A PROPER COMPLEMENT IS ALWAYS IN SEASON…

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.”

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