Spats

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A spat may also refer to a quarrel or a smack. Additionally the term "spat" is also used in aviation to describe an aerodynamic wheel housing on fixed-gear aeroplanes, designed to reduce drag. "Spats" is also an episode of Lilo & Stitch: The Series.

Spats are a type of shoe accessory worn in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

They were stiff fabric covers attached to the top of the shoe and extending up the lower part of the leg. Spats, especially white ones on highly-polished black shoes, form 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.

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 mud getting into walking boots. In their heyday, spats served a similar function in dressing up shoes even if they got dirty.

A mobster in the film Some Like It Hot wore and was consequently nicknamed "Spats". 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". Another well-known spats fancier is Scrooge McDuck, who often refers to them in the works of Carl Barks.

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....."

Spats are still used as a traditional accessory in many marching band uniforms.