Berets, Anyone?

[Bouwerij_Jongen]

An uncommon February snowstorm in Portland, so that means wearing an
Elosegui Super Lujo Grande

 

[Bouwerij_Jongen]

Super Lujo vs. Elosegui 150 & Ano 1858 vs. Manufacture de Beret

What's your favorite beret?
Could that be the one on my head?
An Elosegui Super Lujo Grande?

The weight, weaving, and felting of the Super Lujo are at the upper end of the quality scale.
The Elosegui headbands are a half inch flat band of wool after folding and bonding resulting in two layers.
Once a Super Lujo adjusts to your head size and after some wear the wool felts more and becomes softer.

But from my experience the ultimate comfort and quality comparison is
The Elosegui 150 versus a Manufacture de Beret.

Since Manufacture de Beret no longer uses the label Boneteria Auloronesa, BA, due to their move to Orthez,
I guess they are now MB.
The MB with the universal headband is always comfortable.
The MB headband is rounded due to the tube where the ribbon runs,
So the headband is not as flat as the Elosegui.
The MB has a better drape than the Elosegui which is stiffer.

The Elosegui 150 with wear becomes equally comfortable.
The weight, weaving, and felting of the wool seems about equal to the MB.
The advantage may be to the 150 because the wool headband does felt a little more than the MB.
Now it seems another contender for best Basque beret would be the Ano 1858 which comes in three sizes.

 

[Nico]

Super Lujo vs. Elosegui 150 & Ano 1858 vs. Manufacture de Beret

What's your favorite beret?
Could that be the one on my head?
An Elosegui Super Lujo Grande?

The weight, weaving, and felting of the Super Lujo are at the upper end of the quality scale.
The Elosegui headbands are a half inch flat band of wool after folding and bonding resulting in two layers.
Once a Super Lujo adjusts to your head size and after some wear the wool felts more and becomes softer.

But from my experience the ultimate comfort and quality comparison is
The Elosegui 150 versus a Manufacture de Beret.

Since Manufacture de Beret no longer uses the label Boneteria Auloronesa, BA, due to their move to Orthez,
I guess they are now MB.
The MB with the universal headband is always comfortable.
The MB headband is rounded due to the tube where the ribbon runs,
So the headband is not as flat as the Elosegui.
The MB has a better drape than the Elosegui which is stiffer.

The Elosegui 150 with wear becomes equally comfortable.
The weight, weaving, and felting of the wool seems about equal to the MB.
The advantage may be to the 150 because the wool headband does felt a little more than the MB.
Now it seems another contender for best Basque beret would be the Ano 1858 which comes in three sizes.

Buy them all. Problem solved.

 

[RJR]

Buy them all. Problem solved.

Yep!

 

[Daan]

The use and sight of berets in every day life may have diminished over the years, one area where berets thrive [and always have thrived] is in cinema.

Of course, there are the actual film makers, directors who keep up the good habit of wearing a beret, from Ingmar Bergman to Aki Kaurismäki to Fellini; naming only a few of many.
More interesting, I find, are the many films that came out over the last years that show berets prominently in an otherwise beret-diminished world.

Stan & Ollie for example, the biographical comedy-drama based on the lives of the illustrious duo that premiered in October 2018 at the BFI London Film Festival.

In Blackbook, Dutch actress Clarice van Houten wears a well sized txapela which must have been a very uncommon sight in the Nazi occupied Netherlands that the film portrays.
Military style berets have always been a staple in many action movies, such as the The Expendables 2 with Sylvester Stallone.

Films are also used to actually portray berets, like in La Fille d’Hérode, to showcase its latest collection of French headwear label Larose. Inspired by La Belle Noiseuse, the 1991 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix prize winner, the film stars painter Adam Markovic in a scene with his muse, model Salome Zimmerlin.

La Vie de Bohème is a beautiful film directed by Aki Kaurismäki, full of his trade mark deadpan humour. The film tells the story of three struggling artists, trying to make passable livings in Paris despite knock backs and tragedies.

One of my all-time favourite movies is Pan's Labyrinth, playing in post civil war Spain and showing young protagonist Ofelia and several maquis wearing berets.

Alas, 10 photos is the maximum per post on this forum, despite there being dozens and dozens more examples, old and new. To be continued...

 

[Daan]

Another vintage beret label has been brought back to life. The Etchea label was abandoned after many decades of good use at the end of the 1960s, but now has a new lease on life.

A label that beautifully captures the spirit of un-pretentiousness that was so typical of French berets and beret-wearers during the last century: an old peasant wearing a beret and clogs trudging along his faithful mule, the 'etchea' (Basque farmhouse) pictured on the background. Great berets for workers, farmers and city-folk for every day of the year.
Reinstated for South Pacific Berets and available in 28 and 30cm diameter, Black and Navy.

The Chirola label was re-introduced last year; another old, long vanished label that tells a great story to the good observer. These sized foulards, reinstated for South Pacific Berets, have become an instant bestseller. Now the range has expanded with one-size universal models in a range of diameters (27, 29 and 31cm ⌀) in navy.

Literally chirola means "worthless money" in Argentine slang, or a coin of 20 centavos. Here it stands for practicality, durability and quality - heavy duty great berets with a beautiful old-time label at a small price. The 11p/31cm foulards in black are available in a large range of sizes between 55 and 61 at $47.50; the new navy universal models at $42.50 only.

More vintage labels will be re-introduced later this year, but present 'real news' can be found in the newsletter that came out today.

 

[Fedster]

In the spirit of keeping stuff complicated, I noticed that berets are not sold by metric units, but by inches. I also noticed that the same metric unit correspond to different inches, depending on whether we are using Imperial, Spanish, or French inches. So:

1 imperial Inch = 25.4 mm
1 Spanish Inch = 23.3 mm [1] or 24.5 [2]
1 French Inch = 28 mm [3] or 27.07 mm [4]

Hence my liking of SI measurements


[1] based on 10 pulgadas corresponding to 233 mm, as in https://www.boinaselosegui.com/shop/1858-with-lining-and-leather-sweatband-2/?lang=en
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_customary_units
[3] based on 12 pouches corresponding to 336 mm, as in https://southpacificberets.com/bérets-universel-auloronesa.php
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_of_measurement_in_France_before_the_French_Revolution

 

[Bouwerij_Jongen]

Out for a walk yesterday during another uncommon snow event in Portland.
Wearing the Laulhere winter weight Chasseurs Alpin Tarte.

 

[Daan]

Out for a walk yesterday during another uncommon snow event in Portland.
Wearing the Laulhere winter weight Chasseurs Alpin Tarte.
View attachment 159754

Good to see the 'winter-Tarte' being put to good use!
After a very long, dry NZ summer, I was quite delighted to put on my Super Lujo-Grande the other day - going for a walk in the drizzly rain in the forest around Ngaio. There will come many days that I regret being happy about cooler, wet weather...

And while on the subject; the winter-version Chasseur Alpin in 200 gram is now back in stock, sizes 57-62.

 

[Babbo Philipe]

Not often do I have the pleasure to introduce a completely new line of berets to the stock, but here is one: boinas Guarda Pampa!
View attachment 93383 View attachment 93384 View attachment 93385
The 'Guarda Pampa' (People of the Earth) was originally created by the aboriginal people of Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia. This symmetric design symbolizes the reflection of the Andes Mountains in the lakes of the region. The Guarda Pampa, adopted and made iconic by the Argentine gauchos, has become a design that is woven into the fabric of Argentine and Chilean culture – from the flat pampas regions to the urban cities to the Andes Mountains.
View attachment 93386 View attachment 93387
Many designs, originally of Mataco and Mapuche origin, are commonly seen in gaucho's berets. Hard to find, even in Argentina and Chile, South Pacific Berets now stocks a (very) small number of boinas guarda pampa (with more stock expected late December). Hard wearing, heavy duty cotton berets (120 grams each!).
View attachment 93388 View attachment 93389

what are those little puffy bag things

 

[Okay]

Ahoy fellow boynaeroz!
I ran across this thread a month or so ago reading what I could find about berets on the web. I just finished reading the entire thread, from the start.

I'm a long time beret wearer, it's been my favourite hat for for nearly forty years.

In the above picture (1985?) I'm wearing a L'Aiglon which was a road find walking across the street. I picked it up, gave it a whack on my leg, on to my head it went, and remained for years. The newspaper photographer asked permission to print the photo, and asked me my name. I gave him the made up name you see above. I had to spell it for him, I had to spell it without letting my gaze drift upwards as we all do unconsciously, and spoil the game.

My preferred winter beret these days is a winter weight tarte alpin.

Michael

 

[Daan]

Berets and Pipes have been a great combination in many ways. Just as common as seeing a boinero in European streets during the 1950s and 60s, it was to see a gentleman smoking a pipe. Then there is the added advantage of keeping your pipe semi-covered under a well sized beret, of course.

The b/p combination was solidified in many beret labels, depicting a boinero smoking his pipe. Interestingly, the same happened the other way 'round: pipes depicting a boinero!

The trigger for these reflections comes from a large order this morning; a pipe smoking club who bought 30 of the new berets with the (pipe-smoking) Chirola label - practically my whole stock (and this at a time that a pipe-smoker is pretty much a social pariah)!

Despite my instant love affair with these new-vintage berets, this morning I went back to my trusted Elósegui Clásica in chocolate-brown; the perfect beret on one of those fall/spring days in between numbing coldness and hot summer weather.

The label in these (Spanish Civil War remakes) is the authentic "super exposicion", the predecessor of the present-day Super Lujo model. On an online auction last week, one of these labels sold for 25 euro (US$28.40), that's almost 2/3 of the new complete beret at South Pacific Berets!

 

[alanfgag]

My dad and his granddaughters a few years back. He loved his berets and hats of all kinds. He would have turned 94 yesterday.

 

[alanfgag]

 

[Okay]

Here's a 'How Not To Wear Your Beret' shot.

Michael

 

[Daan]

Like so many New Zealanders, and people across the globe, I am still trying to come to terms with the terrorist attacks on the two mosques in Christchurch, Friday a week ago.

Pain and an overwhelming sense of loss. Pain, for all those people who have lost their loved ones and the suffering of all those (critically) wounded people, fighting for their lives.
Loss, in the sense of loosing our innocence, this country that for so long felt like a last safe haven on this planet; far away from everywhere in the literal and metaphorical sense.
Police go (went) around the street unarmed, no checks for weapons when boarding domestic flights, my children who don't realize how special it is to have such integrated, multi-cultural schools and universities...

For many Kiwi's, one of the first reactions to the attacks was that all that would be over now. And some things will change, and already have, but what struck me most, is how this awful, senseless and cowardly deed, has actually brought this country together. Massive demonstrations against racism and xenophobia, vigils where 10's of 1000's show their respect and solidarity, a sweeping new ban on firearms that came just six days after the shooting (what a stark contrast to the political stalemate in the US), student societies who offer a taxi and escort service to Muslim women, hardened gang members talking about love and offering protection, etc., etc.

I found some pictures of beret wearers, but it doesn't feel right to publish these here and now. For once from me, some different headgear; our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in hijab (top) and this fantastic symbolic photo of Constable Michelle Evans in hijab with a rifle and rose outside the Christchurch Memorial Park Cemetery, as victims of the mosque shootings are buried.

 

[alanfgag]

Thanks for your message Daan. Have been thinking about you.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Like so many New Zealanders, and people across the globe, I am still trying to come to terms with the terrorist attacks on the two mosques in Christchurch, Friday a week ago.

Pain and an overwhelming sense of loss. Pain, for all those people who have lost their loved ones and the suffering of all those (critically) wounded people, fighting for their lives.
Loss, in the sense of loosing our innocence, this country that for so long felt like a last safe haven on this planet; far away from everywhere in the literal and metaphorical sense.
Police go (went) around the street unarmed, no checks for weapons when boarding domestic flights, my children who don't realize how special it is to have such integrated, multi-cultural schools and universities...

For many Kiwi's, one of the first reactions to the attacks was that all that would be over now. And some things will change, and already have, but what struck me most, is how this awful, senseless and cowardly deed, has actually brought this country together. Massive demonstrations against racism and xenophobia, vigils where 10's of 1000's show their respect and solidarity, a sweeping new ban on firearms that came just six days after the shooting (what a stark contrast to the political stalemate in the US), student societies who offer a taxi and escort service to Muslim women, hardened gang members talking about love and offering protection, etc., etc.

I found some pictures of beret wearers, but it doesn't feel right to publish these here and now. For once from me, some different headgear; our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in hijab (top) and this fantastic symbolic photo of Constable Michelle Evans in hijab with a rifle and rose outside the Christchurch Memorial Park Cemetery, as victims of the mosque shootings are buried.

It is inspiring to see the solidarity New Zealanders are showing. The images of non-Muslims wearing hijabs and the unconditional support and love regardless of religion, creed, or race gives us all hope.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Cepice]

I've been wondering when —if— you would post something on the attack. Must be so much harder coming from a peaceful and quiet country like NZ. I admire what the Kiwis have done in reaction, it reflects a strong country and good leaders. Thoughts and prayers for all of you, and for goodness to prevail in the world.

 

[Daan]

Christchurch will now be remembered for the terrorist attack on it's mosques, today two weeks ago, but the city has had more of it's share of violence this decade.
On 22 February 2011 a massive 6.2 earthquake shook the city, causing widespread damage across Christchurch and killing 185 people.

Local artist (and boinero) Peter Majendie arranged 185 empty chairs that he had painted white on the site of the demolished Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, creating an unofficial memorial for the 185 individuals who died in the earthquake.

The day after the installation, the local newspaper The Press reported that the artist's intention was for the memorial to stay for a week. However, it has become a major tourist attraction now. Installed at the day of the earthquake's first anniversary, it preceded the official earthquake memorial—the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial—by five years.