Ties started dying out in Universities a long time ago and I have been openly mocked for being a tie enthusiast (including by one vice-chancellor). Yesterday a number of colleagues told me they loved my tie which I wore at a careers event. I’ve been wearing one less and I think it’s a shame that I am succumbing to a bizarre belief that not wearing a tie somehow erases class or gender privilege (or that choosing to wear one signifies meritocratic ascension). A tie is part of a costume for sure, but it signifies many things, and can just be fashion… I wore one today for an online meeting. Is the tie dead? Fashion connoisseurs hope not as House of Lords relaxes rules https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/18/is-the-tie-dead-fashion-connoisseurs-house-of-lords-relaxes-rules?CMP=share_btn_url