Berets, Anyone?

[Daan]

Sincerely appreciate this.

My favourite of those is definitely the wider-band ESCO beret. Any other berets you've come across similar to that one?

I guess now I just need to decide between black and navy. I have an awesome black broad-brimmed Borsalino fedora so I'm thinking maybe I should expand the colour of my hat rotation-- but at the same time a black beret might just go with more things. Hmm.

The Franco-German ESCO berets are unique, really; in the way they are produced (two manufacturers from two countries) and in their very specific design.
Under the header "Rádiovka - the 'Exclusives" you'll find another model with external leather headband, the 'Fidelo'; a small diameter beret that has a long tradition and history in the Czech lands.

 

[Dalamon]

The Franco-German ESCO berets are unique, really; in the way they are produced (two manufacturers from two countries) and in their very specific design.
Under the header "Rádiovka - the 'Exclusives" you'll find another model with external leather headband, the 'Fidelo'; a small diameter beret that has a long tradition and history in the Czech lands.

final question--

I wear a US 7 3/8s in New Era caps, and a 59 in Borsalino (also coincidentally US 7 3/8ths according to the label inside the hat).

Should I go with a 59 with one of these berets?

Thanks!

 

[Daan]

Yep, 7 3/8 equals the metric size 59. This table (below) is quite a helpful guide to hat size conversions.

 

[Trenchfriend]

@Daan
Good to have you here!

 

[Daan]

Usually, I am quite reluctant to post pictures here of my family, but after receiving the best Christmas present ever yesterday, what choice do I have other than to share 'At Home With the Beret King' with you?

A beautiful custom made book, portraying my berets, Beret HQ, the "beret art" in the garden and the beautiful women I live with!

It certainly made my Christmas!

And also to share: the last SPECIAL of the year, which really had to be a very special SPECIAL. World's nicest, most beautiful, top comfortable and highest quality berets at less than 3/4 of the standard retail price (until 1 January or as long as stock lasts).

 

[Heath]

Hello all,
I've been watching this thread for a bit and I have to say that it has been quite informative and entertaining. So I decided to contribute as well. I tried to post yesterday, but ran into some problems. Well, better late than never.
The link is to eitb.eus, with an entertaining video about Olentzero.
Enjoy!
http://www.eitb.eus/eu/eitb-taldea/...ideoak/osoa/3686226/zorionak-eta-eguberri-on/

 

[Daan]

Hello all,
I've been watching this thread for a bit and I have to say that it has been quite informative and entertaining. So I decided to contribute as well. I tried to post yesterday, but ran into some problems. Well, better late than never.
The link is to eitb.eus, with an entertaining video about Olentzero.
Enjoy!
http://www.eitb.eus/eu/eitb-taldea/...ideoak/osoa/3686226/zorionak-eta-eguberri-on/

View attachment 99683 View attachment 99685 View attachment 99686

Welcome Heath, good to see you here! And a great post to start with; EITB has some excellent ("beret propaganda") spots.

 

[ErikFid]

Hello all,
I've been watching this thread for a bit and I have to say that it has been quite informative and entertaining. So I decided to contribute as well. I tried to post yesterday, but ran into some problems. Well, better late than never.
The link is to eitb.eus, with an entertaining video about Olentzero.
Enjoy!
http://www.eitb.eus/eu/eitb-taldea/...ideoak/osoa/3686226/zorionak-eta-eguberri-on/

View attachment 99683 View attachment 99685 View attachment 99686

Welcome Heath. nice to see a new member posting!

 

[Bird Lives]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Daan...Very hip to see your Christmas Post...These are our life defining type moments....What great photos...Berets have never looked happier or better...

This Christmas my wife gifted me an Elosegui Pirineos....Til now, the only beret, I have had is an Elosegui Super Lujo 11" lined beret I got many years ago. That beret has been practically bullet proof and I wear it in all weather extremes without worry.

I know nothing of this Boina Pirineos....What should I expect ? Is it as impermeable as the Super Lujo was/is, Or should I treat it more gently?

 

[Heath]

1992 Looney Tunes Tweety Bird Wall Light

 

[Daan]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Daan...Very hip to see your Christmas Post...These are our life defining type moments....What great photos...Berets have never looked happier or better...

This Christmas my wife gifted me an Elosegui Pirineos....Til now, the only beret, I have had is an Elosegui Super Lujo 11" lined beret I got many years ago. That beret has been practically bullet proof and I wear it in all weather extremes without worry.

I know nothing of this Boina Pirineos....What should I expect ? Is it as impermeable as the Super Lujo was/is, Or should I treat it more gently?

Hi Bird-Lives,

"Bullet proof"... a very appropriate description of a Super Lujo beret - I like that.
The Pirineos is very similar in quality, but being based on Boinas Elosegui's Tupida model it has not been Teflon treated. In my opinion, this makes no, or hardly, a difference to it's impermeability, as the thick knit in merino wool makes this beret/casquette naturally waterproof.

No need to be gentler with your Pirineos than you would be with any other beret; these Elosegui's are built to last (bullet proof, one might say!).

 

[Bird Lives]

Oh thanks Daan...You're the Man...I appreciate your thoughts on how tight the weave is...That to me is everything...This perticular Beret/Cap had a Teflon treated tag attached to it....So maybe they are doing that to some of them...But I don't know how long teflon treatment lasts...So to me, the weave tightness is more important.

Thanks Daan, and hoping the New Year brings you Great: Health, Wealth, Wisdom and Happiness...............Oh Yeah, and lots of Great BERETS!!! Lol!

 

[Daan]

Oh thanks Daan...You're the Man...I appreciate your thoughts on how tight the weave is...That to me is everything...This perticular Beret/Cap had a Teflon treated tag attached to it....So maybe they are doing that to some of them...But I don't know how long teflon treatment lasts...So to me, the weave tightness is more important.

Thanks Daan, and hoping the New Year brings you Great: Health, Wealth, Wisdom and Happiness...............Oh Yeah, and lots of Great BERETS!!! Lol!

When the Pirineos and Soleil models first came out, I bought a large quantity and these were not Teflon treated. When looking at Boinas Elosegui's list, I see they do now treat these with Teflon.
Some customers are weary of Teflon treatment and I have looked into any possible adverse reactions to Teflon treated berets (or clothes in general), but have not found any science based evidence against the use of it (quite different from other treatments that berets have been subjected too, like 'Nomit' as an anti moth aid in the 1960's, as many French drafted soldiers can testify to!).
Personally, I have no problem with Teflon and the Super Lujo's are still among the very best quality, durable and comfortable berets I know (and among my favourites). I just don't see the need for the treatment, as the intense knitting and the density of the felt make the beret already 99% waterproof (think of an Auloronesa, for example).

 

[Dalamon]

Question for the Laulhere fans--

what is the difference between the Laulhere Campan, the Laulhere Arnaga, and the Laulhere Splendid?

I know they're all in their premium line, I was just curious.

Cheers!

 

[NoHorse]

...Some customers are weary of Teflon treatment and I have looked into any possible adverse reactions to Teflon treated berets...
...I have no problem with Teflon and the Super Lujo's are still among the very best quality, durable and comfortable berets I know (and among my favourites). I just don't see the need for the treatment, as the intense knitting and the density of the felt make the beret already 99% waterproof...

After a year of wearing my Auloranesa berets I have pulled my blue Super Lujo out from the bottom of the drawer. It was my first beret, and winter temperatures have brought it back to duty.

I too was “weary” of teflon - and also wary - when I bought it. The coating made rain bead up on the surface, and gave the color a two-tone effect: dark blue outdoors or in indirect light, yet a lighter blue under LED spots by mirrors.

I am happy to report that both beading and color effect seem to be gone! I wonder if the teflon is sprayed on and simply wears off/out with time (and lots of rain/sleet/snow). If that is what has happened then I wonder why they apply it in the first place. Marketing? The material is still utterly impermiable. Well, ok, I haven’t worn it in a shower, but for a half-hour walk in the rain it’s fine.

Anyway, I am very happy to rediscover the thicker material and the body and stiffness it gives. It does literally require breaking in, yet once done the shape-ability of the Super Lujo is wonderful. And lets not forget the warmth.

As for breaking in, a tip: when I got my SL it had a the shape of a saucer with a narrow edge all around. (The Auloronesas arrive with paper padding on the inside, keeping the edge more round, which may in fact be how thet are produced.) I soaked my SL, forced dishcloths into the inside of the edge (making it rounder) and then wore it indoors for a whole evening until my body heat dried it. That was after I had beaten, wrung, scrunched and wadded the thing (both wet and dry) to soften it.

 

[Daan]

After a year of wearing my Auloranesa berets I have pulled my blue Super Lujo out from the bottom of the drawer. It was my first beret, and winter temperatures have brought it back to duty.

I too was “weary” of teflon - and also wary - when I bought it. The coating made rain bead up on the surface, and gave the color a two-tone effect: dark blue outdoors or in indirect light, yet a lighter blue under LED spots by mirrors.

I am happy to report that both beading and color effect seem to be gone! I wonder if the teflon is sprayed on and simply wears off/out with time (and lots of rain/sleet/snow). If that is what has happened then I wonder why they apply it in the first place. Marketing? The material is still utterly impermiable. Well, ok, I haven’t worn it in a shower, but for a half-hour walk in the rain it’s fine.

Anyway, I am very happy to rediscover the thicker material and the body and stiffness it gives. It does literally require breaking in, yet once done the shape-ability of the Super Lujo is wonderful. And lets not forget the warmth.

As for breaking in, a tip: when I got my SL it had a the shape of a saucer with a narrow edge all around. (The Auloronesas arrive with paper padding on the inside, keeping the edge more round, which may in fact be how thet are produced.) I soaked my SL, forced dishcloths into the inside of the edge (making it rounder) and then wore it indoors for a whole evening until my body heat dried it. That was after I had beaten, wrung, scrunched and wadded the thing (both wet and dry) to soften it.

To be honest, I am not familiar with all the in's & out's of Teflon treatment; the time it's effectiveness lasts, whether it wears off or not...
What I do know is that Teflon is not sprayed on; the un-dyed, felted "raw" berets are treated in the basin pictured below in a solution of water and Teflon at a specific temperature for a specific time.

The Teflon treatment is definitely not a marketing stunt. I have spoken with the people at Boinas Elosegui (among other things about having Super Lujo's made without Teflon), but they see it as the utmost perfection of their berets and a complete non-issue as far as side effects and such could be concerned (and indeed, I failed to come up with any evidence against Teflon treatment).

You apply a very rigid breaking in process, No Horse. In my personal opinion, the best way to break in a beret is simply by wearing it. A slow process yes (I am a big believer in "slow and gentle"), but a pleasure to find one day that your beret is just perfect.

 

[NoHorse]

I am amazed to read that any dye will work on something that has been treated with teflon!

So... I have no idea what has happened to my SL. For me the main thing is that the color appears more muted. Didn’t I make a comment about how intense the blue was way back in this forum?

Happy New Year everybody!

 

[Bird Lives]

Happy New Year...

Wow....Thanks Daan...I'm so glad I tuned in today...This was another learning experience....I too was thinking it was like when we spray a water-proofing spray on something...lol!

Daan....I googled these Elosegui Perineos' because, since I received this Beret/casquette from my wife on Christmas,......
I wore it skiing and it was amazing! It was warm and kept me dry.
I walked into the lodge one time and must have had 2" of snow on top of my head and didn't know it. I took it off, smacked it on my knee...snow flew everywhere and it was dry!

Later we went into a friends cabin and I forgot I was wearing it...kept it on the whole time...

Next day I was caught in a down pour...It kept me dry...I got to my Jazz Gig and I was dry and so was the hat...And It looked so good, I just kept it on for the gig, hadn't planned to. But it felt great, and there was no where safe to leave it but in my trumpet case, so I just opted to enjoyed wearing it!

Now I'm really falling in love with this Beret/Casquette. Side by side comparison, it doesn't appear to be as thick as my Super Lujo or as stiff but it is rugged, warm, soft and comfortable...

So I goggled it, and saw, you were saying something about how they made these impressed you....Could I ask you to please expand on that...I would love to learn more about how these are made and what kind of beret do they start out with....

Thanks Daan.......In your debt......LC

 

[Daan]

Happy New Year...

Wow....Thanks Daan...I'm so glad I tuned in today...This was another learning experience....I too was thinking it was like when we spray a water-proofing spray on something...lol!

Daan....I googled these Elosegui Perineos' because, since I received this Beret/casquette from my wife on Christmas,......
I wore it skiing and it was amazing! It was warm and kept me dry.
I walked into the lodge one time and must have had 2" of snow on top of my head and didn't know it. I took it off, smacked it on my knee...snow flew everywhere and it was dry!

Later we went into a friends cabin and I forgot I was wearing it...kept it on the whole time...

Next day I was caught in a down pour...It kept me dry...I got to my Jazz Gig and I was dry and so was the hat...And It looked so good, I just kept it on for the gig, hadn't planned to. But it felt great, and there was no where safe to leave it but in my trumpet case, so I just opted to enjoyed wearing it!

Now I'm really falling in love with this Beret/Casquette. Side by side comparison, it doesn't appear to be as thick as my Super Lujo or as stiff but it is rugged, warm, soft and comfortable...

So I goggled it, and saw, you were saying something about how they made these impressed you....Could I ask you to please expand on that...I would love to learn more about how these are made and what kind of beret do they start out with....

Thanks Daan.......In your debt......LC

Your observations actually answer a few of your questions... Indeed, the material of the Pirineos is not as dense as the Super Lujo, as it is based on the slightly lighter Tupida model. As you probably know, Boinas
Elósegui manufactures 4 different base models (apart from the Limited Editions and other specially made berets). The Super Lujo is top of the line, followed by the Tupida (tupida means 'thick', or 'bushy'; emphasizing the high quality of this model), then follow the Fina and the Basicá. See the labels below (mind that the Super Lujo's I sell, carry the special Euskal Herria [Basque Country] label, not the standard Super Lujo label).

The Pirineos starts it's life as a "standard" Tupida, which then get's modified by "pulling a peak" out of the outer rim of the beret. The same process, more or less, is used by Laulhere and Boneteria Auloronesa; heat and steam soften the fibers up and allow them to be stretched. This sounds simple, but it is not! It is a very fine line between getting the peak right (and not compromising on density anywhere else on the beret) and a faillure by creating weak spots or even worse, holes.
I have no photo's showing the process; the best I have is this picture below of a worker at Laulhere, consolidating the shape of freshly made casquettes.

As so often, it all comes down to craftsmanship, specialist artisan workers and lots of know how and experience. On Ebay I often see peaked berets for sale (Chinese made), but here the peak is sewn on the beret proper.
When I wear one of my béret casquettes or Pirneos, more likely than not I will come across some wisecrack who tells me that I wear a cap, not a beret. Not so, of course; they still fit the definition of a beret exactly and are made with one single wool thread (depending on the beret's diameter, this can be over 1 mile long!) with the remaining bit of this thread sticking out as the cabilou (or txortena).

 

[Heath]

Wishing all a very Happy and Joyous New Year.
Just don't forget your reality shield.