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The Best Beret

Last updated on October 10, 2022

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Our Picks For The Top Berets

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

Hat To Socks Unisex Wool Blend Beret

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Hat To Socks

Unisex Wool Blend Beret

This classic French beret is a fashionable, comfortable accessory for any outfit. It is made from a high-quality wool blend fabric and comes in a variety of solid colors. It's also machine-washable for easy care.

Overall Take

Classic LookClassic and comfortable, this wool-blend beret makes for a stylish accessory.

 Runner Up

VECRY Women’s 100% Wool & Angora French Floral Beret

VECRY

Women's 100% Wool & Angora French Floral Beret

This unique beret has a cute, feminine embellishment at the front and a cuffed brim. It is made from wool and angora and has a soft interior lining. Choose from faux-fur, knitted and floral looks.

Overall Take

Unique StyleThis pretty and cozy wool beret features a feminine touch at the front.

 We Also Like

M MOACC Men’s Buckle Adjustable Newsboy Cap

M MOACC

Men's Buckle Adjustable Newsboy Cap

With its structured brim, this beret is a newsboy-style charmer. It's made from cotton and comes in fun designs with fashionable stitching. It has a buckle closure at the back for adjustable sizing and is great for all seasons.

Overall Take

Fun Embroidery If you want funky style and stitching, you'll love this newsboy-style beret.

 Strong Contender

Jeicy Women’s Wool French Beret & Scarf & Brooch

Jeicy

Women's Wool French Beret & Scarf & Brooch

Get the complete package: a lightweight, classic wool beret, plus matching scarf and brooch. You'll obtain the whole romantic bohemian vibe with just one purchase. Choose from many solid colors.

Overall Take

Complete PackageThis 100% wool beret comes with a silky scarf and a cute brooch to match.

Buying Guide

You know what a beret is, and you probably have associated this type of hat — generally made from a circular piece of felt — with French artists, revolutionaries, and maybe even a few classic Hollywood celebrities. However, the modern-day beret is perfect for upgrading your style every single day.

Berets keep your head warm in cooler weather, but they also make a statement with any outfit. They’ve been considered feminine (and now retro) ever since they were worn by fashion pioneers like Coco Chanel and famous folk like Greta Garbo, Lauren Bacall, and Brigitte Bardot. They also channel a romantic vibe. They go well with florals and ruffles, but they’re also perfect with suits or jeans.

Did you know that there are different types of berets? The basic beret is a plain hat in the classic flat, round beret shape. A painter’s beret, on the other hand, has a small tail or button on the top. The newsboy beret also has a button on the top as well as a wide brim at the front. These three types of berets are all popular, worn around the globe by different types of people.

You can find berets today in many types of material, from wool and faux leather to polyester. You’ll mostly want to choose based on the fabric and the look you like best, since berets tend to come in one size that fits all.

What to Look For

  • When it comes to materials, stiffer fabric may better for berets because it provides structure. After all, the beret shape is what makes the hat unique, so you don’t want to end up with one that just loses its shape when worn. However, you might also want to choose based on the look you prefer; berets made with soft material look more casual, while berets that are stiff look more formal. Softer berets may also travel better, as they can be stuffed into a bag or pocket more easily.
  • If you have a round face, consider wearing a beret with the longer side to the front. This will help to elongate your face. If you have a long face, consider wearing a beret with a brim so that you can pull it down slightly on your forehead, which will help to make your face look more round. If you have a square face, go with a beret that has a rounded brim instead of an angular one, as this will complement your face shape more. For those with heart-shaped faces, wear any type of beret and pull it up higher on your head for the most flattering look.
  • When it comes to colors, you have plenty of options for berets. If you want to make the hat a statement piece, go with a bold choice that will pop. If you want the hat to blend in with your outfit, then choose a neutral color. Keep in mind that berets don’t just need to be outerwear. They can work anywhere, including indoors.

More to Explore

The word beret is French and dates back to the early 1800s. It is derived from the Latin word “birretum” and the term “bearnaise berret,” which refers to a type of flat hat that was typically worn by the working class.

However, the hat itself has been around for much longer than that. In fact, evidence of a beret-like hat originates from the Bronze Age, in various tombs in Italy and Denmark. The beret was shown in paintings as well as sculptures throughout Western Europe. The hat, historians believe, is an evolution of two different, popular head coverings worn in ancient Greece and Rome: one was a floppy sun hat and the other was a firmer conical hat. Combined, they resulted in a hat very similar to the beret we know today.

While berets were worn by the working class throughout history because of their inexpensive materials, they were also adopted by military personnel and revolutionaries in the 1800s. They didn’t become fashionable for women until the early 1900s thanks to icon Coco Chanel. Before her, berets were mostly worn by men, so a woman wearing this poor man’s hat was quite the statement. It soon became quite the symbol of the avant-garde, being worn by artists and writers as well as celebrities about town.

 

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