Regimental and School Tie etiquette

Lost in the circus of Michael Jackson's trial was a brief outcry over his uh, cough, wardrobe. Michael was wearing british service medals on some ersatz watchchain. Southern California has a substantial expatriate British population and the outrage was deservedly sharp.I notice many specific reg and school patterns offered for sale. I was gifted with a RNLI tie during a joint USCG- RNLI training session and told to wear it. I am ethically concerned over the other dedicated patterns though?