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{{Short description|Short gaiters worn over the instep}}
{{other uses|Spat (disambiguation)|Spats (disambiguation)}}
{{more footnotes|date=July 2016}}
]
]
] wearing spats.|] (left) wearing spats in 1863. At right is ]]]


'''Spats''', a shortening of '''spatterdashes''', or '''spatter guards''' are a type of classic ] ] for outdoor wear, covering the instep and the ankle. Spats should not be confused with ], which are garments worn over the shoe and lower pants leg, and used primarily as ]. '''Spats''', a shortening of '''spatterdashes''', or '''spatter guards''' are a type of ] ] for outdoor wear, covering the instep and the ankle. Spats are distinct from ], which are garments worn over the lower trouser leg as well as the shoe.


==Civilian dress== == Civilian dress ==
] wearing spats in 1912]]
Spats were primarily worn by men, and less commonly by women, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They fell out of frequent usage during the 1920s. Made of white cloth or brown felt material, spats buttoned around the ankle. Their intended practical purpose was to protect shoes and socks from mud or rain but this footwear also served as a feature of stylish dress in accordance with the fashions of the period.<ref>Article ''Pity the fellow who can't afford spats'', page 35 "The Oldie" September 2012</ref> Spats were worn by men and, less commonly, by women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They fell out of frequent use during the 1920s. Made of white cloth, grey or brown felt material, spats buttoned around the ankle. Their intended practical purpose was to protect shoes and socks from mud or rain, but they also served as a feature of stylish dress in accordance with the fashions of the period.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Pity the Fellow Who Can't Afford Spats|page=35|journal=The Oldie|date=September 2012}}</ref> ]'s 1931 ''Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage'' stated, "Spats are optional. If chosen, they must match the gloves exactly."<ref>p. 334 Post, Emily ''Etiquette: "The Blue Book of Social Usage"'' Funk & Wagnells</ref>
Increased informality may have been the reason for the decline in the wearing of spats.
In 1923 King George V opened the Chelsea Flower Show, an important event in the ] wearing a frock coat, gray top hat and spats. By 1926 the King shocked the public by wearing a black morning coat instead of a frock coat (a small but significant change). This arguably helped speed the Frock coat's demise (although it was still being worn on the eve of the Second World War). Spats were another clothing accessory left off by the King in 1926. Interestingly it is said that the moment this was observed and commented on by the spectators it produced an imediate reaction; the ground beneath the bushes was littered with discarded spats.
By the mid 1930s high topped shoes and spats were regarded as being very old fashioned "The high topped shoes your granpa used to creak around in" although the same newspaper report from 1936 predicts the return of spats amongst fashionable men despite "Observing that in recent years well-dressed men have been discarding spats because they have become the property of the rank and file." This seems to indicate another reason for their decline.
Since the second war the wearing of Spats seems to have been confined to places like the Royal Enclosure at Ascot or very fancy private weddings.


Increased informality may have been the primary reason for the decline in the wearing of spats. In 1913, friends scrambled to help ] find spats and a ] to receive the ] from ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQpUtzegljEC&pg=PA70|title=Griffith Taylor: Visionary Environmentalist Explorer|first1=Carolyn|last1=Strange|first2=Alison|last2=Bashford|year=2008|page=70|publisher=National Library Australia |isbn=978-0-642-27668-1}}</ref> In 1923, ] opened the ], an important event in the ], wearing a ], gray top hat and spats. By 1926, the King shocked the public by wearing a black ] instead of a frock coat (a small but significant change). This arguably helped speed the frock coat's demise (although it was still being worn on the eve of the Second World War). Spats were another clothing accessory left off by the King in 1926. It is said that the moment this was observed and commented on by the spectators it produced an immediate reaction; the ground beneath the bushes was littered with discarded spats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19790826&id=WJ1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5938,928793&hl=en|title=Superstars in Crimson Cloaks|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=August 26, 1979|page=80|quote=My story-teller said that at a big garden party at Buckingham Palace after World War I all the men wore their spats — until King George V and the princes appeared without any. In a trice every one was surreptitiously unbuttoning their spats, and next day piles of them were found behind the bushes all over the palace gardens.}}</ref>
⚫ ==Military uniform==
⚫ ] ] wear white canvas leggings as the part of ]]]
⚫ Since the mid 19th century, soldiers of various nations, especially infantry, often wore leggings to protect their lower leg, to keep dirt, sand, and mud from entering their shoes, and to provide a measure of ankle support. At first, these were usually ]—strips of thick woolen cloth resembling a large bandage—were wrapped around the leg to support the ankle. They were usually held in place by a strap attached to the cloth.


Another reason for the decline in women's use of spats was the popularity of open-topped shoes with interesting visual details like straps and cutouts in the 1920s. Rising hemlines made it possible for women to show off more intricate footwear, which was meant to be visible, not covered by spats.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rexford |first1=Nancy E. |title=Women's shoes in America, 1795–1930 |date=2000 |publisher=Kent State University Press |location=Kent, Ohio |isbn=978-0-87338-656-2 |pages=163}}</ref>
] were a feature of most Western-style armies until just after the First World War although even before then they were being superceded by Spats. ] infantry wore white spats for parade and off duty wear until 1903. ] soldiers wore a light tan version until 1910 and the ] wore long white spats or ] during the ] of 1905.


From New York in 1936, the ] observed that "in recent years well-dressed men have been discarding spats because they have become the property of the ]."<ref name=MJ36>{{citation |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19360719&id=VbJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AyIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3968,7932171&hl=en |newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal |title=Fashion News For Men |date=19 July 1936 |page=6 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A revival of ] shoes with cloth uppers was forecast to replace them.<ref name=MJ36 />
⚫ Spats continue as a distinctive feature of the Scottish dress of Highland pipe bands, whether civilian or military. The modern ], into which all Scottish line infantry regiments were amalgamated in 2006, retain white spats as part of their uniform. Prior to that date most Scottish infantry units in the ] wore spats. For Highland regiments in ], spats reached halfway up the calf. For Lowland regiments in ], spats were visible only over the ]s.


⚫ == Military uniform ==
⚫ Most regiments of the modern ] and ] Armies wear long white spats into which trousers are tucked, as part of their parade dress. Other full dress uniforms which still include spats are those of the ], ], ], the ] of ], the Egyptian Military Police and the Italian ]. In the ], spats are part of the winter uniform. The U.S. Navy Honor Guard and Rifle Guard wear them while performing ceremonies.
⚫ ] Ceremonial Guard wear white canvas leggings as part of their Enlisted Full Dress Whites.]]


⚫ Since the mid-19th century, soldiers of various nations, especially infantry, often wore ] or spats to protect their lower leg, to keep dirt, sand, and mud from entering their shoes, and to provide a measure of ankle support. ] infantry wore white spats for parade and off-duty wear until 1903. ] soldiers wore a light tan version until 1910, and the ] wore long white spats or ] during the ] of 1905.
Spats are still used as a traditional accessory in many ] and ] uniforms in the ].


⚫ Spats continue as a distinctive feature of the Scottish dress of Highland pipe bands, whether civilian or military. The modern ], into which all Scottish line infantry regiments were amalgamated in 2006, retain white spats as part of their uniform. Prior to that date most Scottish infantry units in the ] and ] wore spats. For Highland regiments in ], spats reached halfway up the calf. For Lowland regiments in ], spats were visible only over the ]s.
==Safety and protection==
Spats are still used today in certain industries for ] reasons. In ] molten metal pourers often wear leather spats to keep splashes of molten metal from burning their feet. Even a small splash that lodges in a shoe or between the shoe and ankle could cause a severe burn. Many ]s also wear leather spats for protection from sparks and metal splash. Some ] operators wear protective leather spats, often combined with ] to prevent injury from accidental chainsaw contact with the foot or ankle.


⚫ As part of their parade uniforms, most regiments of the modern ] and ] armies wear long white spats into which soldiers tuck the bottoms of their trousers. Other full-dress uniforms that still include spats are those of the ], ], ], the ] of ], the Egyptian Military Police, and the Italian ]. In the ], spats are part of the winter uniform; and the United States Navy Honor Guard and Rifle Guard wear them while performing ceremonies. Spats are also still used as a traditional accessory in many ] and ] uniforms in the United States.
Spats are also used for extreme weather conditions and are usually made from Goretex materials (See ]). The Argentine Army use brown leather spats laced over combat boots as ankle supports for parachute jumping.


== Personal protective equipment ==
==Symbolic usage to represent wealth==
Spats remain in use today as ] in certain industries. In ], pourers wear leather spats over their boots to protect against splashes of molten metal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guide for Selection & Use of Personal Protective Equipment & Special Clothing for Foundry Operations|url=http://www.afsinc.org/files/AFS/EHS/afs%20ppe%20guide-%202005.pdf|website=AFSInc.org|publisher=]|location=]|page=3|date=September 2005|access-date=2016-06-28|archive-date=2018-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417134957/http://www.afsinc.org/files/AFS/EHS/afs%20ppe%20guide-%202005.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Even a small splash that lodges in a shoe or between the shoe and ankle could cause a severe burn. Many ]s also wear fire-resistant spats for protection from sparks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welding – Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing|url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/welding/ppe.html|website=CCOHS.ca|publisher=]|date=2012-01-18|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref> Casual ] operators often wear protective spats over ]s,<ref name="Roadwork">{{cite book|title=Roadwork: Theory and Practice|edition=5th|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtEJBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA212|first1=Peter|last1=Kendrick|first2=Steve|last2=Beresford|first3=Paul|last3=McCormick|publisher=]|location=]|page=212|isbn=978-0-7506-6470-7|date=2004|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent | country = US | number = 5987778 | status = patent | title = Protective footwear and lower leg covering | pubdate = 1999-11-23 | fdate = 1998-01-26 | pridate = 1997-01-30 | invent1 = Ronald N. Stoner | assign1 = Ronald N. Stoner | url = https://www.google.com/patents/US5987778 }}</ref> but professionals are now encouraged to wear true ] to prevent injury from accidental chainsaw contact with the foot or ankle.<ref name="Roadwork" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Grabbing Your Chainsaw and Going off to Work with It Isn't Enough – You Need More|url=http://newlandstraining.co.uk/2014/grabbing-chainsaw-going-work-isnt-enough-need/|website=NewlandsTraining.co.uk|publisher=Newlands Training|date=2014-03-23|access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref>
The wearing of spats is often used as symbolic shorthand to represent wealth, eccentricity, or both. Fictional characters such as ]'s ], ]'s ], ]'s ], ]'s ] chief weasel Smart Ass, ]'s ], Jiggs from the comic strip ], ], ] the iconic man from the ] board game, the ] from ] and ] from '']'' by ], among others, have been depicted as wearing spats. In '']'', the mob boss is called "Spats" Colombo, because he regularly wears spats. In some cases, these depictions occur long after spats ceased to be a normal part of everyday menswear: for instance ] from '']'' is drawn wearing spats along with a suit with tails. Similarly, ]'s song "]" mentions spats along with a variety of other elements of formal clothing that were common when it was written.


==Other uses== == References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}
* By extension, the phrase "spatted" refers to ] around the wheels on aircraft undercarriage.
* In ], the term "spats" refers to ].
* In ], the act of taping the outside of one's cleats using athletic tape is known as "spatting."


==See also== == External links ==
⚫ {{commons category-inline|Spats}}
* ]
* ]
* ]


{{Clothing|state=collapsed}}
==References==
{{Footwear}}
'''Notes''':
{{reflist}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2014}}


⚫ ]
==External links==
⚫ * {{commonscat-inline|Spats}}
* actor ] wearing in a silent movie, ''The Divorcee'' with ] circa 1919

{{DEFAULTSORT:(footwear), Spats}}
] ]
⚫ ]


]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 24 December 2024

Short gaiters worn over the instep
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Woolen spats

Spats, a shortening of spatterdashes, or spatter guards are a type of footwear accessory for outdoor wear, covering the instep and the ankle. Spats are distinct from gaiters, which are garments worn over the lower trouser leg as well as the shoe.

Civilian dress

Claude Rains wearing spats in 1912

Spats were worn by men and, less commonly, by women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They fell out of frequent use during the 1920s. Made of white cloth, grey or brown felt material, spats buttoned around the ankle. Their intended practical purpose was to protect shoes and socks from mud or rain, but they also served as a feature of stylish dress in accordance with the fashions of the period. Emily Post's 1931 Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage stated, "Spats are optional. If chosen, they must match the gloves exactly."

Increased informality may have been the primary reason for the decline in the wearing of spats. In 1913, friends scrambled to help Griffith Taylor find spats and a top hat to receive the Polar Medal from King George V. In 1923, King George V opened the Chelsea Flower Show, an important event in the London Season, wearing a frock coat, gray top hat and spats. By 1926, the King shocked the public by wearing a black morning coat instead of a frock coat (a small but significant change). This arguably helped speed the frock coat's demise (although it was still being worn on the eve of the Second World War). Spats were another clothing accessory left off by the King in 1926. It is said that the moment this was observed and commented on by the spectators it produced an immediate reaction; the ground beneath the bushes was littered with discarded spats.

Another reason for the decline in women's use of spats was the popularity of open-topped shoes with interesting visual details like straps and cutouts in the 1920s. Rising hemlines made it possible for women to show off more intricate footwear, which was meant to be visible, not covered by spats.

From New York in 1936, the Associated Press observed that "in recent years well-dressed men have been discarding spats because they have become the property of the rank and file." A revival of high-top shoes with cloth uppers was forecast to replace them.

Military uniform

U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard wear white canvas leggings as part of their Enlisted Full Dress Whites.

Since the mid-19th century, soldiers of various nations, especially infantry, often wore leggings or spats to protect their lower leg, to keep dirt, sand, and mud from entering their shoes, and to provide a measure of ankle support. French infantry wore white spats for parade and off-duty wear until 1903. Italian soldiers wore a light tan version until 1910, and the Japanese Army wore long white spats or gaiters during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905.

Spats continue as a distinctive feature of the Scottish dress of Highland pipe bands, whether civilian or military. The modern Royal Regiment of Scotland, into which all Scottish line infantry regiments were amalgamated in 2006, retain white spats as part of their uniform. Prior to that date most Scottish infantry units in the British Army and Canadian Army wore spats. For Highland regiments in kilts, spats reached halfway up the calf. For Lowland regiments in trews, spats were visible only over the brogue shoes.

As part of their parade uniforms, most regiments of the modern Indian and Pakistani armies wear long white spats into which soldiers tuck the bottoms of their trousers. Other full-dress uniforms that still include spats are those of the Finnish Army, Swedish Army, Portuguese Republican National Guard, the Carabiniers of Monaco, the Egyptian Military Police, and the Italian Military Academy of Modena. In the Finnish Navy, spats are part of the winter uniform; and the United States Navy Honor Guard and Rifle Guard wear them while performing ceremonies. Spats are also still used as a traditional accessory in many marching band and drum and bugle corps uniforms in the United States.

Personal protective equipment

Spats remain in use today as personal protective equipment in certain industries. In foundries, pourers wear leather spats over their boots to protect against splashes of molten metal. Even a small splash that lodges in a shoe or between the shoe and ankle could cause a severe burn. Many welders also wear fire-resistant spats for protection from sparks. Casual chainsaw operators often wear protective spats over steel-toe boots, but professionals are now encouraged to wear true chainsaw boots to prevent injury from accidental chainsaw contact with the foot or ankle.

References

  1. "Pity the Fellow Who Can't Afford Spats". The Oldie: 35. September 2012.
  2. p. 334 Post, Emily Etiquette: "The Blue Book of Social Usage" Funk & Wagnells
  3. Strange, Carolyn; Bashford, Alison (2008). Griffith Taylor: Visionary Environmentalist Explorer. National Library Australia. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-642-27668-1.
  4. "Superstars in Crimson Cloaks". Sydney Morning Herald. August 26, 1979. p. 80. My story-teller said that at a big garden party at Buckingham Palace after World War I all the men wore their spats — until King George V and the princes appeared without any. In a trice every one was surreptitiously unbuttoning their spats, and next day piles of them were found behind the bushes all over the palace gardens.
  5. Rexford, Nancy E. (2000). Women's shoes in America, 1795–1930. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-87338-656-2.
  6. ^ "Fashion News For Men", The Milwaukee Journal, p. 6, 19 July 1936
  7. "Guide for Selection & Use of Personal Protective Equipment & Special Clothing for Foundry Operations" (PDF). AFSInc.org. Schaumburg, Illinois: American Foundry Society. September 2005. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  8. "Welding – Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing". CCOHS.ca. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  9. ^ Kendrick, Peter; Beresford, Steve; McCormick, Paul (2004). Roadwork: Theory and Practice (5th ed.). Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-7506-6470-7. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  10. US patent 5987778, Ronald N. Stoner, "Protective footwear and lower leg covering", published 1999-11-23, assigned to Ronald N. Stoner 
  11. "Grabbing Your Chainsaw and Going off to Work with It Isn't Enough – You Need More". NewlandsTraining.co.uk. Newlands Training. 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2016-06-28.

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