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| Spats were originally designed to keep dirt and mud out of a traveling gentleman's laced-up shoes while he rode his horse. |
Seasonal transition is a
difficult time for determining which garments to wear. The best approach at those times of the year
is to just take each day and night as they come. As long as the weather is warm it is appropriate
to wear the warm season’s linen and cotton clothing and spring/summer hats
without any fear of being unseasonable. When
it becomes very cold a gentleman will want to dress to protect himself from the
elements. At the end of the day there
are no “Sacred” rules governing what a freethinking individual can or cannot
wear if he or she fancies… A gentleman whose
wisdom always combines courtesy with a reverence for human nature will not
openly judge such personal choices that are the property of others keeping all
but the most generous and sincere complements to himself. Criticism that injures a person’s sense of
self-worth is ineffective at achieving its primary goal because beauty shines
from the inside out. We cannot impose
our concepts of beauty on others, rather we must challenge ourselves to work
more diligently at comprehending the other persons philosophy of what beauty
is.
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| Prior to permanently paved roads most roadways were simply dirt roads. Spats kept dirt and mud from entering a gentleman's shoes or boots. |
A polite gentleman will
never criticize another person for dressing out of season although he may be
thinking it. Vulgarians commonly mistake
this refinement of human nature to be a falsehood but a gentleman understands
why he must not disclose every random thought and impulse he feels especially
if it may have the capacity to hurt another. Furthermore, no gentleman will participate in
a conversation in which someone is being critiqued negatively because of their
choice of apparel regardless of the nature of the comment. A true gentleman will always show restraint
in maters that have potential to hurt someone’s self-esteem or damage a person’s
image of themselves. A gentleman exercises
his right to critique as a means to complement or decorate a condition he
genuinely esteems as beautiful or handsome whichever the case may be. Unless instructing his children or some other
persons whom he is charged to instruct in such aesthetic matters he must assume
it to be the inherent right and responsibility of an individual to freely
express their concept of fashion through style.
Every man has the freedom to say whatever he feels but it is certainly
the way he chooses to affect his environment by selectively administering the
translation of his thoughts into verbal expressions or withholding them from
disclosure that defines the stature of a true gentleman.
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| By the 1930's and 1940's spats were largely decorative features which no longer had any practical application since most urban roads were well paved and sewer systems kept excess water and rubbish to a minimum. |
That being said, we may now discuss how a gentleman may use
a complement to properly communicate his recognition of aesthetic beauty.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
BEAUTY AND HANDSOMENESS:
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| Spats have always been beautiful adornments, here these military spats have made officers shoes far more handsome. |
A complement is a
decorative feature in every language intended to communicate a respectable
degree of affirmation and homage to a very specific aesthetic which is being
admired. Although the English language
does not utilise masculine and feminine forms of adjectives the use of the term
beautiful is traditionally applied to females whilst the term handsome is applied
to males. For instance, a gentleman might
complement a woman for looking beautiful in her dress but would be certain to
note the handsomeness of another gentleman’s cravat. A gentleman would never refer to another man’s
garment or possession as “Pretty” for fear it might be interpreted to imply that
the feature was inappropriately feminine in nature. Likewise, a gentleman must be certain that his
complement evokes a clear celebration of a woman’s femininity never delivering
any suggestion that a woman’s charms might be rustic, masculine or
unrefined. For example, “That dress has
a very bold pattern” should be revised to say, “I love the way the bold color
of that dress is so elegantly balanced by the delicate floral motif.” Or in the case of a man perhaps a
modification of his man-bag one might say, “I really like the strong lines and
handsomely appointed leather tooling of your bag,” replacing, “That’s a cute,
little bag you have got there man.” It
is not enough merely to give a complement but one must take into consideration
how the complement is structured and how it might be received. Being conscious of how others feel takes us
out of ourselves and helps us appreciate the human condition. The bottom line is that if you do not have
something positive and appropriate to say keep it to yourself! The world is full of Vulgarians who spit out
some of the most inane and disrespectful nonsense that we are all forced to
endure; a gentleman always thinks before he speaks and fashions his commentary
so that it will be well received by all.
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| Spats can be had in virtually any colour or pattern imaginable by today's gentlemen. |
The use of the term beautiful, handsome, lovely,
charming, stunning, etc., can be freely used as a complement for inanimate
objects, concepts, etc., that are not directly associated with a man’s or woman’s
personal effects and do not in any way imply a condition contrary to their sex
or bringing into question the issue of sexual orientation. For instance, “That is a handsome garden you
have cultivated Mr. Scruggs”. For a lady,
a gentleman would revise this complement to say, “Why that is a lovely French
parterre you have cultivated Ms. Aziz”. Sometimes men give to their vehicles a female
persona, a gentleman will never assume this but will wait, taking his cue from
the owner before saying, “Mr. Obuwange that is quite a handsome jaguar.” Or Mr.
Brillet, she’s the prettiest corvette I’ve seen off the assembly line this
year.”
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| One important feature of a good pair of spats is the brace attaching the spats to the shoe sometimes with a buckle but mostly as a simple elastic band passing underneath the shoe between the heel and ball of the foot. |
A gentleman is tolerant of
all sexual orientations and aesthetic expression and will never manipulate his
words to misrepresent a complement as a negative critique. Any male using his skills of observation to
berate or intimidate another person, (especially if they are present), to
affirm his dislike of or disgust with anyone’s personal aesthetic, is not a
gentleman at all, they have sunken to the lowest level of vulgarity. When we complement others we give them a
chance to shine and to feel special in a marvelous way. The proper use of the complement is a
gentleman’s signature mark of distinction.
Written by David Vollin
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