30's Beret

[geo]

Some lucky guy won this:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/French-Vintage-Veritable-Basque-Beret-1930s-Unworn_W0QQitemZ8382078547QQcategoryZ91238QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I like it when a hat or beret is plain on the outside, but has a colourful lining and label. These "Niebla" ones are of the highest quality and fetch the highest prices. The label is woven and embroidered.

 

[John in Covina]

Berets aren't usually high up on my list, but that one has a certain panache.

I wanted to say Jenous se qua? but don't know how to spell it which made me think of Twains quote from Innoccents Abroad: " The French can speak French, but sure can't spell French." Mark Twain.

 

[chilidawgguy]

I bought one of the others from the 40s that seller has...still awaiting arrival. She has a couple of very nice 30's French fedoras as well, though they are on the small side. Apparently the pre-war French were pointy headed little suckers..

 

[John in Covina]

She has a couple of very nice 30's French fedoras as well, though they are on the small side. Apparently the pre-war French were pointy headed little suckers..

******
One thing we need to remember, the French offered up pretty much all of their best men to the murderous grind that was WWI. I guess the only men left were not up to the army specifications.

La Armee, La Navee, La Department Sanitaire!

 

[SHARPETOYS]

$17.26

I bought one also at alot better price

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8382085460&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

 

[geo]

I also bought one at a better price, but it's not a Niebla. I think the Niebla were top quality, and they are waterproof too.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I have a couple berets though they are only worn on day's where I feel artistic... If I go dancing this weekend I will pull one off the shelf.

I'm still looking for a good extra full crowned style one like you see being worn at the turn of the century in Paris.

 

[chilidawgguy]

John...I certainly meant no disrespect. The French were among the bravest fighters in the war. My remark referred to the smaller hat sizes. I suspect that there were a few pointy headed Americans around during that time too.

 

[geo]

From the auction, I see there are different beret styles:

There are several different styles of beret basque, some have very large crowns and are quite deep from the edge of the crown to the headband and some have a much smaller crown and are quite shallow. The smaller and shallower berets are ?¢‚Ǩ?ìSport Berets?¢‚Ǩ? the larger berets are called ?¢‚Ǩ?ìAlpine Berets?¢‚Ǩ? and the medium size crowns are ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBeret Elo?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s?¢‚Ǩ? or ?¢‚Ǩ?ìClassic?¢‚Ǩ?. There are also several qualities, the De Luxe model being the top of the range. The Basque berets for men were always either Dark Navy Blue or Black until the 1940?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s when Brown was added to the colour range, however the earliest berets made by the shepherds were always the natural brown colour of the fleece. The plain Basque berets without the headband are called ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBerets Nu?¢‚Ǩ? literally ?¢‚Ǩ?ìNaked or Bare Berets?¢‚Ǩ?.

Matt, I think you're looking for an "Alpine" beret.

 

[gekisai29]

I've been wearing berets of diverse quailty for about 10 years. They keep your head warm, a light rain off & are farly easy to deal with indoors when there is no rack,etc. to place yourhat. Even the $8.00 cheapos sold outside of Notre Dam have a certain panache imhop.

 

[RyFranzese24]

Berets are cool. European look is always a nice change of pace. I wasn't searching for a beret, but I saw this newsboy cap yesterday, considering purchasing....Any thoughts?

http://store.yahoo.com/dadshats/smapnecapwo.html

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Nice but I like Custom!!

Berets are cool. European look is always a nice change of pace. I wasn't searching for a beret, but I saw this newsboy cap yesterday, considering purchasing....Any thoughts?

http://store.yahoo.com/dadshats/smapnecapwo.html

Nice Cap. Alot of us use Brett at B! Wear Cap Co. Since he makes them custom and uses real leather sweat bands. The price is very fair for a custom made cap.

http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/

 

[Marc Chevalier]

1920s caps were very wide, though not particularly floppy. Instead, they stuck out horizontally from the sides. I've never -- never -- seen a contemporary cap that captures this look. Either they're relatively narrow (http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/), or wide but floppy (http://store.yahoo.com/dadshats/smapnecapwo.html).

 

[chilidawgguy]

Ry....you might try doing a search for a flechet...this is a style hat you see all over Paris. The newsboy look is cool too, but have you looked for vintage?

 

[BellyTank]

I have a couple berets though they are only worn on day's where I feel artistic... If I go dancing this weekend I will pull one off the shelf.

I'm still looking for a good extra full crowned style one like you see being worn at the turn of the century in Paris.

Try Womens' berets- there are more to choose from and they're bigger- much bigger- and have the little 'pick' at the top- very 'artistic...

My Wife wears a beret and manages to cover her pulled up, arse-length hair with it. Real big (beret, not arse).

B
T

 

[scotrace]

Same here

1920s caps were very wide, though not particularly floppy. Instead, they stuck out horizontally from the sides. I've never -- never -- seen a contemporary cap that captures this look.

I lerv my B!Wear cap. But there don't seem to be any of the wide twenties' style caps out there in the US. In the UK, it may be another story. This photo is fairly recent:

Anyone like to favor us with some beret pictures? The French job at top in the auction looks pretty spiff.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

This photo is fairly recent.

In the U.S., at least, '20s caps were even wider than that! They practically defied gravity ...

 

[RyFranzese24]

Ry....you might try doing a search for a flechet...this is a style hat you see all over Paris. The newsboy look is cool too, but have you looked for vintage?

I checked out the flechet. Awesome hat. It is schnazzy. I need a smaller brimmed hat like that in a lighter color. I would always prefer vintage, but alas, I couldn't find a color I really enjoyed or one that looked well preserved.

 

[Lauren]

I have a new love for these berets. I picked one up myself on Ebay last month with a darling girl in the label, similar to the one with the man walking, but it's just her face. Another friend has one very similar to mine with a man smoking a pipe. I think the labels are most of the charm of these old beauties. And I'm a big fan of wearing berets. I think it comes from being a francophile.

 

[Matt Deckard]

When I say full crowned beret I mean full crowned like those worn by Rodin. I am a huge Rodin fan, I stare at his works and study for time on end. I had to be dragged out of his museum/house when I was in Paris.

Keeps your head warm and blocks the sun.

Rodin.