Berets, Anyone?

[Daan]

I ordered another Uraguayan Nutria beret, this time in black. I have to say, this is the hat that I reach for most often!

Isn't it funny how sometimes the cheapest (or worn-out, damaged, dirty, whatever...) beret can give the most satisfaction?

Although I dare say that I am addicted to Auloronesa and Super Lujo berets, I still often grab my oldest Argentinian boina; a Tolosa Tupida in navy that has worn thin over the years (and is now super soft).

It is indeed the same beret as shown in my Fedora Lounge avatar (a picture at least 12 years old).

Another beret that well qualifies for that status of super-comfy and affordable, is the Elosegui Fina - a real classic and this week on the SPB Special at only $37.50.

 

[Daan]

South Pacific Berets' first newsletter of 2019 is out.
If not a subscriber, read it online here.

 

[Nico]

Red t-shirt and black Laulhère day.

 

[Cepice]

Berets have been just about my only choice for the last 3 weeks or so. Not sure where the love came from, but nothing seems to beat a beret. I've never been fully comfortable with a brimmed hat, but this...this is something other.

 

[Fedster]

I have a question on winter berets. I have order some cotton berets from South Pacific Berets to use in summer, and I am sure they will work very well to cover my head and shelter my eyes from the sun (I ordered 'Tolosa tupida plato grande' and a 'boina jaspeada').

So far so good. Since we are moving to Finland for good this summer, I was wondering whether berets are viable option when I want to cover the back of my head and my ears (in some cases I would have to, whether I want or not). I have a beanie so in theory I'm covered, but I would like to have something that will cover my head and provide cover for my eyes in those cases the sun is out. I was wondering whether a Txapeldun with an oversized head hole could be simply pulled down to cover the full head while still having something to shelter my eyes. Is that a done thing? would it look completely horrible?

 

[Cepice]

I love wearing berets in the winter, and right now ours is often incredibly cold (the other day it was -29C with wind chill). With a reasonably wide beret, the wool will cover the tips of your ears and keep them nice and warm. Couple that with a scarf or a collared jacket, and you've got a blanket wrapped around you.

My barber recently nearly shaved the sides of my head for some strange reason. Maybe he forgot it's not summer. A beret rarely leaves my head right now and I'm always warm and comfortable.

Yes, I pull mine forward to keep sun out of my eyes. You might want a larger size like an Alpin so you can push and pull all over the place.

So far so good. Since we are moving to Finland for good this summer, I was wondering whether berets are viable option when I want to cover the back of my head and my ears (in some cases I would have to, whether I want or not). I have a beanie so in theory I'm covered, but I would like to have something that will cover my head and provide cover for my eyes in those cases the sun is out. I was wondering whether a Txapeldun with an oversized head hole could be simply pulled down to cover the full head while still having something to shelter my eyes. Is that a done thing? would it look completely horrible?

 

[Bouwerij_Jongen]

Hey Fedster, a great question that I have pondered on occasion.
You can easily take a BA universal 11p or 12p, turn out the head band,
maybe loosen the ligature ribbon,
and pull the beret over your ears.
It looks pretty stupid but will keep your ears warm.
In Finland you will probably be wearing a hooded coat,
just pull the hood over your beret which is worn normally,
but will be flattened by the hood.
Or wear a beanie but keep your beret in a coat pocket to wear when not exposed to frigid temps.

 

[Daan]

Hey Fedster, a great question that I have pondered on occasion.
You can easily take a BA universal 11p or 12p, turn out the head band,
maybe loosen the ligature ribbon,
and pull the beret over your ears.
It looks pretty stupid but will keep your ears warm.
In Finland you will probably be wearing a hooded coat,
just pull the hood over your beret which is worn normally,
but will be flattened by the hood.
Or wear a beanie but keep your beret in a coat pocket to wear when not exposed to frigid temps.

"A hooded coat with the hood pulled over the beret"... That made me think of that beautiful photo by Jean Dieuzaide of a shepherd in the French Pyrenees, pulling the hood of his cape over his beret (1953).

Jean Dieuzaide (1921-2003), often known under the pseudonym 'Yan' which he used during his work in the Resistance, was honoured with numerous prizes throughout his career, including the Prix Niépce and the Prix Nadar.

 

[Cepice]

Wasn't that why Montgomery wore a beret? To fit under the hood of his duffel?

 

[Fedster]

Hey Fedster, a great question that I have pondered on occasion.
You can easily take a BA universal 11p or 12p, turn out the head band,
maybe loosen the ligature ribbon,
and pull the beret over your ears.
It looks pretty stupid but will keep your ears warm.
In Finland you will probably be wearing a hooded coat,
just pull the hood over your beret which is worn normally,
but will be flattened by the hood.
Or wear a beanie but keep your beret in a coat pocket to wear when not exposed to frigid temps.

I have to admit that, even down to -25C I never used a hood (the only time I can see myself under a hood is a snowstorm, but I run quite cold). I know people who use a baseball hat (for the sun) under a beanie under a hood (and they are not bald like me!)... maybe a wide beret under a hood might work out.

I have to admit that going from hats to beret has been a revelation. My wife hates my hats (but not the beret), and as I get older I like how comfortable, soft, and easy to stove away berets are.

 

[RJR]

I have to admit that, even down to -25C I never used a hood (the only time I can see myself under a hood is a snowstorm, but I run quite cold). I know people who use a baseball hat (for the sun) under a beanie under a hood (and they are not bald like me!)... maybe a wide beret under a hood might work out.

I have to admit that going from hats to beret has been a revelation. My wife hates my hats (but not the beret), and as I get older I like how comfortable, soft, and easy to stove away berets are.

+1

 

[Cepice]

A beret under a true wool duffel coat will keep you warm in any weather. If you get a duffel, I suggest you stay with traditional hemp rope+toggles, as I find the leather and horn toggles tend to rip. The leather gets wet and weakens at the stitch.

I wore a hood over my ski helmet today, cuts the wind right down on the slopes.

 

[Bouwerij_Jongen]

I think Montgomery saw this postcard of a WW1 French tanker with a beret and decided he would too.
I am sure Daan has the real story on Montgomery.

 

[Fedster]

Real gauchos -- with berets (cotton and wool):

 

[Fedster]

Incidentally, am I correct to say wool berets are made of boiled wool, not felt? Both Elosegui and Laulhere have a knitted stage that is then felted (I suspect the correct term would be 'fulled') -- they do not seem to make felt (that is a not knitted cloth) berets. I find it fascinating.

 

[Daan]

I think Montgomery saw this postcard of a WW1 French tanker with a beret and decided he would too.
I am sure Daan has the real story on Montgomery.
View attachment 153825

Ah, there is not much of a juicy story in this... Among Montgomery's many titles, he was a Colonel Commandant of the Royal Tank Regiment (that's where the black beret, with RTR-badge, comes from).

During the Africa Campaign (WWII), then Field Commander Montgomery made a great effort to appear before troops as often as possible, frequently visiting various units and making himself known to the men, often arranging for cigarettes to be distributed.

Although he still wore a standard British officer's cap on arrival in the desert, he briefly wore an Australian broad-brimmed hat before switching to wearing the black beret (with the badge of the Royal Tank Regiment next to the British General Officer's badge) for which he became notable. The black beret was offered to him by Jim Fraser while the latter was driving him on an inspection tour.

Jim Fraser was a corporal in the Eighth Army, the Desert Rats, and the driver of the converted tank that was General Montgomery's command vehicle during the North African campaign to El Alamein and Tunis.

 

[Daan]

With many new models coming in over the next few months at South Pacific Berets, shelving space is becoming a bit of an issue...

To create some room, this must be South pacific Berets' best Special ever: all the Laulhère berets with vintage reinstated labels at a $27.50 low! These berets carry some of the most beautiful woven labels ever seen in berets, originating from the 1940s and 50s.

All these berets are made of 100% Australian merino wool, fitted with satin lining in a one-size universal model.

This week only on Special @ $27.50 (as long as stock lasts).

 

[Fedster]

Question, where I can find someone selling the Elosegui berets *in Europe*? Daan sells most models, but it seems perverse to ship the berets from Europe to New Zealand, and then back to Europe. Casa Yustas sells some models but I am looking for the 1858 without leather band (Casa Yustas sells just the one with leather band). Push comes to shove I could bu that and remove the leather band (if I do so should I go one size down? I have one with the sweatband and it looks like it would go oversize if I just removed it), but ideally I'd buy the version that does not need me to do any surgery.

 

[Daan]

Question, where I can find someone selling the Elosegui berets *in Europe*? Daan sells most models, but it seems perverse to ship the berets from Europe to New Zealand, and then back to Europe. Casa Yustas sells some models but I am looking for the 1858 without leather band (Casa Yustas sells just the one with leather band). Push comes to shove I could bu that and remove the leather band (if I do so should I go one size down? I have one with the sweatband and it looks like it would go oversize if I just removed it), but ideally I'd buy the version that does not need me to do any surgery.

As you have realized yourself, there are actually very few retailers selling the Boinas Elosegui berets. It may seem strange (and is sad) that the only (online) specialized sellers of these berets are located not only outside Spain, but outside Europe as well.
In Spain (and in France, the UK) there are numerous hat shops that stock Boinas Elosegui berets and offer internet ordering, but all the top of the range models (Super Lujo, Ano 1858) are fitted with a headband.
Basque berets only form a very small part of Boinas Elosegui's production these days, as military berets form the bulk of the manufacturing (and keep the company alive). The higher end models mentioned are seen as a luxury article and come with a leather headband (the
Exposición Basica and Fina models are easier to find without headband).
It is only specialized bonetaires (or 'beret sellers') that can buy quantities of the traditional, talla única (one-size, headband-less) berets. Many of these models (especially in the Super Lujo range) are custom made for South Pacific Berets.
Although I sympathize with your reluctance to order from the other side of the world while living relatively close to the place of the beret's origin, I honestly believe this is your only option (I know of no retailer in Europe selling these berets in a headband-less model).
Your suggestion to buy a model with headband and remove the band is a bad idea. A beret with headband is not the same as a purpose made headband-less model!

 

[Fedster]

Hi Daan, apparently I could buy directly from Elosegui, but their webshop does not seem to work for me (using four different browsers). On my phone I see a shopping basket but there is no way to put anything into it. Assuming they ever reply to my email I might get to the bottom of this.