Spats

[druid]

Spats are the only way to rock hose tops.

The high school band where I played the 'Pipes, we used hose tops and wore black Navy Oxfords and the white spats to fill in the gap between the hose and the shoe.

Now, we wore a "military~ish" uniform...White, single-breasted tunic with wings, plaid, Kilt, piper's sporran (chromed steel and long horse-hair), argyle hose tops, spats and shoes. In the winter, we wore a Brittish wool jacket (forget the name of it though). I remember it was green/olive drab and was short like an Ike (Eisenhower) Jacket.

In a civilian attire, I'd think that spats would really only look good if worn in a very formal dress...tux jacket, Prince Charlie, full face sporran, walking cane and similar. Now on the other hand, if you had a slight military look (Horse-hair sporran, black navy oxfords, Baskethilt and Dirk and a military~ish jacket), you may be able to pull it off in that respect.

...but this is just my personal opinion.

[beloitpiper]

Yeah, I know they look good with a band uniform (that's where the kilt and hose tops are coming from), but I want to know if they'd look good with civilian attire. No, this will not be formal (I'll wear an argyle jacket at the most) and no, I will not carry a weapon (other than a sgian dubh, which I consider more jewelery than a weapon).

I'll take a photo of both spats and spats-less outfits and post them up here.

[walkerk]

Yeah, I know they look good with a band uniform (that's where the kilt and hose tops are coming from), but I want to know if they'd look good with civilian attire.

White, shiny patent leather spats do not go well with civilian attire. Just like white shiny patent leather belts only look good on pipers, color guards, and Elvis. Dark leather or fabric spats are a different matter.

Here ya go (it's that other forum again): http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showt...ighlight=spats

[beloitpiper]

I have white cotton spats with white buttons. I've never heard of patent leather spats.

[fluter]

I have white cotton spats with white buttons. I've never heard of patent leather spats.

I visualize dove-grey spats for day wear. However as we all know,

It must and it shall be Spring in Pall Mall
While Bustopher Jones wears white spats!

[Arlen]

You know, I think you could make it work even very casually. Spats are the kind of thing that work best with a confident attitude and a well matched outfit.
I say go for it.

[hospitaller]

Yeah, I know they look good with a band uniform (that's where the kilt and hose tops are coming from), but I want to know if they'd look good with civilian attire. No, this will not be formal (I'll wear an argyle jacket at the most) and no, I will not carry a weapon (other than a sgian dubh, which I consider more jewelery than a weapon).

I'll take a photo of both spats and spats-less outfits and post them up here.

Here's my answer to you, 2 Edwardian era civilian kilties:





I am personally trying to find out what the material was for those 'civvie' spats, if regular canvas...I'll make myself a pair, I think they are the cat's meow for a dressy look.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have two pair of gray spats-- one pair is moleskin, the other is either melton or doeskin wool. My white spats are made from wool (they are beginning to yellow), canvas (ex-military), and what appears to be some sort of polished cotton (chintz, perhaps?). It's worth noting that in the illustration by "Spy" (the top illustration) the noble lord in question is wearing black shoes...

[Freelancer]

Those pictures posted by hospitaller say it all. A nice tweed jacket and a walking stick and you'll have a real classic look. Very unique. Go for it!

[Jack Daw]

I have two pair of gray spats-- one pair is moleskin, the other is either melton or doeskin wool. My white spats are made from wool (they are beginning to yellow), canvas (ex-military), and what appears to be some sort of polished cotton (chintz, perhaps?). It's worth noting that in the illustration by "Spy" (the top illustration) the noble lord in question is wearing black shoes...

Wow! May I ask where you got all these wonderments of spats? I only have a pair of black-buttoned white canvas spats.