The beret began as the hat of Basque and Béarn shepherds, and one factory in Oloron-Sainte-Marie has been making them since 1840. Today it is the easiest way to look like you have an opinion, and its close cousins, the felt hat and the flat cap, follow the same rules. This is how to choose the material, the size and the tilt.
The Beret, and the Soft Hats That Keep It Company
A shepherd's hat with a long memory
The word beret comes from the Béarnais berret, and the hat has been made in the Pyrenees for centuries. Production in the town of Nay dates from 1819, and Laulhère has been making berets in Oloron-Sainte-Marie since 1840, according to the Pau tourist office. After years of baseball caps and slouchy beanies, the beret is the hat that makes you look like you have just stepped off a train in Paris. It is also surprisingly practical, because it keeps your head warm and fits into a coat pocket.
Wool, felt and size
A traditional beret is made from a single piece of felted wool, which makes it water resistant and soft. Echo and Weekend Max Mara make wool felt versions in black, gray and camel. Eugenia Kim makes a leather one with a stem, and Barbour makes a cap-style beret for the countryside. Choose a diameter that frames your face. A smaller beret sits tighter and reads sleek, while a larger beret falls to one side with more slouch. Try it with your hair down and up.
Find your tilt
The classic way to wear a beret is tilted slightly to the right with the band across the forehead. Pull it down on one side for a French look, or push it back for a more relaxed style. A beret worn flat on top of your head looks costume-like, so aim for some asymmetry. Picture her in a navy beret, a gray trench and red lips, leaning over a table at a cafe. The hat is the finishing touch. It takes a few tries to find the angle that suits your face.
Style it for now
A beret works with a long wool coat, a leather jacket, a trench or a sweater. It looks good with a low bun or loose hair tucked behind one ear. In our fashion dreams she wears a black beret with a cream turtleneck and gold hoops, and the whole look feels like a black and white film. Avoid pairing it with too many French cliches. A striped shirt and a beret together are a lot, so pick one.
What I would skip
I would skip acrylic berets, which can look shiny and feel scratchy. I would skip very small berets that perch on the crown, since they look like a mistake. And I would skip bright novelty colors if you only want to buy one. Black, navy, camel and burgundy are the classics, and a good wool beret will keep its shape for years.
