Striped Ties

It is true that the "Rep Stripe" tie is different in Europe. I believe that it is a military uniform influence. The "American Rep Stripe" will cross the chest diagonally with the stripes pointing from the right shoulder. The "European Rep Stripe" crosses the chest with the stripes pointing from left shoulder. If a riffle were to be carried in sling strapped over the shoulder, the American soldier would carry his weapon over the right shoulder. The European military sling would carry over the left shoulder with the strap crossing the heart. American riffles eject shell casings to the right and the European riffle ejects shell casings to the left. American military - considering people are mostly right handed - have and easier access and feel for the rifle carried over the right shoulder. In dress the uniform would flow better without converging stripes. I am sure if you view West Point or other officer photographs you'll see this. Before the turn of the twentieth century the British came to the conclusion that their soldiers were easy targets in bright uniform. With the issue of drab uniforms the only way to dress up with color and style was a uniquely bright striped tie, with each division or service adopting their own colors. Of course this spread across the Atlantic. Americans still were proud of taking the land from England would not be out done by the United kingdom in anyway. After all they British navy still controlled the high seas and much of the world. This was explained to me years ago and I cannot confirm the truth of this explanation but logically it makes since. At the turn of the century (last one - twentieth) neckties were very much part of military uniform. European, and American fashion was influenced by the dress code of service men. I hope this answers your question. Without time to check this as fact I can only piece together what I have read and what my father and other gentlemen have told me.

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With the rep ties I think the direction has to do with if you have been engaged in combat. If you have been in combat you get to change the direction. Sort of like the old statue thing. If you died in combat your statue got to ride on a horse with legs up in the air or something. One of those things that few, if any are paying attention to these days. Next people will want to start dressing like prison thugs - what. that already happened??...

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I can assure you that wearing a tie to which you are not entitled remains a solecism in the UK. Those of us who have earned the right, through service, to wear one, consider it deeply insulting.

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All military bolt-action rifles of this century eject to the right, regardless of national origin. This includes the US 1903 Springfield and 1917 Enfield, the ubiquitous 1898 Mauser, the British SMLE, the French Lebel, the Swiss Schmidt Rubin, the Soviet Mosin-Nagant, and the Japanese Arisaka Type 38 and Type 99 rifles. Unsurprisingly, engineers build weapons to function best for 88% of the population.

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