The striped tie was once a clear mark of a man place in society. The stripes showed regimental, and club colours, that marked him out instantly to fellow members, and those in the know. This is seldom now the case.
The repp tie was popularized in the Untied States after the Duke of Windsor donned the tie of his regiment (the Grenadier Guards) whilst visiting the country. The tie was adopted into the preppy culture of Americas east coast. Although Brooks Brothers later bowed to pressure from the British, (who were understandable annoyed at their American cousins 'flying under false colours') and took to running their stripes right to left, rather that left to right.
With the demise of the gentleman's club, and the cutbacks to the military, the class connotations of the repp tie have largely disappeared. It is now an essential item for any man's wardrobe. It can be dressed up with a suit to evoke the elegance of the Duke of Windsor, or paired with a cotton button down to channel your inner preppy.
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