Civilian Spats

[Chef]

OK so maybe it is the military in me, maybe the reincarnated Victorian but it's probably just the frugal Scot, but I have been thinking about spats with civilian formal wear. Why you ask? Well let's start with the fact that I am in black tie, or more, approximately 40 to 50 times a year and that may be a low estimate. Next is the fact that I dislike black or solid coloured hose for formal. I was brought up that you wore argyle/diced hose for formal if you had them (most didn't) and off-white if you didn't. Coloured hose were for day wear and so they probably never will look right to me with a PC or Doublet.

<aside>Please, I'm not looking to start the hose colour debate again</aside>

Anyway, I would love to get more diced or argyle hose but unless I only use them very occasionally their not going to last and that is a large investment to wear out. So I started thinking about hose tops. Pipe bands use them for the very same reason that I am thinking about...less wear and tear. Of course bands hide them with spats.

So has anyone used hose tops and spats with a PC or other formal kilt outfit (excluding band or military uniforms)? What do you think? Look too silly? maybe not?

Now of course there are the usual military spats:


I have seen them without the rise in the back and probably would prefer that but I couldn't find a pic.


But there are also ones like this:


Now they are not quite as high but if the hose tops are ordered correctly they should cover the necessary bits with no problems.

So any opinions? Has anyone done it and has pics? (Jamie?) Just wondering.