[Closed] Regimental Tie Etiquette

Don't wear it...

I'd say it depends on the circumstances in which you are wearing it. Day to day perhaps okay but at a formal function then no.
Only other military types would know what it was and probably even then only Black Watch types!

Not while swimming.

I would say it wear it for a special event and be proud to explain it is worn out of of honour for what your brother has done. As you say you are not trying to pretend you are something you aren't, you are promoting the Black Watch and their achievements.

Ps. I worked with them for two months in Iraq and was incredibly impressed by them as a regiment, and a group of soldiers, so please pass on my regards.

Wear what the hell you like, when you like! It's only a tie! Who TF are others to dictate what you can and cannot wear?

"fear that it's poor form"

To me, to me, the idea that someone can or cannot wear some item of clothing, or particular hairstyle etc, because of the social mores/attitudes of others, is just plain daft. Reminds me of this sort of nonsense:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-35944803

Google stolen valour. Intentional or not.

Not while swimming.

You Sir win the internet today! 🙂

As your brother gave it to you, as others have mentioned, if it was at a formal Army thing, then I would say probably not.

In other occasions why not, if someone mentioned it, you can get chatting to them about how's it's from your brother...Never no, perhaps they might even know your brother.

To me, to me, the idea that someone can or cannot wear some item of clothing, or particular hairstyle etc, because of the social mores/attitudes of others, is just plain daft. Reminds me of this sort of nonsense:

Thats all American crap Hora.

To me, to me,

To you, to you?

To me, to me, the idea that someone can or cannot wear some item of clothing, or particular hairstyle etc, because of the social mores/attitudes of others, is just plain daft. Reminds me of this sort of nonsense:

If it does remind you of that sort of nonsense, then you don't understand the original question.

Is it polyester?

Is it polyester?

Black Watch. It's probably a clip on.

It's not, for that would make it an easy decision :). It's wool.

I'd say wear it if you want.

If you wear it, one of two things will happen when you meet someone:

1) they won't know what it is, so who cares.

2) they will know what it is, and if they recognise it they will almost certainly want to talk to you about it. At which point you can explain that your brother was in the regiment, he gave it to you and you're wearing it out of honour and respect for your brother.

The logic I'm following here is, why would he have given it to you in the first place if wearing it would be a massive faux pas? If that were the case he'd surely have explained when he gave the gift, that it was a souvenir or symbol or whatever and you shouldn't really wear it in public?

"It signifies that you were part of something."

Part of what? Most clothing styles signify something or other, in a historical context. Suits and ties were worn by upper classes to signify their social position. So if you're not part of the upper classes, you're guilty of misappropriation? If you wear jeans, you're a cowboy? If you wear a cycling team shirt, you're part of that team? Nonsense.

"then you don't understand the original question."

It's you who doesn't understand the link. Which is about people deciding they can dictate to others about what they can and cannot do.

If you can buy one in the Black Watch Gift Shop, definitely yes.

Goon Show time!

Greenslade:
Don't tell me you're applying for the post of announcer?

Eccles:
Oh, yeah! And I'll get it too, you'll see! I'm wearing a Cambridge tie!

Greenslade:
You? You were at Cambridge?

Eccles:
Yeah!

Greenslade:
What were you doing there?

Eccles:
Buying a tie.

clodhopper - Member

"It signifies that you were part of something."

Part of what?

Most regiments will have a few different ties. Some will designate service, some an attachment to the regiment, that can be given as gifts. I'd suggest you probably have the latter.

I would never wear the tie of an organisation that would have me as member.

I wear SAS underpants at the weekend.

Can I wear my Fields Of The Nephilim t shirt? As far as I can remember I've not played with the band.

I used to have a shirt I rescued from the SAS.

footflaps - Member
I wear SAS underpants at the weekend.

I'm commando.

Unless in memorial, I'd suggest not.

I'd say though, the closest I've ever been to service was marines and I ,usually scaring the shit out of each other during night training / rides on Woodbury Common (where they all train).

Can I wear my Fields Of The Nephilim t shirt? As far as I can remember I've not played with the band.

Google "stolen goth valour".

You should hand your limp greasy black hair in shame. Pretending you've been in a goth band. Shame on you.

Bet you don't even have a dry ice machine at home.

The logic I'm following here is, why would he have given it to you in the first place if wearing it would be a massive faux pas?

I did ask the same question, and if you can buy them as ned says then perhaps even more so. But then as other responses show to some it is bad form. I'll ask my brother when he returns, but it's interesting to see what people think.

In reply to a couple of the posts here, I think it is incredibly respectful to wonder if it is appropriate to wear this tie, not because someone is dictating what you can and cannot wear, but because people who are in that regiment fought bravely for their country and in many cases laid down their life in support of this country. To that end people do not have the right to choose to wear their emblem without earning it through blood, sweat and fight, or in this case as a mark of respect for their relative who wants them to proudly wear his regimental tie.

I'm all for free speech and people not being restricted but a little respect for those who pay the ultimate sacrifice goes a long way.

That's all American crap hora?

You weren't there man.

CaptainFlashheart - Member
Is it polyester?
Black Watch. It's probably a clip on.

POSTED 31 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Genius.

To the OP, I'd say wear with pride, be prepared to answer the question 'were you in the regiment' at anytime - you never know who will recognise it..I wear mine occasionally and I'm always surprised at the number of folk who will use it as an ice breaker.

The logic I'm following here is, why would he have given it to you in the first place if wearing it would be a massive faux pas?

It is obviously a test. If you don't wear the tie you are offending him by rejecting the gift. If you do wear the tie you are offending a bunch of IT geeks on STW whose grand parents were probably conscripted into a war at some point and had to go along or they'd have been shot.

You can't win.

It depends on the tie, if it's one of the public purchase ones then feel free to wear it but if it is a regimental tie only available to those that have served then I wouldn't wear it unless it was to a specific event where it would be acceptable and is part of the dress code.

Wear what the hell you like, when you like! It's only a tie! Who TF are others to dictate what you can and cannot wear?

What if it's a medal?

Sell it on ebay.

It's the sort of thing Jeffrey Archer would do, if you are comfortable with that, go ahead.

I would just advise if you do wear it for a "special occasion", keep clear of hotel door knobs.

If you want to wear it, do so.

But be prepared that you might bump into servicemen who might not take too kindly to you not having earned said right to do so, however I'm sure if you don't act like a Walt & are upfront about your reasons you'll be fine.

Caveat emptor I think applies here..
(Ps from someone who has served)

Wear it if you want.

If it was me i'd be tying it round my head and painting stripes on my face.

I'm Ex Forces and have no problems with family members wearing regimental ties etc. If ever asked just say it was a gift from your brother who served with the Black Watch and no one should take issue.

I'm Ex Forces and have no problems with family members wearing regimental ties etc. If ever asked just say it was a gift from your brother who served with the Black Watch and no one should take issue.

Well that's a profoundly disappointingly sensible answer.

Can't you at least pretend you'd lynch the OP? Just to keep the STW armchair military experts happy?

Not sure what the rules are on it - what the driver for wanting to wear it?

Is it a nice tie?
Are you short of ties?
Are you wearing in 'in honor' of your brother?

Or do you want to have others think you're something you're not?

For me the first two wouldn't be enough for me to wear it (but I hate ties) I wouldn't for the 3rd reason in the same way I don't wear the tie that belonged to my Grandad, I keep it in my sock drawer so I see it from time to time and it reminds me of him, and the third - well, frankly it's an arsehole's move.

You can wear it, just not round your neck

What if it's a medal?

Family members again not a problem. Having been to a few memorial events I wear my granddads medals on the right of my chest to separate them from my own. Many people I have met are wearing the medals of their family lost in conflict or that have passed away since.

It's a nice tie, and I have to wear a tie for work, no more than that. And while I'm very proud of my brother he's thankfully alive and well so there's no memorial aspect to it.

And the potential for someone to even think it was the last option is what prompted the question.

If it was me i'd be tying it round my head and painting stripes on my face.

[img] [/img]

Family members again not a problem. Having been to a few memorial events I wear my granddads medals on the right of my chest to separate them from my own. Many people I have met are wearing the medals of their family lost in conflict or that have passed away since.

Thats why I wore my Grandads Iron Cross on My passing out parade 😀

Will a member of the Black Watch do a big flounce once they find out you didn't serve with them ?

I would imagning not.

Well that's a profoundly disappointingly sensible answer.

Can't you at least pretend you'd lynch the OP? Just to keep the STW armchair military experts happy?

The Walter Mitty's that try to pass themselves off as having served are parasites and only too often turn up to events with chest full of medals that make no sense. Then try to convince you they have served and soon get get out. Absolutely no time for these muppets that show such disrespect to those that have.

It's a nice tie, and I have to wear a tie for work, no more than that. And while I'm very proud of my brother he's thankfully alive and well so there's no memorial aspect to it.

Wear it. If someone recognises it and asks you about then tell them it's your brothers and introduce his name. If that person knows him then in no time you will know every little secret he has tried to keep quiet 😀

I like that plan 🙂

The Walter Mitty's that try to pass themselves off as having served are parasites

tell me about it!

As as Engineer (with a degree in Engineering) I have to watch every Tom Dick and Harry with a BTech drive around in vans saying "Engineer". Passing themselves off without having served all that time in a drug induced haze at University shagging all those Freshers. Enough to make my blood boil.

Passing themselves off without having served all that time in a [s]drug[/s] cheap cider induced haze at University [s]shagging[/s] eating all those [b]RE[/b]Freshers.

A more accurate assessment of your average Engineering student, I think you'll find.
[img] [/img]

Engineers shagging freshers? Things have changed since I studied engineering.

Engineers shagging freshers?

There you go, Engineer passing themselves off as being attractive to the opposite sex. Next thing you know, they'll all be wearing Regimental ties....

Engineer passing themselves off as being attractive to the opposite sex. Next thing you know, they'll all be wearing Regimental ties....

Ties with a picture of Mental Reggie,the wackiest guy in the Engineering Department?

A counterpart of Big Mad Drongo from The High Energy Magic department?

What if it's a medal?

Medals worn in memory of someone else's achievements are worn on the right breast, to save confusion.

Maybe wear the tie as a belt in an effort to achieve the same effect 😉

I can tie both a half and a full Windsor knot, but that's because, unlike most of you lot, I:

a) Had a good upbringing

b) Have opposable thumbs

Maybe wear the tie as a belt in an effort to achieve the same effect

I think the Rambo look is a better choice.

b) Have opposable thumbs

Get you, with your superior DNA!

"In reply to a couple of the posts here, I think it is incredibly respectful to wonder if it is appropriate to wear this tie, not because someone is dictating what you can and cannot wear, but because people who are in that regiment fought bravely for their country and in many cases laid down their life in support of this country. To that end [b]people do not have the right to choose[/b] to wear their emblem without earning it through blood, sweat and fight, or in this case as a mark of respect for their relative who wants them to proudly wear his regimental tie.

[b]I'm all for free speech and people not being restricted[/b] but a little respect for those who pay the ultimate sacrifice goes a long way."

This made me laugh. Which is about as political as I'm going to get about this.

I meet loads of those Walter Mitty types who reckon they were with me when I stormed the Iranian embassy.

I meet loads of those Walter Mitty types who reckon they were with me when I stormed the Iranian embassy.

I trust you aggressively enquire as to the colour of the boat house at Hereford?

I trust you aggressively enquire as to the colour of the boat shed at Hereford?

Everyone knows there never was a boat house 😉

Everyone knows there never was a boat house

ty types who reckon they were with me when I stormed the Iranian embassy

That balcony keeps getting bigger & bigger!

That balcony keeps getting bigger & bigger!

Now that Lewis Collins is no longer with us we'll never know the truth of who was really there.

I'm ex forces and (in the nicest way possible) I really wouldn't care if you wore it. The black watch however aren't reknowned for their powers of reason so be careful....

I wear SAS underpants at the weekend.

Those will be your [u]S[/u]aturday [u]A[/u]nd [u]S[/u]unday Pants then 😆

Passing themselves off without having served all that time in a drug induced haze at University shagging all those Freshers

The engineers at my university seemed to divide their time between Warhammer and re-enacting mediaeval battles.

Wear it back to front to show that you are doing it in honour of someone else - like you wear medals on the right hand side

SAS underpants surley that means 'Skids and Stains'

SAS underpants surley that means 'Skids and Stains'

[i] " Men of the Black Watch do not weep,
it was not you who shagged those sheep,
for on the hillside it was seen,
the big bare arse of a Royal Marine."[/i]

Just saying that your choice of tie might say a bit about you...

I can tie both a half and a full Windsor knot,

Only wear the tie if you know why the tips of their spats are clipped

" Men of the Black Watch do not weep,
it was not you who shagged those sheep,
for on the hillside it was seen,
the big bare arse of a Royal Marine."

In the deepest part of Africa
Where the Navy`s never been
Stands an 8ft Zulu Warrior
Being shagged by a Royal Marine

Chorus

Royal Marines, Royal Marines
Theyre the biggest bunch of tossers the world has ever seen

cheekyboy - Member
In the deepest part of Africa
Where the Navy`s never been...

For the sake of accuracy, Mimi and Tou-Tou would disagree that the RN has never been seen in the deepest part of Africa. 🙂

Wear the tie. Anyone who knows what it is will ask you and be happy with the explanation.

Now that Lewis Collins is no longer with us we'll never know the truth of who was really there.

😥

Wear the tie. Answer any enquiries honestly. I'd be tempted to do a search on that particular tie too just to see if it symbolises anything, or where it's available to buy.