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The Irreplaceable Ingredient In The Recipe Of Being "Chic". The Beret.
An ultimate accessory, the irreplaceable ingredient in the recipe of being "chic" - this type of hat holds #1 place in the millinery charts all over the world for Centuries! Beret is the only type of hat that have been adopted by many different groups of people, living in many different countries, during different historical periods. In fact, the history of the Beret is so long that nobody can say with definite certainty how or by whom (the name of the person) the Beret was created for the very first time.
It is believed by many that France is responsible for creating the Beret. Not true at all, despite the fact that expression "french beret" sound as inviting and charming as it is misleading. As a matter of fact it is still unknown how the Beret got to France.:-)
The word "beret" came from the Latin word "birretum" which literally means "cap". The beginning of the glorious march of the Beret was first recorded as far as 5th century BC and it was suggested that beret-like head gear was first worn by ancient Greeks. Some even suggested that the word "cap" came directly from Greek word "pilos" - skullcaps made out of black felt often worn by sailors.
It is also believed that in the 1st Century AD the Romans picked up the beret from Greeks. Romans called it "beretino" and it is the Romans who actually invented the true Beret in the modern understanding of the shape and form of this hat. Ancient Romans also, for the very first time, applied color laws to the Beret. For example, only aristocrats could wear white Berets. So, hats of to fabulous Italians who gave the world the most wearable hat there is. :-)))
In the 3rd century Roman colonies brought Berets to Spain. It is believed that this is exactly how the Beret became established in the Basque Country where it was adopted by the Basque people. It is in Spain the Beret got its new name - Beret Basque, "boina" in Spanish and Basque. Although France adores a good beret, it is the Basque and Spanish who truly promoted its popularity. 
For the next 10 Centuries Beret travelled all over the world changing color and shape, adopting to new countries and the cultures of the people who wore it.
It is in the 13th century when the Beret for the first time recorded in one of the painted frescoes.
In the 14th century the beret, once again, ruled Italy. In fact, it was worn by Italians again from 14th through 17th Century and it was considered very fashionable. In Florance alone the Grand Duke Cosimo insisted that his people wear red Berets in the Summer and blue Berets in the Winter.
In the 16th Century an image of a Swede appeared wearing what looked like a Beret. :-)
In 1900s the Beret was widely worn in France. It is not entirely known what served the sudden obsession of French with the Beret. But is seemed like entire France fell in love with this gorgeous shape universal both for men and women. Christian Dior payed his due to the magic of the Beret by creating entirely new, smaller version of the Beret. It is now known as the "Dior Beret". And I did make several of them in my Atelier. Unbelievable pleasure to work with! :-) 
20 years later, in 1920, the Beret has, finally, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and became absolute favorite type of head wear for every American girl. 10 years later, in 1930-s some young American boys began to wear it as well. And it is in the 1930s that for the very first time in the history of the world the Beret was adopted as a part of the uniform by the British Tank Force. 
As many times after that significant event, British became trendsetters and with in the next 10 years the Beret became a part of many other military units all over the world: USA Green Berets, Black Berets (USA Rangers), UN Blue Berets, to name a few. 
In the 1950s Scout Units outside of France began adopting new headgear to replace silly lemon-squeezer hats. Many turned to the beret as a result of the prestigious cachet flowing from their use in military uniforms. 
Interesting fact: while Scouts began adopting the Beret, French boys during the 1950s stopped wearing them. By the end of the decade, it was rare to see a French boy other than a Scout wearing a Beret. :-) 
Today the Beret continues its glorious journey as one of the most stylish and timeless types of hats ever created. :-)
You can see it in every day life, on the pages of Vogue, gracing world's most famous catwalks. 
An ultimate accessory, an irreplaceable ingredient in the recipe of being "chic" - the Beret.
An ultimate accessory, the irreplaceable ingredient in the recipe of being "chic" - this type of hat holds #1 place in the millinery charts all over the world for Centuries! Beret is the only type of hat that have been adopted by many different groups of people, living in many different countries, during different historical periods. In fact, the history of the Beret is so long that nobody can say with definite certainty how or by whom (the name of the person) the Beret was created for the very first time.
It is believed by many that France is responsible for creating the Beret. Not true at all, despite the fact that expression "french beret" sound as inviting and charming as it is misleading. As a matter of fact it is still unknown how the Beret got to France.:-)
The word "beret" came from the Latin word "birretum" which literally means "cap". The beginning of the glorious march of the Beret was first recorded as far as 5th century BC and it was suggested that beret-like head gear was first worn by ancient Greeks. Some even suggested that the word "cap" came directly from Greek word "pilos" - skullcaps made out of black felt often worn by sailors.
It is also believed that in the 1st Century AD the Romans picked up the beret from Greeks. Romans called it "beretino" and it is the Romans who actually invented the true Beret in the modern understanding of the shape and form of this hat. Ancient Romans also, for the very first time, applied color laws to the Beret. For example, only aristocrats could wear white Berets. So, hats of to fabulous Italians who gave the world the most wearable hat there is. :-)))
In the 3rd century Roman colonies brought Berets to Spain. It is believed that this is exactly how the Beret became established in the Basque Country where it was adopted by the Basque people. It is in Spain the Beret got its new name - Beret Basque, "boina" in Spanish and Basque. Although France adores a good beret, it is the Basque and Spanish who truly promoted its popularity. 
For the next 10 Centuries Beret travelled all over the world changing color and shape, adopting to new countries and the cultures of the people who wore it.
It is in the 13th century when the Beret for the first time recorded in one of the painted frescoes.
In the 14th century the beret, once again, ruled Italy. In fact, it was worn by Italians again from 14th through 17th Century and it was considered very fashionable. In Florance alone the Grand Duke Cosimo insisted that his people wear red Berets in the Summer and blue Berets in the Winter.
In the 16th Century an image of a Swede appeared wearing what looked like a Beret. :-)
In 1900s the Beret was widely worn in France. It is not entirely known what served the sudden obsession of French with the Beret. But is seemed like entire France fell in love with this gorgeous shape universal both for men and women. Christian Dior payed his due to the magic of the Beret by creating entirely new, smaller version of the Beret. It is now known as the "Dior Beret". And I did make several of them in my Atelier. Unbelievable pleasure to work with! :-) 
20 years later, in 1920, the Beret has, finally, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and became absolute favorite type of head wear for every American girl. 10 years later, in 1930-s some young American boys began to wear it as well. And it is in the 1930s that for the very first time in the history of the world the Beret was adopted as a part of the uniform by the British Tank Force. 
As many times after that significant event, British became trendsetters and with in the next 10 years the Beret became a part of many other military units all over the world: USA Green Berets, Black Berets (USA Rangers), UN Blue Berets, to name a few. 
In the 1950s Scout Units outside of France began adopting new headgear to replace silly lemon-squeezer hats. Many turned to the beret as a result of the prestigious cachet flowing from their use in military uniforms. 
Interesting fact: while Scouts began adopting the Beret, French boys during the 1950s stopped wearing them. By the end of the decade, it was rare to see a French boy other than a Scout wearing a Beret. :-) 
Today the Beret continues its glorious journey as one of the most stylish and timeless types of hats ever created. :-)
You can see it in every day life, on the pages of Vogue, gracing world's most famous catwalks. 
An ultimate accessory, an irreplaceable ingredient in the recipe of being "chic" - the Beret. 
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