Spats are a type of shoe accessory worn in the late 19th and early 20th Century.
Contents |
History
Spats were stiff fabric covers covering the top of the shoe and extending up the lower part of the leg. Spats, especially white ones on highly-polished black shoes, formed part of the stereotype dress of a wealthy young man of the era, along with a top hat and a cane. Other common colours were grey, tan, and black. Though often a fashion accessory, wool felt spats were also worn to keep the ankles warm. Commonly worn as upper-class city dress prior to World War I, spats fell out of fashion during the late 1920s, although retained until the 1940s as formal daytime dress for men on occasions such as weddings and other social events. A short female version, usually in beige, was popular during the Edwardian era (1901-10).
Spats were an evolution of the 18th-Century "spatterdashes," a version of the similar (but strictly practical rather than decorative) articles known as gaiters that are still worn today, to prevent water getting into walking boots. The 18th century spatterdash was a protective item of dress worn by soldiers, farmers and others whose occupation involved regular exposure to rain and mud. It reached above the knee and was kept in place by side-buttons and buckles.
Spats in popular culture
In the popular movie, Some Like it Hot, a mobster was nicknamed "Spats" because of his tendency to wear them. In addition, the recent ITV series Poirot featured this article being worn by the title character. P.G. Wodehouse used this to a large extent in his books to typify the young men of the age, e.g., "Young Men in Spats." The Disney comic and cartoon character Scrooge McDuck, a stereotypical capitalist, wore a top hat and spats—but no shoes. Spats were also worn by the Swedish rock band, The Hives. The classic 1929 jazz standard "Puttin' On the Ritz" by Irving Berlin features a lyric describing the wealthy men of New York City: "High hats and Arrow collars, white spats and lots of dollars..." The Nicholas Brothers are seen wearing spats during their famous tap-dance-off over Dorothy Dandridge to the strains of Chattanooga Choo Choo in the 1941 film, "Sun Valley Serenade." Spats are also mentioned in the musical Chicago when Billy Flynn is singing the song All I Care About he says "I don't care for wearing Silk Cravats; Ruby studs or Satin Spats...". In the animated TV show The Simpsons, C. Montgomery Burns owned shares in a fictitious defunct company "Amalgamated Spats". In the 19th season premiere episode He Loves To Fly And He D'oh's, Mr. Burns has a shopping list on which "spats" is second on the list, along with: "laudanum," "cotton gin," "cell phone" and "Brooklyn Dodgers." In the Smooth Criminal segment of his film Moonwalker, Michael Jackson can be seen wearing spats. In A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, Francie's younger brother Neely is proud of having bought a pair of spats. A character called "The Rat in Spats" is a rat wearing spats who will angrily step on anyone who mocks his shoes; based on the Cat in Hat from the Fairly Oddparents episode "Shelf Life." The Count (Count von Count) on Sesame Street wears spats in some illustrated books. The rather surreal lyrics of the song Cleopatra's Cat by the Spin Doctors mention Cleopatra's favorite cat coveting Julius Caesar's spats. In The Honeymooners episode: "Twas The Night Before Christmas," Ed Norton (Art Carney) buys Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) a pair of spats for Christmas.
Spats as items of uniform
Spats are still used as a traditional accessory in many marching band uniforms in the United States. 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 wore spats. For Highland regiments in kilts spats reached halfway up the calf. For Lowland regiments in trews spats were visible only over the boots. Most regiments of the modern Indian and Pakistani 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 Finnish Army, Portuguese Republican National Guard, the Carabiniers of Monaco and the Italian Military Academy of Modena. In the Finnish Navy, spats are part of the winter uniform. They are colloquially known as Scrooge McDucks. Heavy-duty spats are also used in industry as protective clothing while working near open flame or dangerous equipment, e.g., welding, chainsawing, etc. In Japan, the term "spats" refers to leggings. In American football, the act of taping the outside of one's cleats using athletic tape is known as "spatting."
