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Spats

mistahlee

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I went to a "roaring twenties" costume ball dressed as a prohibition "gangster" including spats. You know what? They looked really good.

Could one wear spats for real today? If so, would they be appropriate with semi-formal evening wear? What about for day wear? Are there conventional materials? Are there customs? I cannot find much on the web or in my library.

Do I dare? Would you? Have you?
 

Manton

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Could one wear spats for real today?
Are you Tom Wolfe?  If so, then yes.  If not, then no.  At least not until you have three bestsellers under your belt and a pile of money and a place in the Hamptons.

Spats are costume.  They have been dead for at least 50 years.  Strictly speaking, even Wolfe doesn't wear them anymore, but has custom-shoes made with canvas tops that look like spats.

Okay the tone of this is a little harsh (sorry) but this is in all likelihood a misktake you don't want and can't afford to make.  There are a lot of cool looking things that I would love to wear but just can't.  It's irritating, but we all must live in the modern world.  At least to some extent.
 

PeterMetro

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(mistahlee @ Mar. 15 2005,17:06) Could one wear spats for real today?
Are you Tom Wolfe? Â If so, then yes. Â If not, then no. Â At least not until you have three bestsellers under your belt and a pile of money and a place in the Hamptons. Spats are costume. Â They have been dead for at least 50 years. Â Strictly speaking, even Wolfe doesn't wear them anymore, but has custom-shoes made with canvas tops that look like spats. Okay the tone of this is a little harsh (sorry) but this is in all likelihood a misktake you don't want and can't afford to make. Â There are a lot of cool looking things that I would love to wear but just can't. Â It's irritating, but we all must live in the modern world. Â At least to some extent.
I see what you're saying, and for anyone else I'd agree, but I've seen pictures of MistahLee, and I think that if anyone can pull it off, he can.
 

STYLESTUDENT

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George Raft looked dated and a bit comical in these in "Some Like It Hot". Although Mistuhlee appears to be an elegrant dresser from his photos, so was Raft (he wore highly shined Peal captoes when he worked as a casino host). It's now almost fifty years since that movie came out. And, frankly, Mr. Wolfe does often seem to be wearing a costume himself, despite his presence on lists of the well-dressed.
 

bengal-stripe

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George Raft looked dated and a bit comical in these in "Some Like It Hot". ... It's now almost fifty years since that movie came out.
Even when "Some Like It Hot" came out, it was a period film. After all, it's set in the time of prohibition.

John Lobb (Paris) has had in recent years one or two models with (matching leather) spats, which turned an oxford into a boot.
 

Mike

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If anyone on this board could get away with it, its you, Mistahlee.
 

Renault78law

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Agreed. And why not? Dressing should be fun. btw, here's a pic of Johnny Depp sporting spats: clicky
 

globetrotter

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mistalee, I went looking to see what kind of man would dare to wear spats, but your picture seems to have dissappeared. can you post again?
 

faustian bargain

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i wore spats...in my high school marching band.

we also wore busbies and epaulets.

---

what is the ostensible function of spats, anyway? they weren't always purely aesthetic, were they?

/andrew
 

FIHTies

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mistalee, I went looking to see what kind of man would dare to wear spats, but your picture seems to have dissappeared. can you post again?
I vote yes on the spats...But only whilst sporting the yellow shoes
wink.gif
See aforementioned pic...
smile.gif
 

stripes22

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Are you Tom Wolfe? If so, then yes. If not, then no. At least not until you have three bestsellers under your belt and a pile of money and a place in the Hamptons.

Spats are costume. They have been dead for at least 50 years. Strictly speaking, even Wolfe doesn't wear them anymore, but has custom-shoes made with canvas tops that look like spats.

Okay the tone of this is a little harsh (sorry) but this is in all likelihood a misktake you don't want and can't afford to make. There are a lot of cool looking things that I would love to wear but just can't. It's irritating, but we all must live in the modern world. At least to some extent.
Some friends tried it once, but they were spat upon...(couldn't resist).

Have to agree with Manton in general, but then again, I say go for it. I'd be supportive of your endeavour. You just may pull it off, and it will be a big success.
 

tutee

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Could one wear spats for real today? Â If so, would they be appropriate with semi-formal evening wear? Â What about for day wear? Â Are there conventional materials? Â Are there customs? Â I cannot find much on the web or in my library.
Dear members, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â My second post...here. Trying to figure the general scheme of things. If I maybe permitted to say a few things...I must say go for spats if it is a fancy dress / costume type event. Skip them for much else. If you must wear something close...try Button-Boots (if you can afford them). BTW: I will be more than happy to explain the "correct" wear & proper fit issues if you are interested. Or you can always ask Manton or other well distinguished members here.
Even when "Some Like It Hot" came out, it was a period film. After all, it's set in the time of prohibition. John Lobb (Paris) has had in recent years one or two models with (matching leather) spats, which turned an oxford into a boot.
Dear Bengal-Stripe                   Were the Lobb models in RTW??? Were they Button-boots or Gaiter shoes? Also, are you sure the upper was leather?...why on earth was I not aware of these. Best regards Tutee
 

Charles Rogers

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I think they could very nice with a nice white scarf (light weight and folded in half once) around the neck.
Try it on halloween, then maybe make the jump again on a random black tie night.
 

Manton

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Wearing spats to any office in any city in the United States is, at a minimum, not likely to help your career. It might well even impede it. Just keep that in mind.
 

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