Spats (footwear)
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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
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.[1] Emily Post's 1931 Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage stated, "Spats are optional. If chosen, they must match the gloves exactly."[2]
Increased informality may have been the primary reason for the decline in the wearing of spats. In 1913, friends scrambled to help
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.[5]
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."[6] A revival of high-top shoes with cloth uppers was forecast to replace them.[6]
Military uniform
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
As part of their parade uniforms, most regiments of the modern
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.[7] 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.[8] Casual chainsaw operators often wear protective spats over steel-toe boots,[9][10] but professionals are now encouraged to wear true chainsaw boots to prevent injury from accidental chainsaw contact with the foot or ankle.[9][11]
References
- ^ "Pity the Fellow Who Can't Afford Spats". The Oldie: 35. September 2012.
- ^ p. 334 Post, Emily Etiquette: "The Blue Book of Social Usage" Funk & Wagnells
- ISBN 978-0-642-27668-1.
- ^ "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.
- ISBN 978-0-87338-656-2.
- ^ a b "Fashion News For Men", The Milwaukee Journal, p. 6, 19 July 1936[permanent dead link]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Welding – Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing". CCOHS.ca. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7506-6470-7. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
- ^ US patent 5987778, Ronald N. Stoner, "Protective footwear and lower leg covering", published 1999-11-23, assigned to Ronald N. Stoner
- ^ "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.