Beret

According to the explanatory dictionary, a beret is a round soft hat without a visor, band, brim or crown. It fits your head freely and looks voluminous. By the way, this casual shape suits almost any face type, especially if you choose the right color of the headdress.

@ivanna.neretina

Story

To this day, there is no consensus among scientists about how, where and when the beret appeared in people’s lives. According to one version, it was worn by the ancient Romans, who gave it the beautiful name “beretino”. The townspeople treated this headdress, if not with adoration, then with respect. They strictly distributed each beret by color: aristocrats wore hats of one shade, and commoners - another.

The second version is no less interesting. Its supporters suggest that the beret owes its appearance to the Celts and their headdress, which has remained a mandatory attribute of the Scottish national costume. It looked like a flattened half-cap with a soft pom-pom on the top.

Be that as it may, in the Middle Ages a new revolution took place in the history of this accessory.The beret became an element of the wardrobe of clergy, but its shape changed: now it has turned from round to quadrangular.

@nationalclothing.org

At the end of the 15th century, a headdress came into fashion in Germany, the distinctive feature of which was the brim bent at the back. It was something between a beret and a hat, but the Germans wore such an accessory for a long time.

At the beginning of the 16th century, round rather than rectangular headdresses became popular again in Spain. However, this fashion quickly disappeared, and the beret was forgotten for a long time.

Only in the 17th century was it remembered again: at that time, this accessory increasingly became part of the image of artists, especially Italians. In the 19th century, the fashion for a round soft hat spread throughout the world. This trend has also reached Russia, where the beret has become an element of festive attire.

@tenthstreethats.com

In the first half of the twentieth century, when the world was plunged into war, it was not only a secular, but also a military accessory. Now the beret was considered an element of equipment for tank crews and individual technical troops.

However, such an interesting headdress could not disappear from the lives of fashionistas forever. It was worn even in the most difficult times and continues to be worn to this day. Only the styles and colors change, but the base remains the same for many years.

@wsj.com

Kinds

Today, a beret is not just a headdress. This is a stylish accessory that can transform a person’s appearance, making him more playful or, on the contrary, strict and mysterious. It all depends on which style to choose. So, among the most popular models are:

1. Knitted beret. A warm, voluminous and incredibly beautiful accessory that looks great with almost any winter outerwear and protects from wind, snow and rain no worse than a fur hat.
2. A felt or tweed beret is a time-tested classic. It holds its shape perfectly and looks great with a formal coat. This option is lighter than the first, and therefore it is better to wear it in the off-season.
3. With a veil. An interesting model that not only protects from bad weather, but makes the image romantic and moderately seductive. A veil - a cape over the eyes - is often made of lace or guipure.
4. With a pompom. A cute and fun headwear option that is ideal for everyday walks. The standard place for a pompom is the top of the head, but there are also models where it is located on the side.
5. French. Women kindly borrowed this model from men. The French beret is round and flat, it fits under different outerwear.

@shura_._popova

Different materials are used for sewing such an accessory. It can be wool, felt, leather, suede, mohair, cotton, as well as natural fur.