The history of striped ties

The striped tie is one of the most popular and fashionable looks for the modern businessman. While horizontal and even vertical stripes can be found in the sea of ​​varied colors and patterns available in men’s ties, diagonal stripes create a classically handsome look that is associated with success, prestige, and even power. This association may be due to the origins of the diagonal striped tie.

It is not surprising that the striped tie appears for the first time in the history of a society rich in traditions and which participated in the colonization of most of the world. British WWI military regiments are often credited with the origin of the striped tie and indeed these soldiers proudly wore ties with stripes of specific colors and widths that identified their regiments. Although this had a lot to do with sparking the trend in the US and other countries, English schools and country clubs may be more responsible for starting the tradition.

Historians tell us that in 1880, the Exeter College rowing team moved the school’s colored ribbons from their straw hats to their necks as ties, later replacing them with real ties. It is not known if this was the first instance, but we do know that many schools and country clubs soon picked up on the trend and a tradition was created that is still carried on in private schools, academies and universities around the world. At the same time, schools and clubs began to wear their colors on neckwear, the British Army discarded their red uniforms for a more subdued color that made them a less tempting target in battle, and regimental ties they soon became predominant.

As with many other traditions, the United States soon recognized and picked up on the trend, but being the rebels that we are, the fashion grew with two distinct differences. There was much less emphasis on the right to use a particular pattern or color scheme, and the direction of the diagonal was reversed from top left to top right. The result was a new distinction in the fashion industry: the European fringe vs. the american fringe While some organizations within the US adopted “their own” colors, this was mostly ignored within the US fashion industry, often with a group in the US adopting a tie pattern as a symbol of membership, the European stripe was retained.

It is also notable that many of the colors within regimental ties have special meaning to the members of the organizations that wear them. Many of these color combinations were derived from existing flags or banners and, as with country flags, each color may have been carefully selected to represent something in the group’s history, such as red for the blood of those who gave his life. for a cause So there may be a good reason for the pride with which members of certain groups stand up for the colors they wear.

By the end of the 20th century, striped ties were available in every color of the rainbow and in almost any combination imaginable. The width, spacing, and even orientation of the stripes has also varied over the years and retailers around the world now offer selections to match even the most unusual wardrobes. The move away from the traditional regimental striped tie hasn’t diminished its popularity, however, and many fashion-savvy businessmen still consider the classic diagonal striped tie a staple of their attire. Whatever your opinion on the matter, striped ties have certainly found their place in the business world.