Is this a real regimental tie?

[kilted2000]

I've had this tie for years and I was wondering if it was from a real regiment. It says it is but I can't find one that matches it. I don't want to wear a tie of a regiment I never served in.

[Jock Scot]

I don’t recognise it as a Regimental tie, but that does not mean that it isn’t. So you are right to be careful.
There is one Regimental style tie that some Xmarkers wear with a British military connection that won’t “tread on any toes” and that is the Army Benevolent Fund(ABF) tie. The ABF is a well known British registered charity with obvious connections and their tie goes well with the kilt. Details will be found on the internet and no doubt will be found on the Xmarks past threads search facility too.

The ABF tie. Green, blue, red, blue, green, etc., etc., stripes
WGN_2676.jpg Click to enlarge.

[Troglodyte]

I think the label is designed to confuse, and 'suggest' it is something that it is not, so nicely side-stepping any chance of misappropriation.

It looks as if the tie-maker's brand is English Regimental Tie, and not that it is a tie of an actual English regiment. Also, whilst there are English regiments (along with Scottish, Welsh and Irish) there has not been individual national armies since 1707 - since that date it has been the British army.

So, to call it 'English Regimental' looks like another side-step by the makers.

However, it has similarities with the Somerset Light Infantry, but their tie stripes run in the opposite direction, which is the arrangement of most British regimental ties, so it is very unlikely you will offend any of the SLI.

Wearing a regimental tie you are not entitled to (ie, you have not served in the regiment yourself, or you are not wearing your father's or grandfather's tie for specific commemorative reasons) is considered a gross insult. It is a symbolic act of claiming the regiment's battle-honours and history for yourself.

A certain war-time president of the USA, who was not as true a man as his name would suggest, used to dress himself in the Royal Artillery tie, but that regiment had no love for American military command (the RA came under constant 'friendly fire' from their American allies during the Normandy campaign of 1944, which they repaid in kind in Korea a few years later - according to first hand accounts of someone who was involved), and this tie-wearing was strongly resented by RA veterans.

But you should be alright with that tie of yours.

[Micrographia]

Nothing to fret about here. As has already been mentioned, the stripes run the wrong way for a British Regimental tie; in a genuine example the stripes are angled from left to right, or "heart to sword" when worn. Yours is a regimental-style tie, a staple of mens clothing in the USA for over a century and more recently "Ivy Style" in particular. You can easily find examples that are exact copies of actual Regimental ties - the Argylls colours are very popular - but with the stripes in the "wrong" orientation. There was no malice in the design, manufacture or wear of these ties. It's a particularly American foible inspired by a visit by the King to the USA at the start of the 20th century and is entirely about the look. Brooks Bros claim they inverted the stripes to avoid any conflicts with the Brits.

With a button-collar Oxford shirt, a pair of flat front chinos, some loafers and a tweed 3 roll 2 sports jacket with a hooked vent and "2 on the sleeve" you'll be able to walk the campuses of the Ivy League schools without an eyebrow being raised . Or with a kilt outfit, but then you'll likely get some attention.

EEM

[Jock Scot]

Nothing to fret about here. As has already been mentioned, the stripes run the wrong way for a British Regimental tie; in a genuine example the stripes are angled from left to right, or "heart to sword" when worn. Yours is a regimental-style tie, a staple of mens clothing in the USA for over a century and more recently "Ivy Style" in particular. You can easily find examples that are exact copies of actual Regimental ties - the Argylls colours are very popular - but with the stripes in the "wrong" orientation. There was no malice in the design, manufacture or wear of these ties. It's a particularly American foible inspired by a visit by the King to the USA at the start of the 20th century and is entirely about the look. Brooks Bros claim they inverted the stripes to avoid any conflicts with the Brits.

With a button-collar Oxford shirt, a pair of flat front chinos, some loafers and a tweed 3 roll 2 sports jacket with a hooked vent and "2 on the sleeve" you'll be able to walk the campuses of the Ivy League schools without an eyebrow being raised . Or with a kilt outfit, but then you'll likely get some attention.

EEM

Be careful!

Most British Regimental ties do have their stripes sloping as you describe, but surprise surprise , not all. Four that come to mind that slope the other way are: Royal Marine, Royal Air Force, Royal Inneskilings and The Intelligence Corps. There may be more.

[Ninehostages]

Be careful!

Most British Regimental ties do have their stripes sloping as you describe, but surprise surprise , not all. Four that come to mind that slope the other way are: Royal Marine, Royal Air Force, Royal Inneskilings and The Intelligence Corps. There may be more.

Gunner's "St. Barbara" ties stripes slope up and down ... up and down!