Obama's Repp Tie and the Width of Stripes

[camorristi]

I think this is the best looking tie the president has worn since he's been office. Anyway, my question is, why are there different widths in the stripes of repp ties? Are certain widths more appropriate with certain types of collars?

 

[GoldenTribe]

I can't help you beyond telling you your first question is a waste of time ("why is there" anything?), but I feel bad for all the bankers, accountants, presidents, TV personalities, and news anchors who literally are not allowed to wear anything but the plainest of the plain striped ties.

 

[MyOtherLife]

Originally Posted by GoldenTribe

I can't help you beyond telling you your first question is a waste of time ("why is there" anything?), but I feel bad for all the bankers, accountants, presidents, TV personalities, and news anchors who literally are not allowed to wear anything but the plainest of the plain striped ties.
You actually feel bad for people who maipulate your mind, money and very life? Surely you jest.

 

[BBC]

Ah ****, Obama's going to be in trouble again - he's wearing his rep stripe tie with the stripes in the English direction. Poor guy, he can't do anything right.

 

[GoldenTribe]

Originally Posted by BBC

Ah ****, Obama's going to be in trouble again - he's wearing his rep stripe tie with the stripes in the English direction. Poor guy, he can't do anything right.
I've never until this moment given any thought to the direction of the slant of stripes on a tie. Sure enough, after checking my tie rack I've got quite a few in either direction, though the ones that match Obama's ("down and to the left") outnumber the others ("down and to the right"). How many people do you think would notice the difference? If one's "English" is the other "American" or "Anything-but-English" or what? (Seeing as I'm neither English nor America)

 

[BBC]

No need to rehash too much (a much debated subject among certain posters), but "down and to the left" are English rep ties for actual military units, clubs, universities, etc. that only member are supposed to wear (they "earned" them) while "down and to the right" is for all other rep stripes.

Argyll and Sutherland (the real rep tie)

Argyll and Sutherland (from Brooks Brothers)

 

[camorristi]

Originally Posted by GoldenTribe

I've never until this moment given any thought to the direction of the slant of stripes on a tie. Sure enough, after checking my tie rack I've got quite a few in either direction, though the ones that match Obama's ("down and to the left") outnumber the others ("down and to the right"). How many people do you think would notice the difference? If one's "English" is the other "American" or "Anything-but-English" or what? (Seeing as I'm neither English nor America)

Interesting point, I never knew that. What about the stripes from a sartorial point of view?

 

[tgt465]

Originally Posted by camorristi

What about the stripes from a sartorial point of view?

Some claim the English stripe is fundamentally the correct one, since men's jackets button left side over right. This makes the predominant line across the chest from left shoulder to right bottom, and the English stripe matches this. However I personally don't care too much about this.

 

[TonyThe Tailor]

Originally Posted by tgt465

Some claim the English stripe is fundamentally the correct one, since men's jackets button left side over right. This makes the predominant line across the chest from left shoulder to right bottom, and the English stripe matches this. However I personally don't care too much about this.

I was schooled that it was because the stripes "fell from the heart"

 

[Blackhood]

The only functional reason for having different sized stripes is so that they can be paired with other striped fabrics.

EG:
Very thick stripe could be worn with a Bengal Stripe shirt
A very narrow stripe can be worn with a more boldly striped shirt
A medium width stripe can be paired with a herringbone suit

Obviously this isn't why they were invented, but asking why there are so many is like asking why there are so many types of painting on a gallery.