Berets: types, materials and colors

Some hats, even despite their rich history, remain popular to this day and regularly decorate modern men's and women's bows on the covers of glossy magazines. In this material you will familiarize yourself with the key varieties of berets, as well as learn what materials and color schemes are used in the creation of these stylish hats.

Beret (or beret) is soft and flat headdress of a round or oval shape without borders, a band and a visor. Translated from French, it takes literally translated as "Basque cap", or cap.

Today this hat is considered a popular element of both female and male onions. Berets are made mainly of expensive natural fibers and fabrics (genuine leather, suede, fur, silk, felt) and can be seasonal or demi-season, sewn or knitted.

In a modern female bow, berets are actively decorated with additional decorative elements: rhinestones, brooches, embroidery, a veil and even semiprecious minerals.

Also in some cultures, beret is an indispensable part of uniforms in law enforcement and the military. An example of this is a national Scottish costume or military berets of representatives of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation.

Most historians are confident that the prototype of the beret, which today is actively used in creating fashionable bows, is a Celtic headdress, which is still included in the traditional Scottish costume.Initially, the beret was performed mainly in blue, called “tem-o-senter” and was a wide and flat headdress with a characteristic bubo on the crown.

It is especially interesting to observe the history of the popularization of berets.

• In the Middle Ages such hats had a quadrangular shape and were worn exclusively by priests, nobles and royal persons (an example of this is Henry VIII Tudor).
• At the end of the XV century the fashion for berets has spread among important people in France and Germany. Then berets of a quadrangular shape were also used, but with margins raised at the back. Since that time, these hats began to be decorated with decorative elements in the form of embroidery, buckles, brooches, hairpins and even ostrich feathers. It is noteworthy that even then, berets were widespread among both men and women.
• In the first half of the 16th century berets firmly entrenched in the Spanish fashion niche. In those years, these hats gradually began to take a round shape, but were still decorated with feathers and buckles. It was at this time that simple citizens began to wear simplified and concise variants of berets.
• The interval from the XVI to the XVII centuries for berets was not favorable. Around this time, the world-famous cocked hat appeared, which completely suppressed the fashion for berets. These hats remained in the costumes of artists, pages and in the uniform of the Scottish military.
• The beginning of the XIX century became a time for the berets to have a full revival - these hats became an indispensable part of the dressing room of all European, and a little later, Russian fashionistas. Regarding the shape of the beret, they did not use exceptionally high-quality, vibrant and expensive fabrics (silk, velvet and brocade) to make such accessories, and even precious stones, natural flowers, satin ribbons and pearls were used in their decoration.
• Twentieth century introduced a military motive into beret fashion - modified versions of such hats were introduced into the uniform of the military personnel of France and Britain. After the end of World War II, berets began to be made of thin and lightweight materials and were often supplemented by embroidery, brooches and even a veil. By the end of the twentieth century, berets firmly entrenched in the cult image of hipsters and hipsters.
• With the beginning of the XXI century berets reliably entrenched in both male and female fashion, however, remained an integral part of military suits of countries such as Russia and Scotland.

Among modern and historical personalities in the image of which Beret appeared at least once, the following names can be distinguished: Ernesto Che Guevara, Rembrandt, Auguste Rodin, Bob Marley, Greta Garbo, Dita von Teese and Vanessa Paradis.

There are several popular varieties of berets depending on the style and method of manufacture. Below we will consider the most common and cult varieties of berets.

• Knitted berets - The best choice for a warm winter look. Such models go well with down jackets, coats and some fur coats. They are distinguished by large sizes, free cut, and, as a rule, complemented by original patterns or floral stripes. Especially popular today are large-knit wool berets.

• Felt or tweed berets - A classic version that will simultaneously protect your head from the cold wind and frost and will be in harmony with other elements of clothing. Such products look concise, stylish and rich, and therefore it looks best in a sophisticated output bow.

• Beret with a veil (or simply “pill”) refers to evening hats - in the bow of a modern girl this option can become a real highlight that will effectively refresh the whole image. This variety of berets has a sophisticated shape, made of thin and dense natural materials and is necessarily decorated with a veil, which can hide your eyes or simply decorate the product.

• Models with bubo or pompom. Such berets have one characteristic feature - a woolen or fleecy bubo, which is usually located on the very top of the beret. The pompom is an exclusively decorative element and does not perform any additional tasks.

• French beret. It is believed that it was from these beret models that the fashion for flat and round hats began. Once such berets were characterized as a revolutionary symbol and were used exclusively by men, only then did French girls begin to wear these stylish hats.

• Scottish beret. These hats in their homeland were called "balmoral" - in honor of the name of the residence of the English kings in Scotland. Balmoral to this day is part of the national Scottish costume. Distinctive features of such a beret can be considered a characteristic pompom on the top, as well as two dark silk ribbons that are tied in a neat knot and hang from the back of the product.

In addition, the lower part of such berets is usually painted in a traditional white-red-black cage. Modern balmoral is usually performed in dark blue. A characteristic feature of such a beret is the upper part, inclined to the right.

• Army berets. This group includes seamless and seam patterns of berets that are worn exclusively by members of the armed forces. Such berets can be performed in black, green, red, camouflage or blue, depending on the type of armed structures. Characteristic differences: the upper part inclined to the right (in rare cases to the left) side, while the front side of the beret is decorated with stripes, emblems or badges indicating belonging to a particular military structure.

Besides, male models are sometimes complemented by a characteristic visor. As for children's berets, these hats are usually not intended for boys, but models for girls are not much different from adult options, except that they are created, first of all, from warm and practical materials.

All berets, depending on the style, purpose and seasonality, can be created from different materials. Usually, when creating such hats, only natural and expensive materials are used.

• Woolen patterns. To create such berets, sheep, angora or merino wool is used. The main advantage of woolen products is excellent heat storage, resistance to pollution and shrinkage.

• Felt berets. These patterns can also be classified as woolen, however, here woolen fibers are made not in the form of yarn, but in the form of layers created using the felting technique. Unlike ordinary wool, felt is considered more dense and reliable, it does not allow wind, does not stretch, and felt caps have a more defined shape.

• Suede leather. This material is soft skin with a velvety and delicate surface, which is created by the method of fat tanning from the skins of animals such as deer, elk, sheep or goat. The advantage of suede is excellent heat retention, wind protection, resistance to deformation and shrinkage, as well as a chic appearance.

• Leather usually used in sewing hats on patterns where it is necessary to provide a certain shape. Leather products look successful not in every bow, but they are able to create a stylish and even outrageous image with the same leather clothes.

• Cotton products. This includes fabric and yarn berets. Cotton is a natural and versatile material that perfectly shows itself in any weather and at any time of the year. In addition to their pleasant appearance, cotton hats do not cause allergies, absorb moisture well and pass air well. Cotton fibers are part of such modern materials as velveteen, satin, matting, jeans and twill.

• Mohair models. This material is the processed wool of Angora goats and is used to create only expensive hats, dresses, coats, suits, as well as bedspreads, rugs, toys and even socks. Mohair is distinguished by good strength, light weight, soft and pleasant surface, as well as fire resistance and wear resistance.

• Products from mink. Mink is one of the most popular and not the most expensive furs in the world. Some fashion designers call this material the "Queen of Furs." In addition to the chic appearance, mink products have a lot of advantages: wear resistance, excellent heat preservation, softness, a large selection of shades, fur plasticity, as well as versatility. Fluffy mink berets can look harmonious in almost any modern bow.

In the current fashion season, almost any color scheme is allowed. The main thing is that the beret fits the color type of the one who wears it. Also, experts do not recommend the use of flashy and acidic shades. At the peak of popularity today are leopard berets - they are ideal for girls who are not afraid of prints in clothes. Below we will consider the colors and shades that are most often used today to create fashionable and stylish berets.

• Yellow. Some experts do not recommend using shades of yellow in the creation of hats, since yellowness can negatively harmonize with the color type of the face. At the same time, wheat and discreet sunny shades in almost any onion will look warm and elegant. Soft yellow shades go well with blue and lilac outerwear.

• Red. Burgundy and delicate cherry shades can become a spectacular accent throughout the bow. The uniqueness of the red berets is that they can be the only red thing in the bow, while being able to create a pleasant contrast with the rest of the clothes. To make the red beret look not too catchy, you can balance it in a bow with a burgundy shawl or handbag.

• Headpiece in black - a permanent classic that will never lose its relevance. Products of these colors may not be the main focus of your bow, but they will definitely be in harmony with the general color scheme. Of particular interest is the combination of black beret with leather goods. Also, a bow with black berets can be effectively supplemented with round glasses, burgundy or scarlet lipstick. Best of all, a black beret will be combined with leather jackets and leather trench coats in an ensemble with a dark turtleneck and a woolen skirt to the knee.

• Beige, cream and caramel shades. can also be considered universal in clothing. They are combined with most other shades (blue, black, gray, purple, wheat, green) and at the same time give the bow confidence, calmness and charm. These shades look especially interesting in the fall season, in harmony with the falling gold leaves. These beret flowers are chosen by men and women who do not want to stand out in the crowd.

• Berets of white and light colors. White is considered impractical by many, however, it is completely universal and elegantly fits into any image. Light colors will never go out of fashion, and therefore takes in the image of a girl will always look not only harmonious, but also fashionable. Such a bow can be effectively decorated with a black or blue polka-dot dress or accessories in the form of a strap and brooch.

• Blue colors and shades of sky. In female headdresses, blue colors are usually used, close to indigo, sapphire, azure, but in male models, blue is used exclusively when creating military berets (as for airborne servicemen).

• Complex colors. This may include models of berets of rarely used shades or models with prints. In order for such products to be in harmony with the bow, it is recommended to supplement them with accessories (glasses, a scarf or earrings) of the same color.

The choice of clothing for the newly purchased beret depends on several factors. Primarily, this is the chosen style in clothes, then the time of year (depending on whether you chose the model for autumn, spring or winter), and only then the color scheme. Below, brief recommendations will be presented on the inclusion of such a headgear as a beret in everyday female and male images.

Berets are usually used by creative and extraordinary personalities who want to stand out from the crowd or are immersed in some unusual occupation. Also, do not forget about military berets, which are still an indispensable part of the uniform of law enforcement officers. In the case of using male berets, there are not so many recommendations.

Such hats are suitable exclusively for a certain image or style of clothing. It is obvious that in the ensemble with a beret sports and strict clothing options will not be appropriate. Best such hats combined with casual clothing. These include ripped jeans, loose-fitting sweaters, woolen scarves, coats, and raincoats.

The key feature of male beret models from female is that men's options are usually made in more neutral, low-key and dark colors: brown, black, deep blue, caramel.

The beret cannot be considered a completely traditional and universal headdress, but because the girls who wanted to include it in their image, should consider a number of the following recommendations from fashion experts.

• Curls. The first rule - you can’t remove the hair completely under the beret, regardless of whether you have long strands or not. Curls, carefully pulled out from under the beret, will smooth facial features and bring more femininity and tenderness to the image. Berets with careless low tufts of hair or with a smoothly combed low tail will look especially interesting. A beret in an ensemble with a female hairstyle is considered a classic option - such a combination first became popular precisely in France and is still used by many sophisticated fashionistas.

• Features of the structure of the face. So, girls with a round oval of the face are recommended to slightly shift the beret back, while the loose curls visually stretch the face. Women with a square and triangular oval face and clear features need to adhere to an asymmetry, which will make the image softer and more feminine. To do this, it’s enough to slightly shift the side and use a slanting bang.

• Beret position. There are some rules that concern the location of the beret on the head. So, the beret should not cover the forehead by more than half, and its center should ideally be located closer to the back of the head so as not to visually increase the oval of the face. When using a beret, the ears should be covered on both sides - preferably not less than half.Options with one covered ear will look inappropriate and childish.

• Tips. Fashionistas use ordinary clips and hairpins to fasten berets to hair. In this case, the headgear will not be able to fly off under the gusts of strong winds or damage the styling.