Civilian Spats

[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!!!