Stolen Valor question: Regimental Neckties

There’s a Pit thread about some idjit who wore medals and a uniform he wasn’t entitled to.

What about neckties? There are places online where you can buy a necktie, say, of the British Royal Engineers, or the Canadian RCMP, or various U.S. military units.

Why would they sell such things openly if it’s wrong to wear 'em? Can one claim to be “showing solidarity” for the troops? Heck, how many people would even recognize them?

On a scale of “So What” to “I’d punch you in the nose if you did it,” how bad is it for someone to wear a Regimental necktie when he’s never been a member?

What about school neckties? Sure, someone would have to be a wanker and a poser to wear, say, an Oxford necktie without ever having been to Oxford…but… How bad a thing is it?

(My opinion is relatively moot, as I would never recognize any of these things, even at conversational distance.)

Far as that goes, what about fake heraldry? I could whip up a coat-of-arms and emblazon it on my necktie. Obviously, this would be hokey and pretentious and wimpy and fatuous…but is it wrong? But then, in the U.S. (because in Britain there are actual laws) what if I wore the arms of the Viscount Lifford, or whatever. How many people would know it if they saw it?

IIRC, the old school ties of the British universities are not for the school, but for student associations something like alumni groups. You can technically be a member of those groups without being a graduate, or even having attended.

Or so I recall… any BritDopers want to politely set me straight before I run amok in my Old Harrovian tie?