Berets, Anyone?

[Moca]

Ah Americans, they're so, so american... don't worry about them. Great pics of those tartes though, but the one i bought off you seems a much better quality than those ploppy things pictured.Not only the greatest beret literally, but the best quality beret i own now (and I have a good collection!).
Any idea where one can buy the white version?Saw them on pics of Bastille day.Very sharp, looks great.

And hey, there may not be many tartes in washington, they do fight out their war in afghanistan!

 

[Daan]

Yes, they do look pretty sharp in white, don't they? Actually, the beret is the standard black beret, or tarte, but covered with a white cotton cover. It's part of the winter uniform, but also worn like that on parades and such. I don't know where to buy these covers (I only sell the beret itself), except that I see them occasionally on sites like Ebay and Delcampe. On these pictures you can see that it is a cover and not the actual beret:

And you're right, there are many tartes in Afghanistan at present, see pictures below:

I believe there are also some books published on the Chasseurs in Afghanistan (they'll be in French though...).
The Tartes are seen in many hot spots of the world, the Chasseurs Alpins being a Sprecial Forces Unit within the French military. Like here in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire):

 

[Daan]

Ah Americans, they're so, so american... don't worry about them.

A bit more on Americans and berets (tartes) of the Chasseurs Alpin, from the First Division Museum at Cantigny:

The 47th French Division Chasseurs Alpins was stationed in Gondrecourt, and the First Division quickly learned not only the rudiments of trench warfare, but also much of the esprit of the “Blue Devils.” Many of the weapons, such as grenades, trench mortars, Chauchat automatic rifles, gas masks and French 75’s were new to American troops. Skinny French horses and even French mules had to be mastered, while British instructors taught the bayonet drill.

From Cpt. Alban B. Butler’s
"Happy Days, A Humorous Narrative in Drawings of the
Progress of American Arms 1917-1919".

 

[Grizzly Adams]

This fellow is fond of berets.......and birds.......whatever.

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/chavez.jpg

:eusa_doh:

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

[video=youtube;-mjkUeCaWA4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mjkUeCaWA4[/video]

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

 

[Daan]

Nice video, V.C. Brunswick.
Here is another one; apart from the content I find this an interesting one because it so clearly shows the enormous difference between the standard size berets of the French military (in this case the "8e régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine") and the Tartes of the Chasseurs Alpins.

[video=youtube_share;gfQ7o0w70g4]http://youtu.be/gfQ7o0w70g4[/video]

And btw, plenty of Tartes, in a variety of sizes, in stock again.

 

[Two Types]

I haven't posted in this thread before but I am pleased that the devoted beret wearers of the world keep it going. A black beret (most likely ex-military) was my main headgear of my teenage years. Much later I owned one of those small, Czech berets that perch atop the head. It was perfect when worn with a leather jacket/coat for that central European look.
I now feel inspired to find the perfect beret ready for next winter.

 

[Daan]

Anyone who has Googled something along the lines of "French beret factory" over the last 4 to 5 years, must have come across newspaper and magazine articles reporting on the likely closure of France's last beret manufacturer. It even made it to television and, the otherwise great news source Al Jazeera reported on it with an interesting video.

[video=youtube;HGs_xuBBch8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGs_xuBBch8[/video]

The beret manufacturer is Beatex, one of two beret manufacturers left in France. A company that manufactures excellent berets (like the 'Grand Foulard Hobena' and 'Haritza', and also the cheaper 'Hoquy' and 'L'Aiglon' berets)

but unfortunately, their ethics are of a very different standard. Monsieur M. Lemoine, the former CEO of Beatex (before it's rescue and take-over by Laulhere) did a great job portraying his company as the only one left in France, even blatantly stating so to the press.
And of course, there is another French manufacturer: Blancq-Olibet, as it is, France's oldest beret manufacturer since 1819.
Through South Pacific Berets, I sell only French berets made by Blancq-Olibet. Pure coincidence, it could have been Beatex when I started importing French berets, but in the light of all these dirty politics, I am very happy this is the way it is.

I find it fascinating to see, again and again, what a "closed" world the traditional beret industry is; so much secrecy and even dirty politics as mentioned above. Despite having excellent relations with manufacturers and suppliers, finding out details proves very difficult, time and time again, whether it is on history, manufacturing processes or statistics.
Despite some people's perception of the beret, it makes it a more than interesting subject for more research.

 

[Godfrey]

... what a "closed" world the traditional beret industry is; so much secrecy and even dirty politics as mentioned above... Despite some people's perception of the beret, it makes it a more than interesting subject for more research.

Daan - I smell a book! Some working titles:
- the secret Beret
- Grin and Beret it


Now for one of my mothers favorite jokes - and about the dirtiest she could manage.

Question: did you hear about the Frenchman who lost his Beret in the cow paddock?

Answer: he found it on the fifth go

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

I find it fascinating to see, again and again, what a "closed" world the traditional beret industry is; so much secrecy and even dirty politics as mentioned above. Despite having excellent relations with manufacturers and suppliers, finding out details proves very difficult, time and time again, whether it is on history, manufacturing processes or statistics.
Despite some people's perception of the beret, it makes it a more than interesting subject for more research.

Daan, this is the way all business is from what I have seen over the many years of working in different company's.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

I find it fascinating to see, again and again, what a "closed" world the traditional beret industry is; so much secrecy and even dirty politics as mentioned above. Despite having excellent relations with manufacturers and suppliers, finding out details proves very difficult, time and time again, whether it is on history, manufacturing processes or statistics.
Despite some people's perception of the beret, it makes it a more than interesting subject for more research.

Daan, this is the way all business is from what I have seen over the many years of working in different company's.

 

[Daan]

Now for one of my mothers favorite jokes - and about the dirtiest she could manage.

Question: did you hear about the Frenchman who lost his Beret in the cow paddock?

Answer: he found it on the fifth go

Bless your mother, Godfrey. I have heard far worse beret jokes!
None good enough to publish here, but I did find some cartoons of this guy called "Beretman":

A bit different from most beret-comics, with super heroes under green and red berets.

Not necessarily the best advertisement for berets, maybe, but the silly, dry humour grew on me after reading a few.

More can be found here.

 

[Daan]

Mountain Troops

I have posted numerous times on the French regiment of Chasseurs Alpins and their berets, or "tartes", the first standardized uniform beret in the military. You know the story: In 1888 the French Government created 12 specialised mountain battalions, feeling threatened after Italy created 6 Alpini Regiments (mountain troops), positioned close to the French border and these troops wore distinctive large diameter berets; protecting them from the snow (large enough to keep a soldiers' feet dry while on guard duty) and the sun, not flying off while skiing like a peeked cap would do.
During WWI, British General Elles tried on a beret of the 70th Chasseurs Alpins and discovered that this was the perfect headgear for the crews of the then new tanks (compare the beret with a stiff peaked cap in the confined space of a tank and you know what he meant. Besides, no stains and oil would show on the black felt - and these first tanks definitely leaked oil!).

Back to the Chasseurs. Many mountain troops followed the example of the Chasseurs Alpins, or Blue Devils as they were called (first by the Germans during WWI, who were much impressed by their abilities in winter warfare).

The Germans themselves didn't -no surprise-, they adopted a peaked cap with earflaps for the mountain troops, or Gebirgsjäger,

but the Romanian, Spanish and Chilean mountain troops did (see pictures below).

And presently, the dress uniform tartes are available again through South Pacific Berets in a variety of sizes.

 

[Daan]

Okay, okay, I have been asked so many times about my favourite beret, that I'd better get public about it. The short of it is: I have no favourite beret!
There are a few, and depending on the weather and my mood, they change. This would be my Top-5-List, but the order is absolutely random.

- The Basco Roma, usually the anthracite-grey version. Great beret, easy to wear, always looks smart and extremely comfortable. And of course, I appreciate the rich tradition of this "popular workers beret".

- The "Tarte". the grand beret of the Chasseurs Alpins. I especially like the military winter version, a very heavy (180 grams) thick felted beret in a dark navy-blue. Presently, I only stock the "nicer" dress version in black, but within another 2 weeks I should receive a small number of these winter berets (they are very hard to get as the French Ministry of Defense forbids sales outside the military).
It is a stiff, heavy affair that just fits absolutely perfect, stays on in any storm (not taken lightly, when living in Wellington, NZ) and always attracts looks and comments (generally positive).

- The boina Tolosa Tupida Plato Grande: similar in style to the above mentioned Tarte, but lighter in both the merino wool and cotton versions. Great summer berets, providing protection from the sun for neck and face. Very comfortable.

- The headband-less Bakarra Excellence beret by Blancq-Olibet. Great everyday-wear beret, made on special order for South Pacific Berets. Interestingly, all the quality French berets are fitted with headbands (unlike the Spanish) and I had to negotiate with a reluctant manufacturer to have these models made. Top quality French berets, my beret du jour while writing this.

- The Spanish Super Lujo's, of course. These are still at the very top end of quality berets. I wear the Super Lujo in the large 325cm version when going out - a beautiful dress beret that seems to be made for going to the theatre or a day at the races; around the house I wear the 242mm version.

Did I say Top 5? I can't make any list without naming the Czech Radiovka; I honestly believe that no beret wearer should go without one!

An age-old classic, simple, very small diameter beret with tartan lining- perfect in the house on a cool night or a nice summer's day when a tarte is a bit much.

So far then. But, when writing this, I realize that I could have mentioned the Franco-German Baskenmuetze, or those peaked berets by Hoodlums... Always more

 

[Daan]

I have regularly mentioned the Basco Roma here on the Fedora Lounge, to me one of the most comfortable berets ever! From literature and personal anecdotes, I know it really was the "popular workers hat", as it if called in Italian (or "Basco Popolare Operaio Uomo"), but so far found it hard to find good evidence of it, apart from a few photographs here and there.

Last weekend I watched the movie "The Wolf's Mouth", (or "La Bocca del Lupo"), a 2009 biographical drama/documentary film written and directed by Pietro Marcello. It premièred at the 2009 Torino Film Festival in Turin, and won the FIPRESCI Prize for 'Best Film'. It follows an Italian man named Vincenzo Motta (also known as Enzo) who is serving a long sentence in a Genoa prison. He meets and falls in love with a transsexual woman named Mary Monaco who promises to wait for Enzo when she gets out of prison. When she is released, Mary finds a home for them to share, but in the meantime, she becomes addicted to heroin. Between scenes, there are fragments of life in 1950's Genoa, a pretty grim, raw showing of industry and factory workers and, indeed, many of them wearing Basco Roma's!

[video=youtube;hYbcZ6rY_CM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYbcZ6rY_CM[/video]

Hard to get the right fragment through YouTube, but on this clip you'll see part of the scene (at 1:37).

 

[Kreissaege]

Daan, you might convince me of getting a Yarmulke for myself. But it will take a bit longer to accept the thought of donning a sub 300mm basque beret.

 

[Daan]

Daan, you might convince me of getting a Yarmulke for myself. But it will take a bit longer to accept the thought of donning a sub 300mm basque beret.

It's all in the mind, really. My usual daily beret is a Tarte, well over that 300mm boundary, but when enjoying a good read, sitting in the garden in the full sun, much better to cover that bald patch with a Basco Roma.

 

[Kreissaege]

Something like this. My father´s old beret, which he doesnt wear anymore (he upgraded to a "Schiebermütze").
270 to 280mm diameter and with one of these horrible sweatbands: leather, but sticky, hard, cracked, everything I thorougly despise. Its a too small (59 instead of 61), but I may remove the original sweatband and send it to a hatter for a new one.
It still carries the original label on the inside: fabrique en France.

A new one in this diameter might be possible, namely
-Basco Pura Lana
-Ultra Basque.
Or maybe even smaller with Basco Roma or Radiovka?
This is getting an expensive habit. Thankfully, outside myself no one notices a new one. They all look the same for the untrained eye!

 

[Kreissaege]

I missed everything of the Olympics, but with an unrelated google search, I found this.
Now, if anyone had showed them how to wear that thing.
But there have been worse dress code glitches at the olympics.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...12-Olympics-spectacular-opening-ceremony.html