The inescapable Basque beret! Symbol of elegance the French way, this little round tuque is more than a headgear, it’s a way of thinking, a personality trait. Deep down, if you prefer to change look and vary the options, the Basque beret is perfect. In fact, it allows you to infinitely model your look!
How to wear the Basque beret?
Men or women, young or less younger, the beret perfectly adapts any types of face, any morphology. The difference is made by the way you wear it and by the size of its plateau, which gives you more or less volume.
To get started, put the beret on your head. It must reach about the middle of the front. Pull it back so that it remains firmly in place. Then, you can adjust it according to your desire and the sought style.
 Straight
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"I’m classical and I assume."
For an elegant, classic and timeless look, place the beret on the top of the head 2 cm above the eybrows. |
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Forward
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Fashion addict or self-confident?
Fold the brim downward to make it look like an ivy cap. Tilt it on one side for a more dynamic look. |
On a side
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"I’m an artist"
You prefer a nonchalant or nonconformist style? Gnetly pull on one side until you get a flattering inclination. |
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Backward
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So Girly
For a less strict touch, pull backwards in order to let some strands appear. So cute! |
Morpho tips, choosing the good model
Let’s say it again, one model can adapt different styles, it all depends on the way you wear it. You need to own it.
However, there are different sizes of plateau, which is the diameter of the beret. The bigger it is, the bigger the beret.
We advise you harmonize the plateau size with your face : opting for a small diameter if you have a thin face, and vice versa, choosing a big plateau to go with a round face.
A large beret, with a big plateau, accomodates less well with a thin face.
You could look like a mushroom.
The reverse is also true for rounder faces.
Don’t be shy, dare a wide model!
How to clean and maintain your Basque beret?
Just like all other hats, the Basque beret needs a dusting from time to time. A clothes brush is enough.
Cleaning a beret while keeping the flexibility and waterproofness of the merinos wool
In case there is a spot, you only use a rag moistened, avoiding excessive wetting.
Never dry the beret next to a heat source, lay it flat and it dry in the ambiant air.
For the most recalcitrant stains (grease, make-up...) do not use a chemical cleaner like the trichlorethylene, which would alter the fibers of the merino wool. Prefer the use of the Terre de Sommiere.
Symbol of France
In the same way as the baguette or the wine, the Basque beret represents an emblem of France and of its people. Since the 18th century, it is considered as the headgear of creative people, of artists such as Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso.
Even today, foreign tourists have this stereotypical image of the French on a bike, on their way to buy a baguette, wearing a striped jersey and a French beret, and drinking a cup of red wine. That way, its distinctive rounded shape, without brims and with its light texture, silky and flexible, make this accessory a "so Frenchy" icon.
Basque beret, from the Basque Country?
Absolutely not! The beret would come from Béarn, a region located at the base of the Pyrenees and bordering Spain and the French Basque Country. Béarn claims being the crib of the beret. At that time, it was knitted by Bearnese shepherds, it smelt heavily the sheep and would narrow as soon as it rained. There was a tradition that says that little boys of 10 used to receive their first beret to enter the adult world.
However, this accessory owns its name to Napoleon Bonaparte during the construction of the palace in honour of its wife, the empress Eugénie, in Biarritz, as the workers displayed that tuque. Since then, the expression "béret basque" has entered the collective imagination.
Headgear for women and men
Oftenly worn by women from the 1930s, the beret is a unisex fashion accessory. It was the famous dressmaker, Coco Chanel, who used it first on a catwalk show. Thanks to her, the United States discovered this new hat and adopted it very fastly.
Men also wear it because even if you're not wearing a striped jersey or drinking win, you can however proudly adorn your beret. During the spring and the autumn as well, this accessory complements perfectly your look while protecting you from the sun or against the cold, when its winds are icy.
For years now, the beret got rehabilitated periodically into the fashion world. Therefore, the best way to wear it would be to associate and shift styles. Do not wait anymore, find out our French berets(LINK) collection. You'll surely crack for one of them!
Discover the seven steps of the manufacturing of the French beret
1. From the raw merino wool mixed with oil in order to untangle the whole, Laulhère uses customized knitting machines ranging from the "cabillou", meaning the small "tail" on the top of the beret. Once knitted, it comes out in a single very large piece.
2. The felting is done as follow: it is placed 5 to 7 hours into a machine at 70°C in order to make its texture denser and more elastic.
3. The beret is shaped with heat and a wooden model.
4. Then comes the dying where Laulhière offers a wide range of colors, going from the most neutral (black) to the craziest and fanciest (yellow duck).
5. The scraping allows to ventilate flattened hair.
6. Then you have the shaving since the hairs must not exceed the round headgear.
7. And to finish, you have the sewing with the mounting of the leathers, the blazon and the lining.
That's it! Your Laulhère beret is ready!
