I believe that the earliest spats worn by the military with highland dress were black and made from wool. I do know that in the Victorian era they wore khaki ones with "foreign service dress" (ie the day-to-day clothing) until some time during the first World War where they got rid of diced hose tops with spats and just wore khaki hose-tops with boots and puttees. I wonder if there is a market for black wool spats to return to fashion. Military bands will probably continue with white ones, which would dictate the fashions.
I am a retired high school band director. Although spats have gone out of fashion with many modern marching band uniforms, there are still many traditional uniforms, especially colleges, that use them. Most of those that I have seen are, in fact, made of either a patent leather or a vinyl-type material so they can be easily cleaned.
I believe that the earliest spats worn by the military with highland dress were black and made from wool. I do know that in the Victorian era they wore khaki ones with "foreign service dress" (ie the day-to-day clothing) until some time during the first World War where they got rid of diced hose tops with spats and just wore khaki hose-tops with boots and puttees.
I wonder if there is a market for black wool spats to return to fashion. Military bands will probably continue with white ones, which would dictate the fashions.
I am a retired high school band director. Although spats have gone out of fashion with many modern marching band uniforms, there are still many traditional uniforms, especially colleges, that use them. Most of those that I have seen are, in fact, made of either a patent leather or a vinyl-type material so they can be easily cleaned.