First donned by Dutch artist Rembrandt, the beret is one of France’s most iconic accessories. Seemingly never going out of fashion the beret has appeared on the heads of countless cultural icons throughout history.
Coco Chanel, Che Guevara, and Picasso are just some of the famous names to have worn the beret.
Today, we see the beret all over our Instagram feeds. More and more fashionistas and influencers don the beret, all of them looking incredible.
However, pulling off the beret look isn’t as easy as it looks.
This versatile accessory offers us flair and sophistication in an outfit but we have to get it right. If we don’t, we run the risk of looking silly. Today, we want to help you pull off the very best beret look.
To help you, we’ve put together this guide that shows you exactly how to wear a beret. If you need some reassurance or inspiration, keep reading!
What Is The Beret?
Before we go any further, let us explain what a beret is. The French word “beret” dates back to 1825. It originates from the Latin language and the word “birretum”.
This word refers to a flat cap worn by the working class.
Today, we look at the beret more simply. The beret is a round, soft hat that features a flat crown. Generally speaking, most berets are made out of cotton, wool, and acrylic fibers.
When you hold a beret, it has a flat shape. However, when you put it on your head it takes a bulb-like shape.
Unlike other hats, the beret has a visorless brim that has a tight headband. This stops the hat from flying off your head. The beret has long been a staple accessory in French culture.
Over the years it has even become a staple accessory in the Special Forces.
However, it is now most commonly used by those who love fashion.
Wearing A Beret: How Is It Done?
Now you know more about what the beret is, we can start to look at how you wear it. Wearing a beret can help you bring French flair to your outfit. It also gives an outfit an air of sophistication.
Below, we have listed three ways you can wear a beret.
1. Classic
Sometimes, the best way is the classic way. When it comes to the beret, this is certainly the case. Placing the beret on top of your head, whilst giving it a slight tilt is a fantastic French classic look.
To achieve the classic style, place the beret just over halfway up your forehead. The headband should sit an inch or so behind the ears. You should then tuck the brim of the hat under and tug the fabric to the side.
Do this until the hat reaches an appealing tilt.
2. Back Of Your Head
Another popular way to wear the beret is to perch it on the back of the head. This leaves the bottom brim sitting at the base of the neck. To wear this style, put your beret on your head.
The beret’s band should sit at your hairline. Next, carefully pull the back of the beret until it neatly sits on the back of your head. You can keep the beret in place by using clips or bobby pins.
This style won’t keep the beret tightly in place so it may fall off.
3. Un-Tilted
For the un-tilted beret look, put the beret on top of your head so that the headband sits about an inch above your brow line. You can then fold the brim of the beret under to create a flat cap style that sits more flush against the head.
To create a puffed look, you can untuck the beret’s brim and cover your ears. You should then carefully pull the top of your hat.
Wearing A Beret: Styling Tips
You should now know how to style your beret in three different ways. The ways we have shown you are effective, quick, and easy. However, there are some more things you need to know if you want to style your beret perfectly every time.
Below, we’ve listed some useful styling tips you should know.
1. Modernize The Look
A great way to pull off an attractive beret look is to pair it with modern fashion. By simply pairing your beret with an edgy leather jacket or casual pair of sneakers and jeans will give you a more eclectic look.
2. Wear A Trench Coat
One of our favorite beret looks is when it is paired with a tan-colored trench coat. Wearing a trenchcoat with your beret offers the perfect amount of classic style without looking cheesy or too much.
3. Go For Neutral Makeup
Wearing heavy makeup with designer clothing and your beret can be intense. Of course, that is fine if that’s the look you’re going for, but if not, you should try something else.
Instead, try pairing a neutral makeup look with your beret and designer clothing. Wearing muted makeup tones with a beret offers a better-balanced look.
4. Experiment
Don’t be afraid to try different fabric combinations with your beret. Admittedly, some will work and some won’t but you’ll never know if you don’t try.
Wool, leather, and felt berets all offer something different to an outfit so make sure you try them all.
5. Use Colors That Compliment Each Other
Like any outfit, you should try to pair colors that complement each other nicely. For example, try matching a boldly colored beret with colors that complement it.
A navy blue beret might go nicely with a yellow jacket.
6. Keep Your Hair Down
Simply getting your hairstyle right can dramatically improve a look. With that in mind, you should prioritize natural hairstyles if you want to pull off a beret style.
Simply keeping your hair down will produce a gorgeous look. It will also help keep the beret in place which is a bonus.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a simple guide that shows you how to wear a beret. In this post, we’ve shown you how easy it is to style a beret in three different ways.
Those ways are classic, back of your head, and un-tilted.
We’ve also given you a list of useful tips that will help you create the best beret style. At first, pulling off a beret style might seem difficult. However, once you know what you’re doing, getting it right is easy.
Now you have this guide, you should get your beret out and try each style out. That way, you can find the style that suits you best.
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