Spats are an updated version of the over-the-shoe accessory popular in the late 1800s. For today's style they are meant to transform your simple sandals, heels, and boots into something runway-worthy. They come in lots of different materials and colors, some quite wacky, others, like the ones below, pretty cool.

I think they look the best when the shoe and the spat are different colors or materials, like in the first pic. The contrast is tres chic.Someone needs to make a sequined spat to go with the huge sequin craze this season. I would definitely get them!