Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Berets, Anyone?

Humanfactor

Familiar Face
Messages
82
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts USA
well you had to get a bordeaux, a matching scarf would put it well--i would also recommend the brown, BA has fantastic colors,,,oh by the way welcome my friend
Thank you Philipe, I also love the bordeaux (maroon) color for sentimental reasons as my dad was with the 6th British Airborne in WWII and this colour is very close to his béret. Those cotton bérets are very comfortable. I recently wore my Espinosa in Chile during those late warm summer days, very helpful in the hot sun, it made a huge difference in keeping me cool. :)
 

Babbo Philipe

A-List Customer
Messages
339
Location
San Pedro
i am not much on cotton berets , the BA wears well in the heat too, at least california heat, lol,,,
BA,s are the best on the market ,made to last, but it is an insulator, i have had pure wool knitted sweaters in the bering straits 20 below and 70 knot winds, and i am sweating .
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
upload_2018-4-29_10-12-27.png
upload_2018-4-29_10-12-34.png

To be a gaucho means to be honest and kind to all living creatures... Now in his seventies, Heraldo Riel became a gaucho at the age of nine just like his father before him, and has stayed true to the spirit of his profession while in the midst of a rapidly changing world.

This is a beautiful story about being connected to nature and oneself, set in the stunning landscape of Chilean Patagonia, made even more intensely beautiful through the meditation that solitude brings.
upload_2018-4-29_10-15-20.png
upload_2018-4-29_10-15-38.png

The "behind the scenes" video shows the challenges for a filmmaker venturing out to Chile’s remote Patagonian steppes. Requiring three days travel by horseback from the nearest city to reach their subject, gaucho Heraldo Riel, both size and weight of their gear was highly restricted, yet the resulting short film could contain no compromises.


And in "Other News", on SPECIAL this week, the original "Tarte" of the Chasseurs Alpins at a 20% discount!
upload_2018-4-29_10-34-21.png
upload_2018-4-29_10-34-29.png

The genuine beret of the Chasseurs Alpins in 336mm dark navy merino wool, sized without a headband and fitted with the traditional CAMBO label. Sizes run large - if in doubt, choose the lower size.




 

ErikFid

New in Town
Messages
36
Location
Big Apple
View attachment 116404 View attachment 116405
To be a gaucho means to be honest and kind to all living creatures... Now in his seventies, Heraldo Riel became a gaucho at the age of nine just like his father before him, and has stayed true to the spirit of his profession while in the midst of a rapidly changing world.

This is a beautiful story about being connected to nature and oneself, set in the stunning landscape of Chilean Patagonia, made even more intensely beautiful through the meditation that solitude brings.
View attachment 116406 View attachment 116407
The "behind the scenes" video shows the challenges for a filmmaker venturing out to Chile’s remote Patagonian steppes. Requiring three days travel by horseback from the nearest city to reach their subject, gaucho Heraldo Riel, both size and weight of their gear was highly restricted, yet the resulting short film could contain no compromises.


And in "Other News", on SPECIAL this week, the original "Tarte" of the Chasseurs Alpins at a 20% discount!
View attachment 116408 View attachment 116409
The genuine beret of the Chasseurs Alpins in 336mm dark navy merino wool, sized without a headband and fitted with the traditional CAMBO label. Sizes run large - if in doubt, choose the lower size.



Great film of this gaucho. Thanks for posting.
The tarte chasseur alpin appears to be black not navy. Do they come in both colours?
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
Great film of this gaucho. Thanks for posting.
The tarte chasseur alpin appears to be black not navy. Do they come in both colours?
The authentic tarte of the Chasseurs Alpins is of a very, very dark navy-blue and when not outdoors in natural day light, it is easy to believe it is black. This is certainly darker than the tartes that were worn from early last century through the 1980s which were a more obvious shade of blue.
upload_2018-4-29_16-11-47.png
upload_2018-4-29_16-11-58.png

A few more pictures that show the colour in the outdoors.
upload_2018-4-29_16-14-21.png

Typically, one sees the difference best when holding a black beret next to it; then it becomes obviously navy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RJR

Nico

One of the Regulars
Messages
241
Location
Australia
how do you like the cooper, i was pondering on one of these
G'day Philipe.
It's the Countryman Cooper S. I like it, very nice vehicle. Good blend of retro styling with lots of nifty features. Just need to learn how things work in it. ;)
 

Nico

One of the Regulars
Messages
241
Location
Australia
Thank you Philipe, I also love the bordeaux (maroon) color for sentimental reasons as my dad was with the 6th British Airborne in WWII and this colour is very close to his béret. Those cotton bérets are very comfortable. I recently wore my Espinosa in Chile during those late warm summer days, very helpful in the hot sun, it made a huge difference in keeping me cool. :)

Keeping the B.A bordeaux colour theme going, wore mine today.
IMG_3328.jpg
 

Humanfactor

Familiar Face
Messages
82
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts USA
i have some friends from belgium, they said Chili was one of there favorites, a very stable country
Yes Philipe, Chile is considered to have the least corruption of any Latin America/South American country. It also has the highest per person income and the lowest homicide rate. Some say it offers some of the most diverse geography than any country in the World... perhaps a bit like New Zealand.
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
For "services to the Béarnaise beret", I have been made an honorary citizen of the Principauté de Laàs (Principality of Laàs) which I take as a great honour (only slightly diminished when I found that one can actually buy the citizenship + passport, but still...).
upload_2018-5-1_12-17-53.png

The Principality of Laàs is, of course, the base of Le Béret Français, similarly to Boneteria Auloronesa a small company working hard at keeping the beret French made and promoting beret wearing in France.
upload_2018-5-1_12-44-38.png
upload_2018-5-1_12-44-51.png

What I like most about this company, is their open mindedness, to experiment and innovate, while at the same time staying true to the principles of traditional beret making. Their multi-coloured berets are a good example, but personally, I like the idea of their ECO berets (Printemps and Jean) best; berets made of 100% recycled fibers.
upload_2018-5-1_13-1-12.png
upload_2018-5-1_13-1-19.png
upload_2018-5-1_13-1-26.png

This is especially valuable in the light of the very pollutive industry beret manufacturing used to be. Traditionally, beret manufacturers were based at a river; to provide hydro power for the machinery (late 19th century/early 20th century), but also because of the abundant water use in the dyeing process of the berets. The contaminated water went straight out back to the stream where it came from.
upload_2018-5-1_13-2-17.png

The situation is very different now, with very strict environmental laws and regulations implemented. This was however the last nail on Blancq-Olibet's coffin... Not being able (financially) to implement new, clean systems, Blancq-Olibet had to have the dyeing done by Boinas Elosegui across the border. This was not because Spain's environmental laws were laxer, but because Boinas Elosegui has the most stringent systems in place and is a leader in environmentally sound practice (Laulhere too has a small part of some of it's manufacturing done by Boinas Elosegui for this reason).

 

Nico

One of the Regulars
Messages
241
Location
Australia
For "services to the Béarnaise beret", I have been made an honorary citizen of the Principauté de Laàs (Principality of Laàs) which I take as a great honour (only slightly diminished when I found that one can actually buy the citizenship + passport, but still...).
View attachment 116745
The Principality of Laàs is, of course, the base of Le Béret Français, similarly to Boneteria Auloronesa a small company working hard at keeping the beret French made and promoting beret wearing in France.
View attachment 116759 View attachment 116760
What I like most about this company, is their open mindedness, to experiment and innovate, while at the same time staying true to the principles of traditional beret making. Their multi-coloured berets are a good example, but personally, I like the idea of their ECO berets (Printemps and Jean) best; berets made of 100% recycled fibers.
View attachment 116767 View attachment 116768 View attachment 116769
This is especially valuable in the light of the very pollutive industry beret manufacturing used to be. Traditionally, beret manufacturers were based at a river; to provide hydro power for the machinery (late 19th century/early 20th century), but also because of the abundant water use in the dyeing process of the berets. The contaminated water went straight out back to the stream where it came from.
View attachment 116770
The situation is very different now, with very strict environmental laws and regulations implemented. This was however the last nail on Blancq-Olibet's coffin... Not being able (financially) to implement new, clean systems, Blancq-Olibet had to have the dyeing done by Boinas Elosegui across the border. This was not because Spain's environmental laws were laxer, but because Boinas Elosegui has the most stringent systems in place and is a leader in environmentally sound practice (Laulhere too has a small part of some of it's manufacturing done by Boinas Elosegui for this reason).

Daan, They should have allowed you to wear a beret on the passport photo. ;)
 

Humanfactor

Familiar Face
Messages
82
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts USA
Thanks Daan for all your services to the cultural icon of the Béret.

You should try and sell bérets to the Chinese Female Military, looks like they would need a lot of them based on this video clip.

Nothing better than a female in uniform and especially wearing a béret. ;)
 
Last edited:

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
For quick deciders: the new stock of the traditional handmade Boinas Portuguesas in burel wool has just arrived!
upload_2018-5-2_16-40-8.png

Unfortunately, I ended up with double the number due to a communications mistake... Therefore, for a short time only, all models on SPECIAL at a 40% discount, $49.50 only!
upload_2018-5-2_16-41-35.png
upload_2018-5-2_16-41-44.png
upload_2018-5-2_16-41-52.png

The sheep of the Serra da Estrela have allowed humans to settle this inhospitable part of Portugal by providing wool, milk and meat for many centuries and until recently, the region’s economy was fully based on sheep’s products.
It was the constant and unlimited supply of fresh water to wash the wool and drive the machines and looms (pre-Industrial Revolution) that enabled the industry to flourish in Manteigas.
upload_2018-5-2_16-45-5.png
upload_2018-5-2_16-45-14.png

With the introduction of synthetics and cheap imports from overseas, the burel industry went into decline and almost disappeared, throwing entire families into poverty and causing many to move to the cities or abroad.
upload_2018-5-2_16-47-51.png
upload_2018-5-2_16-47-59.png

The most important wool factory in the region was Lanificio Império (1947). This factory was bought in 2010 by two keen hikers and mountain explorers, João Tomás and Isabel Costa, who, after realizing the heritage and the cultural value of the space, decided not to let burel die and proceed with the recovery of the factory that became ‘Burel Factory’.
upload_2018-5-2_16-50-4.png

Burel Factory continues using the same machines and traditional equipment, ensuring the production of unique, different and high quality fabrics, preserving the past, reinterpreting it and making it into a story of the future.


 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
To my enormous surprise, I found out that there is more than one "The Beret Project". Apart from what you are reading right now, there is also The Shanghai Beret Project!

Copied from Historic Shanghai: "
It’s a classic Shanghai sight: older Chinese men sporting rakish berets. The iconic headwear of the French never seems to have gone out of style among gentlemen of a certain age in Shanghai, a legacy formed during the period of the French Concession (1849-1945). Some hypothesize that since famous revolutionaries like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara also favored these practical chapeaux, Chinese men may have felt comfortable wearing them post-1949. Patrick Cranley’s been on the streets of Frenchtown and beyond, documenting the laokele (distinguished Shanghai gentlemen) and their berets."
Frank%2BQuan%252C%2Ban%2BEnglish-speaking%2BShanghai%2Bgentleman%2Bwho%2Bhas%2Bwritten%2Btwo%2Bbooks%2Bon%2Bold%2BShanghai..jpg

Frank Quan, an English-speaking Shanghai gentleman who has written two books on old Shanghai. Not surprising, for as the son of poet Zau Sinmay (Shao Xunmei 邵洵美, 1906-1968), he knows something about that period.
Mr%2BZhang%2Bhas%2Balways%2Bworn%2Ba%2Bberet%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bwinter.%2BIt%25E2%2580%2599s%2Bjust%2Bwhat%2Bus%2Bold%2Bguys%2Bdo%2521.jpg

Mr Zhang has always worn a beret in the winter. "It’s just what us old guys do!"
Mr%2BZhou%252C%2B93%252C%2Bis%2Brocking%2Bhis%2Braspberry%2Bberet%2Bfrom%2Bhis%2Bwheelchair%2521.jpg

Mr Zhou, 93, is rocking his raspberry beret from his wheelchair!
Mr.%2BQu%252C%2B67.%2BHe%25E2%2580%2599s%2Bbeen%2Bwearing%2Ba%2Bberet%2Bsince%2Bhe%2Bwas%2Bfive%252C%2Bbecause%2BI%2Bwas%2Bborn%2Bin%2Bthe%2BFrench%2BConcession%2Band%2Blive%2Bhere%2Bstill%2521%2BHe%25E2%2580%2599s%2Bbeen%2Btaking%2Bphotos%2Bof%2Bhistoric%2Bbuildings%2Bfor%2Bmore%2Bthan%2B20%2Byears.jpg

Mr. Qu, 67. He’s been wearing a beret since he was five, “because I was born in the French Concession and live here still!” He’s been taking photos of historic buildings for more than 20 years and is a big fan of architects Laszlo Hudec and Alexandre Leonard.
Mr.%2BShen%252C%2B75%252C%2Bstarted%2Bwearing%2Ba%2Bberet%2Babout%2B15%2Byears%2Bago..jpg

Mr. Shen, 75, started wearing a beret about 15 years ago. “I’m an artist, so I thought it was appropriate to wear a beret.”
Mr.%2BTang%252C%2B68.%2BHe%2Bstarted%2Bwearing%2Ba%2Bberet%2Babout%2B10%2Byears%2Bago..jpg

Mr. Tang, 68. He started wearing a beret about 10 years ago. “Because senior citizens need to keep their heads warm.”
Mr.%2BXu%252C%2B88.%2BHe%2Bstarted%2Bwearing%2Bberets%2Bin%2Bhis%2B70s%252C%2Bbecause%2Bthey%2Blook%2Bgood%2Band%2Bare%2Bvery%2Bpractical..jpg

Mr. Xu, 88. He started wearing berets in his 70s, “because they look good and are very practical.”
Mr.%2BZhu%252C%2B65.%2BHe%2Bstarted%2Bwearing%2Ba%2Bberet%2Btwo%2Byears%2Bago%252C%2Bwhen%2Bhis%2Bwife%2Bknitted%2Bhim%2Bthis%2Bnice%2Bgrey%2Bmodel.%2BSharp%2521.jpg

Mr. Zhu, 65. He started wearing a beret two years ago, when his wife knitted him this nice grey model. Sharp!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,291
Messages
3,078,062
Members
54,238
Latest member
LeonardasDream
Top