Civilian Spats

[Jock Scot]

Oh well done! I was wondering how you were getting on with those buttons.

[Cygnus]

I have seen spats being worn formally with p@nts, so maybe that's what he was thinking? I don't think there is an equivalent usage of spats with civilian formal Highland attire, is there?

I just wanted to point out that in the first two pictures posted by CMcG (the ones without dummies), the men wearing spats are wearing them with formal morning attire and, in one of the pictures, in an obviously outdoor setting.

The only time I've seen spats worn formally is in such circumstances - when there's a chance the wearer will be walking around on wet grass or the mud associated with outdoor events (such as horse races). One might be able to get away with spats and formal Highland attire in such circumstances, where the spats serve the purpose of protecting one's feet and footwear, though I would not mix them with formal dress at any other time.

[CMcG]

William Gibson, 2nd Baron Ashbourne wearing spats

[Tobus]

That is an interesting photo in many ways.

It appears that his spats are a grey colour instead of white. I like that. It's distinctly non-military, especially when worn with solid-colour hose.

Can't say as I care for the rest of his outfit, though. It's interesting, though, that he's wearing a solid-colour kilt and plaid (boy, that kilt is HIGH!) with no sporran.

[CMcG]

That is an interesting photo in many ways.

It appears that his spats are a grey colour instead of white. I like that. It's distinctly non-military, especially when worn with solid-colour hose.

Can't say as I care for the rest of his outfit, though. It's interesting, though, that he's wearing a solid-colour kilt and plaid (boy, that kilt is HIGH!) with no sporran.

Perhaps a bit more context would help to understand this photo. Someone posted it on another thread and it is a digital version of an image from the National Library of Ireland, originally taken in 1929. He was apparently an ardent Irish cultural nationalist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...aron_Ashbourne
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlirela...n/photostream/

[JSFMACLJR]

William Gibson, 2nd Baron Ashbourne wearing spats

Now of course the Ashbournes are Irish.

[Zardoz]

That is an interesting photo in many ways.

It appears that his spats are a grey colour instead of white. I like that. It's distinctly non-military, especially when worn with solid-colour hose.

Can't say as I care for the rest of his outfit, though. It's interesting, though, that he's wearing a solid-colour kilt and plaid (boy, that kilt is HIGH!) with no sporran.

It's hard sometimes to ascribe colors to black and white photos, but the colorful William Gibson is usually described as wearing a saffron kilts. That's what he was said to be wearing when the House of Commons refused to admit him to the stranger’s gallery in 1913.
So looking at the color tones, those spats might even be saffron colored. It would be fun to see that outfit on color.

[CMcG]

Here are another couple of pics from what appear to be the same session.

[CMcG]

A drawing contrasting civilian vs. piper's ways of wearing spats:

[Oberu]

Might be thread jacking a bit..

Given the nature of the black and white photo above it stands to reason that this could be the same material top and bottom.. which leaves me thinking it could be the old Irish "Leine". It looks as though maybe he's got it belted and then put on a shnazy belt atop of the whole kaboodle. That or it's a kilt and it's really really cold where this man lives *couldn't help meself*

Back to your originally scheduled post..