ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Spats (footwear)

Sure! So spats are kind of like a special cover for your shoes. Imagine you have these really cool boots, but you want to make them even cooler. You can put spats over them! Spats are usually made out of fabric, and they go over the tops of your shoes and up your ankles a little bit.

The fun thing about spats is that they come in lots of different colors and patterns. Some spats are plain black or brown, but others might be bright red or have polka dots on them.

People used to wear spats all the time, back in the old days. They were really popular in the 1800s and early 1900s, especially for fancy occasions like weddings or fancy parties. People also wore them if they were riding horses, because they helped protect their shoes from getting dirty or scuffed up.

These days, spats aren't as popular as they used to be. But sometimes you might still see someone wearing them if they're dressing up in a really fancy, old-fashioned costume for Halloween or a play.