School tie

Figuratively, it is used to refer to the connection between members of the elite who attended the institutions: this is particularly associated with public schools.

This symbol can be a discreet passport to the old boy network, and such ties can be an indication of one's social standing.

Alternative clothing such as socks, scarfs, pyjamas and even underwear may also be available in the old-boy/old-girl colours.

[citation needed] These exclusive ties are not limited to British public schools: they are also a practice of some elite schools in Australia, many private, state-integrated, and some of the more prestigious state schools in New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago many clubs, military regiments and colleges of universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, and have also spread to some of Britain's former imperial possessions, including Canada and the United States.

[citation needed] The "old school tie"[6] is used by the British press and many native English speakers as a metaphor for old-boy social networks, nepotism, and the relatively disproportionate success of former pupils of major public schools, especially in politics and business.