[Chris Anderson]

Upon leaving my school, I was presented with two ties: a city tie, and a country tie (which has wider stripes). I am wondering what the etiquette is regarding these ties: clearly, when one is in London the city tie should be worn, and when in Dartmoor the country tie is more appropriate. However, I am wondering where the boundary lies: if one is in a small town, for instance, which is neither a city nor truly part of the country, which tie should be worn? Furthermore, when is it appropriate to wear an old school tie? Is it considered a faux pas, for example, to wear such a tie to work? Any guidance would be appreciated.
(Apologies if this thread would be better suited to the 'etiquette' section - I'm new to the forum.)

 

[eagle2250]

Having not seen the ties you describe, this is just a WAG, but were they mine, I would wear either one of them wherever and whenever I felt the urge, as long as the colors and patterns coordinated well with the rest of my rig.

PS: Welcome to AAAC, Chris Anderson!

 

[Chris Anderson]

Thanks for the welcome, Eagle.
The country tie is shown below:
And here is the city tie:

If that is at all helpful in informing any advice.

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Public school or uni?

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Chris Anderson]

Public school or uni?

Cheers,

BSR

Public school.

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

St. Leonard’s?

Beautiful place, daughter almost attended. Opted to study down south. Clearly not a Fettes tie!

School and regimentals can be tricky. Some of our U.K. based members will certainly be able to assist.

In the US we don’t suffer this issue except with armed service ties.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Chris Anderson]

St. Leonard's?

Beautiful place, daughter almost attended. Opted to study down south. Clearly not a Fettes tie!

School and regimentals can be tricky. Some of our U.K. based members will certainly be able to assist.

In the US we don't suffer this issue except with armed service ties.

Cheers,

BSR

Winchester College, actually, though I'm currently at university in St Andrews (hence my location tag!). St Leonard's certainly seems like a lovely school, and the town itself is gorgeous!
Thanks for your efforts.

 

[Troones]

Is the country tie so called just because of the presence of a brown stripe? Or does it really actually have something to do with the width of stripes? If its width, then I'm as "country" as they come.

 

[Chris Anderson]

Is the country tie so called just because of the presence of a brown stripe? Or does it really actually have something to do with the width of stripes? If its width, then I'm as "country" as they come.

I think it's just the width of the stripes, as the city tie does also have brown stripes. No idea why different ties are necessary, but such places do have their funny traditions.

 

[williamson]

Another possible factor is the fabric; a smooth silk tie would seem to belong in the "city" category, while a rougher woollen tie would be "country".

 

[Troones]

Ah, sorry. The brown stripe on the city tie didn't show up as brown on my monitor. It looked like double red stripes but I see it now taking a closer look.

 

[Acct2000]

In America, wear either tie any place you want to as long as it goes with the rest of your outfit. Not sure about in Great Britain.

 

[Flanderian]

I find your question very interesting, though other than by applying common sense, I can't hazard an answer. What is required is more specific knowledge, most likely provided by a UK member conversant with the proper etiquette for wearing each, since that can be very specific. Another avenue, which just occurred to me, is that if there are specific rules for their wear, those who make such items must be familiar with the correct etiquette and should be able to provide a much more authoritative answer than anyone here.

An additional issue that bears upon the nomenclature of these ties is what exactly is intended by the term city? My understanding is that the term city can pertain to any city, any city in Britain, the entire metropolis of London, or The City, a smaller, very specific area within greater London which has its own sartorial traditions. So is it a small C city tie, or a capital C City Tie?

Edit: BTW, both very handsome ties! :beer:

 

[Chris Anderson]

An additional issue that bears upon the nomenclature of these ties is what exactly is intended by the term city? My understanding is that the term city can pertain to any city, any city in Britain, the entire metropolis of London, or The City, a smaller, very specific area within greater London which has its own sartorial traditions. So is it a small C city tie, or a capital C City Tie?

This is another interesting issue. My instinct tells me that "city" in this case refers to any city anywhere, but given the nature of the school any of your options would be equally unsurprising.
Thanks for your kind words!

 

[JLibourel]

Another possible factor is the fabric; a smooth silk tie would seem to belong in the "city" category, while a rougher woollen tie would be "country".

Rather my thinking on the matter as well. If it is what we Americans call a "club" tie, the thematic elements would be a major factor in determining whether it is "country" or "city": For instance, woodcocks, foxes or pheasants on a tie clearly make it "country." (I even have one with shotguns on it!) Of course, who wears a tie these days in what Americans call "the country," I have no idea!

 

[Searching_Best_Fit]

@Chris Anderson: based on the school motto, shall I call you the Kingsman?

Joke aside, welcome to the forum. The Red/Blue/Brown is the school colors of your school. Apparently these are your school ties. They can be used in situation when you need to show your educational ties, and since you are already graduated you are entitled to wear them proudly.

Here is my guess on why the "country" and "city" ties. When you wear a city suit: i.e. dark or somber suit, use the dark/city (black?) tie with small stripes. When you wear a country suit (brown, tweed, and etc), wear the "country" tie. That way, it does not limit the usage of where you are going, but the tie is used according to your outfit. You can wear a city suit with city tie in a small town center and nobody should notice. Similarly, wearing a tweed suit with country tie in the same town center is also ok. IMHO that is the usage of these ties.

 

[Chris Anderson]

@Chris Anderson: based on the school motto, shall I call you the Kingsman?

Joke aside, welcome to the forum. The Red/Blue/Brown is the school colors of your school. Apparently these are your school ties. They can be used in situation when you need to show your educational ties, and since you are already graduated you are entitled to wear them proudly.

Here is my guess on why the "country" and "city" ties. When you wear a city suit: i.e. dark or somber suit, use the dark/city (black?) tie with small stripes. When you wear a country suit (brown, tweed, and etc), wear the "country" tie. That way, it does not limit the usage of where you are going, but the tie is used according to your outfit. You can wear a city suit with city tie in a small town center and nobody should notice. Similarly, wearing a tweed suit with country tie in the same town center is also ok. IMHO that is the usage of these ties.

Thanks for the welcome - call me what you wish...

Interesting points. I think you're right to say that the country tie would look better with a country suit, so perhaps it is just a question of aesthetics rather than one of etiquette. I'll take this as my guideline, unless somebody else is more certain.

 

[Oldsarge]

Again, this would be a U.S. option, but IMO anyone who was more certain might well be accused of hubris. There may have been a day, and I suggest that it would have been before my time (and that's a long way back), when Rules really did apply. However, today we should think more in terms of guidelines and the ones you have set for yourself seem quite reasonable to me. And welcome to the forum.

 

[Flanderian]

Rather my thinking on the matter as well. If it is what we Americans call a "club" tie, the thematic elements would be a major factor in determining whether it is "country" or "city": For instance, woodcocks, foxes or pheasants on a tie clearly make it "country." (I even have one with shotguns on it!) Of course, who wears a tie these days in what Americans call "the country," I have no idea!

@Chris Anderson: based on the school motto, shall I call you the Kingsman?

Joke aside, welcome to the forum. The Red/Blue/Brown is the school colors of your school. Apparently these are your school ties. They can be used in situation when you need to show your educational ties, and since you are already graduated you are entitled to wear them proudly.

Here is my guess on why the "country" and "city" ties. When you wear a city suit: i.e. dark or somber suit, use the dark/city (black?) tie with small stripes. When you wear a country suit (brown, tweed, and etc), wear the "country" tie. That way, it does not limit the usage of where you are going, but the tie is used according to your outfit. You can wear a city suit with city tie in a small town center and nobody should notice. Similarly, wearing a tweed suit with country tie in the same town center is also ok. IMHO that is the usage of these ties.

Seems most reasonable.

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

I suggest visiting the St. A's library and dusting off a copy of Debrett's. I pulled mine off the shelf yesterday, but it is a bit dated. The guidance was rather broad.

It stated that school ties are typically worn to school related functions, such as sporting events, old boy reunions, board of governors meetings etc., but that the networking aspect of school association has led many to begin wearing their school tie to a wide variety of occasions and that this practice is generally acceptable.

The main caveat is that one must have an association with the school to have the right to wear the tie. You most certainly have this qualification.

No info on city vs. country.

Cheers,

BSR