keep bugs from crawling up your legs.

And they were supposed to match the hose color? I have four different colors of hose already and really want at least two more. I feel like changing hose color gives me freedom to wear for instance the same shirt with maybe four different ties and not look like a rental shop patron. Six pairs of gaiters is not in the budget.

For you guys that are thinking about this, the one thing they are going to do for you is smooth out your foot line, make the shoelaces go away. I am not going to bust anyone's chops for ordering eight pairs in eight different colors. But really, you are going to need more wardrobe space, it is more stuff to keep clean and I don't think you are going to wear them very often.

Tell you what, figure out your favorite look, shirt/tie/kilt/hose/shoes and order one pair of gaiters to match those hose. See how often you really wear those after two years before you order a second pair of gaiters.

Claret might be a good choice. But in my neck of the woods if I show up in a tie, a kilt and claret hose no one is going to comment on claret spats; the few that notice probably won't see the point.

Thirsty Viking, you look great in those. I am not sure how far up the formality scale you could take them, but you look quite at home in them as pictured.

Tobus, I can see the point. You are geared up for more than a day hike and you don't have to worry about thorns, bugs or your socks (or anything else below the knee) while you are wearing those. You might get some bug bites ON your knees, but not through your leggings.

Harry Lauder looks like a million bucks. I notice his gaiters contrast with his hose, and HRH the Duke of Rothesay seems to generally wear his garter ties in the same manner.

I'll wager ten US dollars that if we buy MacMillan of Rathdown a pair of claret spats this month he will find less than five excuses to wear them to official functions in the next two years.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'll wager ten US dollars that if we buy MacMillan of Rathdown a pair of claret spats this month he will find less than five excuses to wear them to official functions in the next two years.

You loose, as I never wear spats. So, let me suggest that you take the cost of a pair of spats (colour unimportant) which is about US $50, and add to that the US $10 that you've lost on this wager, and cut a check for US $60, made payable to The Wounded Warrior Project, and send it on to Matt Newsome at the Tartan Museum. I'll collect the cheque from Matt at the Greenville Scottish Games and pass it along to The Wounded Warrior Project, one of two charities that the games generously support (the other being the Erskine Hospital in Scotland).

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Just my 2 cents, but I'd put the ubiquity of spats among the well-heeled in the 18th and 19th centuries (and their extinction in the 20th,) down to one cause; the amount of horse manure in city streets (and we think we have 'vehicle exhaust' problems!)

The cost of replacing/cleaning spats would be so much less than than replacing/cleaning shoes that got a load of exhaust down in the laces, tongue and ankle areas.

[CMcG]

<snip>
And they were supposed to match the hose color?

Judging by the few examples I can find and the general attitude towards matching that still exists in the Highlands, I imagine the colour wouldn't have mattered at all. Neutral colours like white and grey, seemed popular.

Here's a few more images I dug up of how it used to be done:





I'm not sure if this one is military or civilian:

[OC Richard]

In the post above, the image from The Highlanders of Scotland is showing a military man, so spats are to be expected.

I would wager that the bottom photo is a "play dress-up" photo, not a portrait of a person accustomed to wearing Highland Dress and posing in clothes that they own and wear regularly.

The tell-tale signs are the mixing of civilian and military items, things being worn improperly, things ill-fitting, and exaggerated poses.

He's wearing a Gordon Highlanders officer's sporran which has not been stored properly, plain hose with no flashes, mismatching kilt and plaid, no collar badges or cap badge, and posing with a sword tho not wearing a sword belt or scabbard...

It's obvious when a subject is wearing a Gordon Highlanders sporran but not wearing Gordon Highlanders flashes, hose, spats, kilt, or jacket.

[SlackerDrummer]

I'll wager ten US dollars that if we buy MacMillan of Rathdown a pair of claret spats this month he will find less than five excuses to wear them to official functions in the next two years.

You loose, as I never wear spats. So, let me suggest that you take the cost of a pair of spats (colour unimportant) which is about US $50, and add to that the US $10 that you've lost on this wager, and cut a check for US $60, made payable to The Wounded Warrior Project, and send it on to Matt Newsome at the Tartan Museum. I'll collect the cheque from Matt at the Greenville Scottish Games and pass it along to The Wounded Warrior Project, one of two charities that the games generously support (the other being the Erskine Hospital in Scotland).

No, Scott. I think he's got you on a technicality. I'm pretty sure it should have said "no less than five". In fact, though, you have found less than five excuses.

[AKScott]

No, Scott. I think he's got you on a technicality. I'm pretty sure it should have said "no less than five". In fact, though, you have found less than five excuses.

I think I wagered (as intended) that MacMillan would not wear spats more than four times in two years if we provided him a free pair. If both a Scot and an American think I have lost the wager (seperated by a common language) I will send off $60 to the Wounded Warriors. If an American agrees I would have won the wager I'll send ten bucks to the Wounded Warriors as a gesture of good faith.


Odd about matching gaiter/ hose color. In post #6 this thread MoR quoted from his library:

Loudon McQueen Douglas in his book, THE KILT (published in 1914), when describing proper day dress, has this to say about gaiters:

"Footwear should consist of thick soled brogues with gaiters to match the stockings."

But only one of the pictures in this thread so far, the third image of Harry Lauder in post one shows gaiters matching or nearly matching hose color.

An interesting weekend diversion this thread. I have some more spring cleaning to undertake now that my gaiters are off my cold weather boots.

[creagdhubh]

You loose, as I never wear spats. So, let me suggest that you take the cost of a pair of spats (colour unimportant) which is about US $50, and add to that the US $10 that you've lost on this wager, and cut a check for US $60, made payable to The Wounded Warrior Project, and send it on to Matt Newsome at the Tartan Museum. I'll collect the cheque from Matt at the Greenville Scottish Games and pass it along to The Wounded Warrior Project, one of two charities that the games generously support (the other being the Erskine Hospital in Scotland).

Grand idea, Scott!!!

[The Thirsty Viking]

Thirsty Viking, you look great in those. I am not sure how far up the formality scale you could take them, but you look quite at home in them as pictured.

I am not worried about the formality scale for these particular gaiters. These are my knock around, rough necking gaiters.

I do have a pair of white canvas spats that I will wear only for formal occasions. I know some would say not to, but frankly, I like them, I feel sharp in them, and I have never been one to really give a second thought to others opinion.

But thats me. What works for me may not work for another. I have always held to the belief " 'Cool' is what you deem it to be".

[Thor271]

I know some would say not to, but frankly, I like them, I feel sharp in them

I like the look of Spats myself. I think that they can look very sharp, and plan to wear a pair at my wedding.