The regimental tie is one of the most specific niches in the wonderful world of men’s ties. They can be referred to as university or even club ties. Invariably, these neckties feature diagonal stripes of any thickness.

Regimental ties are often referred to as ‘striped ties,’ which implies that al striped ties are also regimental ties. That is not correct.

Instead, the regimental tie is a specific type of tie with a fascinating history. They also come in literally thousands of different variations. If you love ties, it’s worth knowing a bit more about them.

Origins of Regimental Ties

The origin of the regimental tie is itself interesting. Exactly where the first regimental tie was devised is disputed, even if it is accepted that its origins are almost certainly English.

Given their name, regimental ties have often been associated with the military regiments of the British Empire during the 19^th century. Certainly, it is well-documented that most regiments had distinct colors and emblems that were a matter of much pride for their military personnel. Ironically, regimental ties don’t actually have their precise origins in the military.

It is generally acknowledged that the first regimental ties had nothing to do with the military, instead being invented by university students. It’s believed they were first used by the students of Exeter College at Cambridge University in 1880, and specifically by the college’s rowing team, dubbed the ‘Regatta Club’. The legend is that their rowers would tie red and black ribbons around their necks as a symbol of their affiliation to Exeter College. They referred to them as their ‘school ties’.

These improvised accessories very quickly evolved into ties with diagonal stripes in the colors of a particular college. They would then become known as ‘Old Boys Ties’. This was in recognition of alumni who wear them long after leaving their places of learning, a term that prevails to the current day at various universities and schools throughout the English-speaking world, including the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and India.

These types of ties would soon be adopted by different regiments within the British military, hence the name ‘regimental’.  After all, the word ‘regimental’ is derived from the Latin for ‘regime,’ which refers to a system of rules-based order, and can refer to a military organisation.

A regiment would often incorporate their aforementioned regimental emblem and colors within their tie. Regimental ties had become widely used by multiple military units in different countries by the early 20^th century.

Their use by civilian men became widespread in the aftermath of World War I, given that so many men of different classes and backgrounds had been exposed to regimental ties during their years in active service. These men would wear their regimental ties as civilians as signs of pride of the regiments they had served in.

A Prince Changes It All

The adoption of regimental ties by the general public was all thanks to a member of the British royal family, Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales. That would be the same prince who became King Edward VIII and would famously abdicate as king in 1936. It was on a visit to the United States that 1919 that the-then Prince of Wales caused a fashion storm by wearing a blue and red striped tie. They were the colors of the Grenadier Guards regiment to which he belonged and Americans loved it.

The trend in regimental ties was quickly picked up by American designers, making these striped ties highly popular without any recognition or even interest in their military connotations.

There is one interesting difference between British and American regimental ties worth noting: the British custom is that the stripes on their regimental ties run from left to right, or ‘from heart to sword’ as they call it. The Americans, on the other hand, have stripes running from right to left on their regimental ties. To wear an American-style regimental tie is considered very bad form in some circles of English society!

Different Types of Regimental Ties

Most regimental ties today feature straight stripes at 45 degree angles, whether from left to right or right to left. However, sometimes they may have zig-zags instead, as often used by artillery units, or by wavy-looking lines, as used by the Royal Navy, for example. Some regimental ties also have no stripes, instead opting for the regimental emblem against one or more of its colors.

Striped ties generally come in different styles, such as the ‘Titan",’ which has stripes in a single, regular sequence in one or more colors, with the ‘Bengal’ style being stripes of the same size but in contrasting colors, evoking the stripes of the Bengal tiger. Stripes in different shades of the same color mark it as an ‘Amber’ tie, while the ‘Mogador’ has a wide stripe interspersed with two narrower stripes.  

However, it should be stressed that these above variations of striped ties can only be designated as ‘regimental ties’ if actually affiliated to a specific military regiment, university or school.

So, Is It Acceptable To Wear A Regimental Tie?

Can one wear a regimental tie even if one doesn’t belong to that regiment? Still today, in Anglo-Saxon countries it is not thought acceptable to wear the tie of a particular regiment if one has no affiliation to it at certain social or commemorative events. It is considered tactless and even disrespectful to do so.

However, even that isn’t written in stone. A certain amount of discretion and commonsense should prevail. So, wearing a regimental on most days or at most events would be perfectly fine, but perhaps not so at a regimental dinner or on a special day such as Remembrance Day in the UK.

Striped ties remain popular and diverse, as can be seen in our own collection of striped ties. Regimental ties, often striped, are a niche with a rich history, thoroughly deserving of their place in men’s fashion.