Common color combinations include a white shoe body with black, brown tan toe and heel caps, but other colors can be used. The spectator is typically an all leather shoe, but can be constructed using a canvas, mesh or suede leathers.

The saddle shoe, another style of two-tone oxford shoe, can be distinguished from the spectator shoe by noting the saddle shoe's plain toe and distinctive, saddle-shaped decorative panel placed mid foot.

John Lobb the famous English footwear maker, claimed to have designed the first spectator shoe as a cricket shoe in 1868.

The spectator was originally constructed of willow calf leather and white buck or reverse calf suede. The white portion was sometimes made from a mesh material, for better ventilation in hot weather.

For women, spectator pumps have been considered, during certain periods, to be very high fashion and a kind of dress shoe, After their loss of popularity in the early 1950s, when sling-backed and sandaled, thinner pumps became stylish, they returned to fashion in the early 1980s. Perennially favorite in England, their high-fashion appeal went with the polka dot and black-and-white, red-and-white, navy-and-white, etc. combination dress ensembles trendy during this time. With their white color, spectator shoes are most appropriate for women's spring and summer wear.

Spats (originally a contraction of spatterdashes) are a type of classic shoe accessory covering the instep and ankle. Spats were primarily worn in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Spats should not be confused with gaiters which are garments worn over the shoe and lower pants leg, and used primarily as protective equipment.

French infantry wore white spats for parade and off duty wear until 1903. Italian soldiers wore a light tan version until 1910 and the Japanese wore long white spats or guaiters during 1905.

Spats continue as a distinctive feature of the Scottish dress of Highland pipe bands, whether civilian or military. The modern Royal Regiment of Scotland, into which all Scottish line infantry regiments were amalgamated in 2006, retain white spats as part of their uniform. Prior to that date most Scottish infantry units in the British Army wore spats. For Highland regiments in kilts, spats reached halfway up the calf. For Lowland regiments in spats were visible only over the boots.

Most regiments of the modern Indian Armies wear long white spats into which trousers are tucked, as part of their parade dress. Other full dress uniforms which still include spats are those of the Finnish Army. In the Finnish Navy, spats are part of the winter uniform. The U.S. Navy Honor Guard and Rifle Guard still wear them while performing ceremonies.

Spats are still used as a traditional accessory in many marching band uniforms in the United States.

The wearing of spats is often used as symbolic shorthand to represent wealth, eccentricity or both.

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