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Berets, Anyone?

Nico

One of the Regulars
Messages
241
Location
Australia
Nico does look good in everything he wears. No doubt—berets suit him very well.

I don't know about berets suiting me, but, I do know I like to wear them. The only thing I like better is a straw in warm weather.

Speaking of warm weather, I was wearing this cotton Castilla last week. Nice lid. Quite comfortable. Another cotton may be in my future in a different color—evidently, it's hard to go wrong. The terse expression is due to the fact that I couldn't stand being caught taking a selfie and this was taken in haste on a city street, before someone saw me do it.
View attachment 51485
I haven't been on the board in a spell and this will likely continue for a while. I do have a look when I can, but more than that—I can't say. My best to everyone.

IN my opinion all the blokes modeling berets look dapper in this forum. Foamy I like the look of the cotton Castilla, worth considering for our summers in Australia. Take care.
 

Nico

One of the Regulars
Messages
241
Location
Australia
Ah Foamy, you exude a certain panache, so in your case, it is you who makes evey beret you wear look good!

And you take quite a selfie, I must say. Selfies usually look like, well, selfies, while yours are statements.

Please don't abandon this forum!

NoHorse. I completely agree.
 

NoHorse

One of the Regulars
Messages
105
Location
Penultima Thule
Yesterday I received my Deer beret from Daan. Dark brown wool, size L.

Wow...

When I wear my Boinas Elosegui I feel prepared to crawl through mud and brambles - in a hailstorm - to get where I'm going. When I wear the Deer I feel ready to slide into the kid-glove seat of a mortgage-priced, hand built Italian sports car. The velvety texture makes me expect it to purr when I hold it in my hand. It's light and thin enough for mild days. The color reminds me of medium-dark roast coffee beans; its an organic earthy brown.

This beret is wonderful! Why on earth did the factory close?

About sizing: I am about a hat size 57, and the L size just sits on my head. The grippy texture of the headband holds it in place. If it were a fraction bigger then it would be too big; a bit smaller would have been OK. It is looser than my Elosequis that I stretched to fit. I reckon that this on-the-loose-side fit is better than the a-trifle-snug fit I would have had with a size M - especially on not-really-cold days. But who knows what I would have ended up with if I could have tried them on in a store. (Story of my life: always between sizes, always wearing things that are a bit too snug/loose.)
 
Last edited:

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
Yesterday I received my Deer beret from Daan. Dark brown wool, size L.

Wow...

When I wear my Boinas Elosegui I feel prepared to crawl through mud and brambles - in a hailstorm - to get where I'm going. When I wear the Deer I feel ready to slide into the kid-glove seat of a mortgage-priced, hand built Italian sports car. The velvety texture makes me expect it to purr when I hold it in my hand. It's light and thin enough for mild days. The color reminds me of medium-dark roast coffee beans; its an organic earthy brown.

This beret is wonderful! Why on earth did the factory close?

About sizing: I am about a hat size 57, and the L size just sits on my head. The grippy texture of the headband holds it in place. If it were a fraction bigger then it would be too big; a bit smaller would have been OK. It is looser than my Elosequis that I stretched to fit. I reckon that this on-the-loose-side fit is better than the a-trifle-snug fit I would have have with a size M - especially on not-really-cold days. But who knows what I would have ended up with if I could have tried them on in a store. (Story of my life: always between sizes, always wearing things that are a bit too snug/loose.)
I have the summer Deer beret and really like it.
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
Gregory Rabassa, a translator of worldwide influence and esteem who helped introduce Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Julio Cortazar and other Latin American authors to millions of English-language readers and fellow boinero, has died last Monday.
650x366

A longtime professor at Queens College, Rabassa died Monday at a hospice in Branford, Connecticut. He was 94 and died after a brief illness.
Rabassa was an essential gateway to the 1960s Latin American "boom", when such authors as Garcia Marquez, Cortazar and Mario Vargas Llosa became widely known internationally. He worked on the novel that helped start the boom, Cortazar's "Hopscotch"
, for which Rabassa won a National Book Award for translation. He also worked on the novel which defined the boom, Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude," a monument of 20th century literature.
Garcia Marquez often praised Rabassa, saying he regarded the translation of "Solitude" as a work of art in its own right.
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
As French as berets are the bleu de travail workers' jackets.
exposition_quand_l_habit_fait_le_moine.jpg

Bleu de Travail translates as ‘working blues’ and is a catch all for the indigo-dyed cotton workwear popularised by French factory workers from the late 1800s. Bleu de Travail stands for jackets, shirts, or trousers, but when we talk about the Bleu de Travail today, it’s usually just the jacket.
Simple, distinctive and hard-wearing; denim’s/jeans’ ancestor. The distinctive colour of the bleu de travail was not only an affordable dye, but also acted as a signifier to differentiate French workers from their foremen or managers, who wore typically black or white.
fc1436e78e63be7148e167f9d9672367.jpg
16d8bacad607bf7c7b297c7c1e09f4b8.jpg

Bleu de Travail has become very fashionable over the last 10 years; hip NYC and London fashion stores charging up to $200.00 for a jacket. South Pacific Berets now stocks these jackets at a much more reasonable price and our Réal Aiglons are made by one of France’s oldest manufacturers, Le Laboureur (“The Ploughman”) from the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne.

13424004_1197696000281738_2304535577511939751_n.jpg
13466133_1197698183614853_4930125462837286634_n.jpg
13445732_1197695990281739_3324366226574259786_n.jpg
13417536_1197698326948172_4807722357143102072_n.jpg

Presently only in size 5 (L/XL), soon to be extended with a full range of sizes.
 

foamy

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Thank you folks for your kind remarks, I appreciate them. It's just that there are some unpleasant things happening to my girlie-girl that command my time and attention lately. We'll see it through. Again, thanks.
 

foamy

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Yesterday I received my Deer beret from Daan. Dark brown wool, size L.

Wow...

When I wear my Boinas Elosegui I feel prepared to crawl through mud and brambles - in a hailstorm - to get where I'm going. When I wear the Deer I feel ready to slide into the kid-glove seat of a mortgage-priced, hand built Italian sports car. The velvety texture makes me expect it to purr when I hold it in my hand. It's light and thin enough for mild days. The color reminds me of medium-dark roast coffee beans; its an organic earthy brown.

This beret is wonderful! Why on earth did the factory close?

About sizing: I am about a hat size 57, and the L size just sits on my head. The grippy texture of the headband holds it in place. If it were a fraction bigger then it would be too big; a bit smaller would have been OK. It is looser than my Elosequis that I stretched to fit. I reckon that this on-the-loose-side fit is better than the a-trifle-snug fit I would have have with a size M - especially on not-really-cold days. But who knows what I would have ended up with if I could have tried them on in a store. (Story of my life: always between sizes, always wearing things that are a bit too snug/loose.)
Maybe it will shrink a tad after wearing and perspiring in it, or perhaps, failing that, a bit of shrinkage could be induced by wetting and warming.

I have the same problem—I'm between conventional hat sizes and it can be a problem. Nice looking, finely made berets from what I can tell and your endorsement confirms it (to me, at any rate).
 

foamy

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
Eastern Shore of Maryland
As French as berets are the bleu de travail workers' jackets.
exposition_quand_l_habit_fait_le_moine.jpg

Bleu de Travail translates as ‘working blues’ and is a catch all for the indigo-dyed cotton workwear popularised by French factory workers from the late 1800s. Bleu de Travail stands for jackets, shirts, or trousers, but when we talk about the Bleu de Travail today, it’s usually just the jacket.
Simple, distinctive and hard-wearing; denim’s/jeans’ ancestor. The distinctive colour of the bleu de travail was not only an affordable dye, but also acted as a signifier to differentiate French workers from their foremen or managers, who wore typically black or white.
fc1436e78e63be7148e167f9d9672367.jpg
16d8bacad607bf7c7b297c7c1e09f4b8.jpg

Bleu de Travail has become very fashionable over the last 10 years; hip NYC and London fashion stores charging up to $200.00 for a jacket. South Pacific Berets now stocks these jackets at a much more reasonable price and our Réal Aiglons are made by one of France’s oldest manufacturers, Le Laboureur (“The Ploughman”) from the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne.

13424004_1197696000281738_2304535577511939751_n.jpg
13466133_1197698183614853_4930125462837286634_n.jpg
13445732_1197695990281739_3324366226574259786_n.jpg
13417536_1197698326948172_4807722357143102072_n.jpg

Presently only in size 5 (L/XL), soon to be extended with a full range of sizes.
I'm going to have to look up European vs. North American sizes. I have no notion of European sizes and a L/XL may equate to a medium here in the U.S.. Early in my career, I printed on some T-shirts manufactured in Europe and Sm., Med., and large didn't match the sizes made here.

I like the idea/product you're introducing. Just last week I borrowed a heavy, blue cotton shirt, lined with flannel and well broken-in from a friend of mine. It's made to be worn as a jacket. He might have a hard time getting it back (kidding. Kind 'a).
 

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
As French as berets are the bleu de travail workers' jackets.
exposition_quand_l_habit_fait_le_moine.jpg

Bleu de Travail translates as ‘working blues’ and is a catch all for the indigo-dyed cotton workwear popularised by French factory workers from the late 1800s. Bleu de Travail stands for jackets, shirts, or trousers, but when we talk about the Bleu de Travail today, it’s usually just the jacket.
Simple, distinctive and hard-wearing; denim’s/jeans’ ancestor. The distinctive colour of the bleu de travail was not only an affordable dye, but also acted as a signifier to differentiate French workers from their foremen or managers, who wore typically black or white.
fc1436e78e63be7148e167f9d9672367.jpg
16d8bacad607bf7c7b297c7c1e09f4b8.jpg

Bleu de Travail has become very fashionable over the last 10 years; hip NYC and London fashion stores charging up to $200.00 for a jacket. South Pacific Berets now stocks these jackets at a much more reasonable price and our Réal Aiglons are made by one of France’s oldest manufacturers, Le Laboureur (“The Ploughman”) from the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne.

13424004_1197696000281738_2304535577511939751_n.jpg
13466133_1197698183614853_4930125462837286634_n.jpg
13445732_1197695990281739_3324366226574259786_n.jpg
13417536_1197698326948172_4807722357143102072_n.jpg

Presently only in size 5 (L/XL), soon to be extended with a full range of sizes.
Very nice.
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
I'm going to have to look up European vs. North American sizes. I have no notion of European sizes and a L/XL may equate to a medium here in the U.S.. Early in my career, I printed on some T-shirts manufactured in Europe and Sm., Med., and large didn't match the sizes made here.

I like the idea/product you're introducing. Just last week I borrowed a heavy, blue cotton shirt, lined with flannel and well broken-in from a friend of mine. It's made to be worn as a jacket. He might have a hard time getting it back (kidding. Kind 'a).

You're right - sizes (and the differences in sizes between countries) are a nightmare. Not just between countries; sizes actually change over time too. When living in the US some 30 years ago, the shirts I bought from L.L. Bean (still manufactured in the US at that time) were XL. These days when I order something from the States, I choose M (and I haven't shrunk over the years to the best of my knowledge).
Better to stick to objective measurements (likewise with beret sizes). The bleu de travail jacket I presently stock is the French size 5; in between British sizes L and XL. From top to bottom 74cm/29", shoulder to wrist 62cm/24.5", armpit to wrist 48cm/19" and across the chest from armpit to armpit 66cm/26".
1040.jpg
Czech suit
However, the dozen I had yesterday morning has reduced to only one! Seems there is a great need for these jackets and I am trying hard to get more in. These jackets have been made all over Europe and I am still working out which ones are best/comfortable/sturdy, etc. If I manage to overcome the language barrier (Google Translate can be a great help), I hope to import these jackets from the Czech Republic soon.
1954-czechoslovakian-construction-worker-stamp-bill-owen.jpg

I bought a set of pants/jacket while travelling in then socialist Czechoslovakia in the mid 1980's, when it was still considered a "workers' paradise" and still wearing them - no kiddin'! Tough stuff.
images
bcccc64f4fa5d25f0938476221156f0e.jpg
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
Great news: the first new foulard since the start of Boneteria Aotearoa: a line of superb foulards in quetsche.
upload_2016-6-18_17-1-18.png

Quetsche is the French name of the damson plum, also archaically called the "damascene" (or the "plum from Damascus"); a warm rich colour that sits between Bordeaux and Deep Purple.
upload_2016-6-18_17-5-22.png
upload_2016-6-18_17-5-36.png
upload_2016-6-18_17-5-46.png

These foulards are fitted with French linen for the lining, carry the Boneteria Aotearoa label and are available in 10, 10.5, 11 and 12p (Alpin) version - in small numbers.
upload_2016-6-18_17-6-1.png
upload_2016-6-18_17-6-11.png

Definitely a new personal favourite!
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
upload_2016-6-26_15-10-20.jpeg
upload_2016-6-26_15-10-32.jpeg
images

The Bérets Casquette or Peaked Berets are berets with a difference. The basis is always a true beret; sometimes with an added peak (such as the Hoodlum and Soleil models), others are 100% "true berets" with the peak pulled out under steam from the beret's excess material.
upload_2016-6-26_15-12-50.jpeg
upload_2016-6-26_15-13-0.jpeg

The whole range stocked at South Pacific Berets is ON SPECIAL this week, which includes the very last Hoodlum and Laulhere models (as these won't be restocked).
images
upload_2016-6-26_15-11-53.jpeg

All are priced with a massive discount (over 20%) and only this week or as long as the stock lasts.
upload_2016-6-26_15-13-50.jpeg
upload_2016-6-26_15-14-4.jpeg
 
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Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
For those who need some inspiration to wear a Béret Casquette (or peaked beret), Dutch artist Corneille is the perfect role model!
Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo (1922 – 2010), better known under his pseudonym Corneille, was born in Liege, Belgium, although his parents were Dutch and moved back to the Netherlands when he was 12. He studied art at the Academy of Art in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.
Corneille5.gif
Corneille6.jpg

He was one of the founders of the REFLEX movement in 1948 and in 1949 he was also one of the founders of the COBRA movement, which has had great influence on Scandinavian art. He was active within the group from the beginning, not only painting but also publishing poetry in the Cobra magazine. He was a cofounder of the "Experimentele Groep" in Holland.
Corneille4.jpg

The poetic Corneille was strongly influenced by Miró and Klee. After the group dissolved in 1951 he moved to Paris and began collecting African art. These primitive artifacts became evident in his works, which began to take on a more imaginative style, like landscapes seen from a bird's eye view, exotic birds and stylised forms.
Corneille3.jpg

Until his death Corneille lived and worked in Paris, made visits to Israel where he worked with the Jaffa Atalier.
He died at Auvers-sur-Oise, France. More interesting for us, boineros, is that Corneille never went anywhere without his peaked beret.
 

foamy

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Splash of colour to brighten up a dreary winters day. On this occasion wearing my Bordeaux Basco Roma in my workshop. View attachment 52396
Ah, nice to see you wearing one as I just ordered the Basco Roma in navy blue. Now I have a better idea as to what to expect. It will be my smallest diameter beret and I'm looking forward to seeing how it works with me. It certainly works well for you. Cheers!
 
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Nico

One of the Regulars
Messages
241
Location
Australia
Ah, nice to see you wearing one as I just ordered the Basco Roma in navy blue. Now I have a better idea as to what to expect. It will be my smallest diameter beret and I'm looking forward to seeing how it works with me. It certainly works well for you. Cheers!
G'day foamy. For me, wearing the smaller diameter Bosco's at work is the perfect choice. I can wear them all day in and out of the office/workshop. Cheers.
 

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