Wearing the beret is of a disarming simplicity, as is its comfort. However, many fail to do it in the right way because they mistake those simple gestures that are necessary to wear it.
Below I have prepared a short video with explanations (if you want to scroll down the page), but now I want to tell you a little about this practical hat and its fascinating history, a symbol of seduction, romance, but also of a style rock and rebel.
In the collective imagination it has become the symbol of the chic and refined taste of Paris.The beret is one of the most versatile hats in history, an evergreen classic, whether it's a Parisian, Spanish or Italian beret, it makes no difference, what we love about him is his practicality and simplicity.
Made mostly of felted wool, the oldest form of cloth, created by pressing the wool.
The Basque, the history
A Basque-like headdress has been worn since the Bronze Age throughout Northern Europe and up to ancient Crete and Italy, where it was used by Minoans, Etruscans and Romans.
Although its origin, as mentioned above, dates back to the north of Spain, the first production of Basques began in the 17th century in the Oloron-Sainte-Marie area in southern France. The first factory, Beatex-Laulhere, claims production records dating back to 1810.
A transversal symbol, the beret
It is amazing how a simple hat like the beret can have become over the years a real icon of style and fashion for different classes, even far from each other.
Few symbols can boast of having been a conservative, revolutionary, rock 'n' roll, cultural and at the same time rebellious icon.
In Western fashion there was the explosion of the beret as a headdress, men and women wore the beret from the 1920s as sportswear and later as a fashion statement.
Basically the perfect headdress, which protected the head effectively and which could be quickly removed, rolled up and put in your pocket.
When the French want to imagine themselves as "the typical average Frenchman", they imagine themselves with a beret on his head, a mustache upwards and a baguette under his arm and perhaps the inevitable shirt with horizontal stripes and a small scarf tied around the neck.
In addition to the French and the Spaniards, another people closely linked to the Basque is the Scottish. The Scottish beret (with a pompom in the center) is considered a symbol of patriotism, along with the inevitable kilt.
The beret in fashion and culture
Another symbol linked to the Basque is that of culture. In fact, it has always been linked to a large number of intellectuals, artists and famous people.
Suffice it to mention the painter Rembrandt and composer Richard Wagner, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Faye Dunaway, Lady Diana, Rihanna, Marlene Dietrich, Benny Hill, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Spencer, Jean-Paul Sartre, Johnny Rotten, the Pink Panther, Edith Piaf, the Black Panthers, Beyoncé, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Madonna, Lucio Dalla, Bob Marley, Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols) and many others.
Even the Chinese over the years have adopted the beret both as a fashion statement and for its political overtones.
A symbol of revolution
Who has never seen at least once the “Guerrillero Heroico”, an iconic photograph made by Alberto Korda, which portrays Che Guevara, the famous Argentine revolutionary wearing a black beret with a brass star.
Adherents of the Rastafari (Rasta) movement also often wear a very large black knitted or crocheted cap with red, gold and green circles on top of their dreadlocks.
How to combine the beret
The beret has that pinch of vintage air that makes it perfect for a retro style look, but also an artistic and cultural one.
You can certainly combine it with both casual and elegant clothing, therefore very versatile.
How to wear the beret
How do you wear the beret? Take the beret with two never and place it above your head, lower it behind and accompany it with your hands on one side.
Usually the beret is worn pushed to one side, the important thing is not to pull it too much towards the front, but to find the right position that enhances your face.
Undoubtedly the beret is a headdress that can be worn by men and women at any time, both in summer and in winter.
Tutorial : Watch the video I made for you on our YouTube page.
Sonia