college scarves..

**Coolidge24** · February 12th, 2006 21:05

We've talked extensively about regimental tie etiquette.

What about college scarves? I would never wear the colors of a university's college (say, Yale's Morse College) if I had not attended there.

However, what if one's colors are the same as a university's? For example, in Press's fall catalog, the UVA and Princeton scarves looked identical..at least in the picture.

What if (this is not true) I went to another orange-black school. Could I buy either of those scarves and not be seen as a poseur?

Or is there some subtletly of stripe width that differentiates a Tiger and a Cavalier and another alma mater?

Also, if one cannot just pick out one's colors from next fall's Press offerings, either because it's "wrong" to use another school's scarf with the same colors as your own, or because your colors aren't offered, is there a big website somewhere, like the ribbon belt site Harris once posted, that has the gold mine of college scarves?

**sunnisalafi** · February 12th, 2006 21:10

Actually Coolidge, UVA is navy/orange and Princeton is black/orange.

I've wondered the same thing about buying a navy/gold schoolboy scarf. That's my school colors, but the actual scarf is for University College, Oxford.

http://www.britishgoods.com/ScarvesPics4.htm

**Film_Noir_Buff** · February 12th, 2006 21:11

Wait, I thought we'd established that Morse is the Co-Op?

As to the rest of your question, I think it would be pushing it a bit to assume that simple two color stripes on a scarf are the preserve of a given university. perhaps if it had a blazon, device or charge on it as the Oxford U. Scarves have.

**Coolidge24** · February 12th, 2006 21:12

quote:Originally posted by sunnisalafi

Actually Coolidge, UVA is navy/orange and Princeton is black/orange.

I've wondered the same thing about buying a navy/gold schoolboy scarf. That's my school colors, but the actually scarf is for some college in England. (I forget which one.)

My apologies. I've only visited either once. My apologies to Mr. Commoli and all other UVA grads.

**Coolidge24** · February 12th, 2006 21:19

quote:Originally posted by Film_Noir_Buff

Wait, I thought we'd established that Morse is the Co-Op?

If that's a joke I missed it, must not have been there for the previous discussion

If it's not a joke I'm pretty sure Morse is a college since I played in a big band with a recent master of Morse for several years and he always wore their colors.

**Film_Noir_Buff** · February 12th, 2006 21:26

quote:Originally posted by Coolidge24

quote:Originally posted by Film_Noir_Buff

Wait, I thought we'd established that Morse is the Co-Op?

If that's a joke I missed it, must not have been there for the previous discussion

If it's not a joke I'm pretty sure Morse is a college since I played in a big band with a recent master of Morse for several years and he always wore their colors.

Oh, thought you might have gotten that, sorry. Weren't you around when we had that big thread about the way guys dressed at Ivy league colleges in the 50s with photos? Anyway, it isn't so much a joke as a pleasanterie. Mention that "Morse is the co-op" to your friend sometime and see if he doesnt smile, even if wrily.

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**Tomasso** · February 12th, 2006 21:37

BOO!!!

**jasonpraxis** · February 12th, 2006 21:38

I've lamented the difficulty here and elsewhere in the past. But I think I'm in too small a minority to see a good college scarf in my colors anytime soon. So my concern is related, but perhaps unique*:

For reasons that are quite beyond me, Northwestern University does not offer a "schoolboy muffler" in school colors. An acrylic short scarf in purple and charcoal is as close as it gets. What I want is the long long long purple and white in wool.

I'll be patient for another year or so. But that J. Press London University muffler exactly matches my prep school colors. Maybe that's the one for me. (I've noted before that my prep school uses the Argyll and Sutherland colors as the necktie. Shall I go for the full rig in prep school colors because my university fails to deliver?)

*Unique concern, I'm not sure. Surely we've got another past/present/future Northwestern gentleman around?

**Leon** · February 12th, 2006 23:49

quote:Originally posted by Film_Noir_Buff

As to the rest of your question, I think it would be pushing it a bit to assume that simple two color stripes on a scarf are the preserve of a given university. perhaps if it had a blazon, device or charge on it as the Oxford U. Scarves have.

When I was at college, It was thought a bit naff to wear a college scarf with a coat of arms on it too. Over egging the pudding.

In fact, it was thought a bit naff to have a college scarf at all. All the freshers got one and then after one's first term they were all mothballed.

That said I did wear mine yesterday for the first time in yonks. Stripey scarves have been quite trendy for a couple of years.

About Eden's penchant for double-breasted waistcoats:
"Always had doubts about that. So did my tailor."
Bill Deedes

**Trimmer** · February 13th, 2006 03:13

quote:Originally posted by Leon

quote:Originally posted by Film_Noir_Buff

As to the rest of your question, I think it would be pushing it a bit to assume that simple two color stripes on a scarf are the preserve of a given university. perhaps if it had a blazon, device or charge on it as the Oxford U. Scarves have.

When I was at college, It was thought a bit naff to wear a college scarf with a coat of arms on it too. Over egging the pudding.

In fact, it was thought a bit naff to have a college scarf at all. All the freshers got one and then after one's first term they were all mothballed.

That said I did wear mine yesterday for the first time in yonks. Stripey scarves have been quite trendy for a couple of years.

I think striped Oxbridge scarves with a crest on them are a relatively recent innovation probably dreamt up by the suppliers to make then more 'exclusive' to their shops and to put up the prices. I don't remember seeing a scarf with a crest on much before the 1990s. Until around that time few undergrads would have actually worn a college scarf if they valued their 'coolness' (or is it just 'cool'?). As Leon says they are now quite fashionable and my son has worn mine more in the last week than I have ever worn it.

As to the original question, I think there is a distinction between ties and scarves. I think it would be odd rather than incorrect to wear a scarf for an institution you did not attend probably because not every institution has a tie but most have a scarf. In other words (in the UK) if you want to wear a college scarf there is almost certainly one you are actually entitled to wear.

When I was at school (in pre-cool days) we used to exchange scarves with our girlfriends (single-sex schools) to show off.

Trimmer

**morgan** · February 13th, 2006 05:25

True story: my friend once had a scarf from Barts which he bought purely for the colours. He was wearing it in a pub when he was approached by a woman who recognised the scarf and wanted to talk about med school days.

My friend - as he always maintained he would do - came clean immediately, owned up to never having been there and confessed he bought the scarf because the colours appealled to him.

And that is how he met his wife.

**Doctor Damage** · February 13th, 2006 05:27

quote:Originally posted by sunnisalafi

I've wondered the same thing about buying a navy/gold schoolboy scarf. That's my school colors, but the actual scarf is for University College, Oxford.

I've ordered a scarf from a school I attended for a while, also in Oxford, but not quite "OXFORD": Oxford-Brookes Poli...ho ho ho.

DD

**morgan** · February 13th, 2006 06:35

I guess you could order a scarf to show you'd been to Oxxford...

**Curator** · February 13th, 2006 07:04

Both the Oxford College scarves and sweatshirts with crest are very popular here today. I picked up the scarf on one of my first days here, but don't wear it much, not because it's gaudy but because it's a terrible scarf, about half an inch thick, heavy, scratchy wool, that is too thick to twist and loop like a lighter scarf.

Many folks do wear their college scarf almost daily around town, with the crest flipped to the front to show allegiance.

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**Doctor Damage** · February 13th, 2006 07:07

quote:Originally posted by morgan

I guess you could order a scarf to show you'd been to Oxxford...

Actually, I did earn several credits at the Poly-Tech in Oxford as part of an exchange program. I've ordered their scarf because (1) it is their legit colours, and (2) my own Canadian university has no scarf, colours, kilt, or anything else I'd be willing to wear, other than their rugby shirts.

Morgan: great story about your friend with the Bart's scarf. Nice woman too, she must have liked his confidence and honesty! (Trivia fans will note that Graham Chapman got his medical degree from Bart's and was toying with either teaching or practicing there.)

DD

**Concordia** · February 13th, 2006 07:08

Yes, what is the deal with that really scratchy wool? I'd be more fond of the look if J Press or the Andover Shop also had a cashmere or lambswool alternative.

**Coolidge24** · February 13th, 2006 07:21

So the consensus seems to be as long as it doesn't have university shields on it that identify it as the province of a particular school and it matches your own colors exactly...it's okay?

I gather also that it's less okay in the UK than stateside.

**Blackadder** · February 13th, 2006 07:26

Sorry, but those crests are really quite naff. Definitely over-egging as Leon pointed out. It's almost as bad as having a college tie with the name of the college woven into the stripes.

**Coolidge24** · February 13th, 2006 07:30

quote:Originally posted by Blackadder

Sorry, but those crests are really quite naff. Definitely over-egging as Leon pointed out. It's almost as bad as having a college tie with the name of the college woven into the stripes.

I agree with you, I am referring to just the colors, sans crests. The crests are the same reason I haven't bought any of Brooks's "Ivy League" narrow ties they are now marketing...I don't want to come off as a Harry Potter imitator!

**Holdfast** · February 13th, 2006 07:31

One day I must really get round to buying a college tie and scarf. I've recently rediscovered my old school tie which has was buried in an drawer for years and it would be nice to add the college tie to the rotation as well.

I agree with everyone else though - no crests, just stripes.

**chorse123** · February 13th, 2006 07:40

**Leon** · February 13th, 2006 08:25

quote:Originally posted by jasstoltz

Ah i thought that was 'emma'!

Remember stripey scarves and ties take the same design. So imposters be aware!

Leon

**chorse123** · February 13th, 2006 08:57

Well done, Leon. Emma indeed.

I'm in favor of only wearing scarves of colleges you attended. The faux-university stripe versions (see J.Crew) strike me as a little sad, and just generally strange.

**Blackadder** · February 13th, 2006 09:17

quote:Originally posted by Coolidge24

So the consensus seems to be as long as it doesn't have university shields on it that identify it as the province of a particular school and it matches your own colors exactly...it's okay?

I gather also that it's less okay in the UK than stateside.

I think it's more OK on the US side, as there are no actual university designs for the most part -- just colours. For example, the muffler that the now-defunct Yale Co-op used to sell had different stripe widths to that sold by J Press. Which is the more authentic? Ironically, probably the Co-op's; but Press's heritage (and the fact that they also made college mufflers) meant that their muffler became the standard. (The Press Yale scarf, interestingly, is also labelled as appropriate for Peterhouse, Cambridge.)

I get the impression that in the UK the design (and not merely the colours) are very specific to particular institutions. So you are more likely to be subjec to "poser" accusations over there.

**boomerchop** · February 13th, 2006 09:59

quote:Originally posted by sunnisalafi

Actually Coolidge, UVA is navy/orange and Princeton is black/orange.

I've wondered the same thing about buying a navy/gold schoolboy scarf. That's my school colors, but the actual scarf is for University College, Oxford.

http://www.britishgoods.com/ScarvesPics4.htm

I would buy and wear a navy/gold scarf regardless of who it was made for because for me it would signify United States Navy.

"...without a Respectable Navy, Alas America!"
Captain John Paul Jones, 17 October 1776, in a letter to Robert Morris.

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