Civilian Spats

**puddlemuddle** · 28th December 07, 07:17 PM

Hey Chef,
Here ya go. This is me in the new add for the sea island company. It will be nationwide in magazines like golf digest, wine spectator. etc. etc. I used to wear this every day, but sometime in the summer it got too hot, then I just started wearing them for formal wear.

Cheers,
Chad

**Clockwork John** · 29th December 07, 12:45 AM

Based on the pictures, I think spats for formal wear would be a great idea.

I say go for it!

**James MacMillan** · 29th December 07, 01:59 AM

I also wear evening attire often. And - I was also brought up to think that plain solid colored hose are not correct for evening attire. My father wore black spats, but I out-grew his shoe size when I was in my teens. He wore black spats for evening wear, I always thought it was because he really didn't have a really good pair of dress shoes. There may have been other reasons.

However, I wouldn't think that white spats would be proper.

I did find ..this.. where they sell different colored spats, and I just might try them.

I think black spats would be perfect with footless cadadh or footless diced hose tops for formal wear. I think I'll try this.

**ChattanCat** · 29th December 07, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

I also wear evening attire often. And - I was also brought up to think that plain solid colored hose are not correct for evening attire. My father wore black spats, but I out-grew his shoe size when I was in my teens. He wore black spats for evening wear, I always thought it was because he really didn't have a really good pair of dress shoes. There may have been other reasons.

However, I wouldn't think that white spats would be proper.

I did find ..this.. where they sell different colored spats, and I just might try them.

I think black spats would be perfect with footless cadadh or footless diced hose tops for formal wear. I think I'll try this.

I need some Cat Spats

**macwilkin** · 29th December 07, 09:06 AM

I won't knock anyone who has them, but I think they are a budget item that would be a good choice for light wear or for a pipe band on a budget. I'd be afraid they wouldn't hold up so if that was my choice I would stick with the good off-white hose I wear.

Trust me, they're not a budget item. I would classify the tartan/diced hose from Higgins as "budget", but the Tartan Thistle Hose are well-made. They're not hose from Cullin Craft, but they're not cheap either.

Granted, I don't wear mine as much as you do, but in the three years I've owned mine, they're holding up very well.

So, to use an old phrase around these parts, "don't knock 'em 'till you try 'em".

T.

**Nick the DSM** · 29th December 07, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by puddlemuddle

Hey Chef,
Here ya go. This is me in the new add for the sea island company. It will be nationwide in magazines like golf digest, wine spectator. etc. etc. I used to wear this every day, but sometime in the summer it got too hot, then I just started wearing them for formal wear.

Cheers,
Chad

you look like the guy from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

**puddlemuddle** · 28th December 07, 08:04 PM

also,
J. Higgins has full diced hose fopr 60.00.
http://www.jhiggins.net/sf_proddetai...39H51F6K1QVR78

**macwilkin** · 29th December 07, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by puddlemuddle

also,
J. Higgins has full diced hose fopr 60.00.
http://www.jhiggins.net/sf_proddetai...39H51F6K1QVR78

The Tartan Thistle's 100% Wool diced hose are of a much better quality that the acrylic hose from Higgins.

T.

**PiobBear** · 29th December 07, 03:48 AM

Well let's start with the fact that I am in black tie, or more, approximately 40 to 50 times a year and that may be a low estimate.

What on earth do you do? I'm a pretty active piper, and I do a lot of weddings, but going formal at least once or twice a week all year long?

Anyway, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing spats & hose tops with formal Highland wear; in my opinion it'd look thoroughly ridiculous.

**Chef** · 29th December 07, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by PiobBear

What on earth do you do? I'm a pretty active piper, and I do a lot of weddings, but going formal at least once or twice a week all year long?

I realise that probably seems like a lot of formal wear and probably more than most of the rabble would do in a year but it breaks down like this:

I own a catering company and we do Scottish weddings. When I run these I always wear a PC. Depending on the year 4 to 8 times a year so let's say 6.

Various Masonic events at which black tie is required and I wear a kilt around 10.

Appearances to do the "Address to a Haggis" 20 or more.

Attending Scottish society events (St. Andrews, Caledonian etc.) 5 or 6

Appearances for whisky companies or distributors 15 or more depending.

So yes, on average I am in a formal get up once a week. Of course it doesn't work like that. Some weeks I am in a formal rig all week, usually around Burns Night and Tartan Day. That's when having hose tops with spats and comfy cotton socks would be great!

Originally Posted by PiobBear

Anyway, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing spats & hose tops with formal Highland wear; in my opinion it'd look thoroughly ridiculous.

I'm not sure I don't agree with you, just asking the question. Also I think the military spats might be too much (or not) I really like what Sir Harry is wearing here:

They seem a little higher that ankle spats but not as large as the military ones. Of course they might not work with standard hose tops but if i had them custom made I'm sure it could be worked out.

The other thing about the military spats is the rise in the back. All the ones I found online have this, but I know I have seen pipers with spats that don't rise in the back. Has anyone seen these for sale?