I never wear bars at all.
Just a high viz jacket, heavy or light weight, depends on weather and location.
Jacket has Captain written on back in big letters and same in small on port side over left nipple.
Only time it is ever a confusion is when perhaps in Nigeria, you were flying with a Commander. But then I am the Captain and he is the Commander until I am the Commander and then it becomes -'No, this says I am the Captain but he is the Captain and I am the Commander'. No airport official ever contests that sort of logic arguements. They understand that sort of thinking very well.
Mein Got! What nonsense - especially as most who wear the epallettes with such glee neglect their trouser pressing, shirt tails and clean shoes anyway so end up looking like toilet attendants at Sun City.
(but you gotta wear Ray Bans if you are a low timer. If you are old and have grizzled eyes that shows you have a lot, a very big lot, of experi)ence.