Mudguard-inspired Lingerie...? The Spat!
It might seem a bit strange that something associated with menswear could influence the some of the most feminine of lingerie – but that’s what makes Playful Promises a little bit different (it’s up to you to decide whether or not that’s a good thing…)!
The Imogen set is put together in a sumptuous black satin, but features subtly masculine buttoning detail offset on the suspender belt, in the center of the bra and in a cheeky cut-out feature on the back of the brief. This gorgeous detail comes from something worn predominantly by men in the late 19th century and early 20th century, known as spatterdashes, spatter guards or more commonly – spats.
Spats doesn’t exactly sound very glam, and they weren’t to begin with. Starting off as a purely practical accessory, they were made out of white cloth, or in grey or brown felt. They buttoned around the ankle, and were meant to protect your shoes and socks from getting muddy or wet. They later became a little bit more stylish, and reflected the fashions at the time.
In the 1920s, white spats were a signature of wealth and style – infamously worn by New York gangsters and bootleggers. These spats we're more luxurious and featured pearl buttons on the side, and were often worn with a tailored vest. Spats had to be fitted perfectly to the shoe, worn exclusively during the day, and never as evening attire.
What do you think of spats? Can spatterguards be sexy? Or shall we just stick to the beautiful Imogen set to hark back on the days of spats?
Sources:
http://spats-boots.com/the-history-of-spats
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spats_(footwear)