Tellement French: a History of the Beret

Inescapably associated with France, the Beret is a soft woolen hat that is recognized throughout the world. Sometimes seen as outdated and rural, sometimes as chic and sophisticated, sometimes revolutionary, it is worn by many types of people. It is a mark of artists and also the most common military headdress today.
Version française: • Douce France: l'histoi...
The berets I wear in this video come from Theatr'Hall in Paris www.theatrhall.com and Amazon.com respectively
Title sequence designed by Alexandre Mahler
[e-mail]
This video was done for entertainment and educational purposes. No copyright infringement of any sort was intended.

[@jfu5222]

I find it hard to believe that all Frenchmen don't wear the beret and striped shirt on a daily basis.

[@trikyy7238]

They are not real Frenchmen.

[@johnmurdoch8534]

They are more likely to wear a turban and say allahu akbar.

[@GeorgeSmileyOBE]

@@trikyy7238we do not. We wear suits.

[@knutclau705]

When travelling through France on my way to Scotland in 1986, having learned to play the Highland bagpipes a year before, I was surprised and pleased by the french custom to tap the "toorie", or "pom pom", of my bonnet for good luck... Charming habit for a german lad, playing the scottish pipes, on his way to brittany (where my school exchange family lived) to scotland, truly a pleasant european experience...😂

[@GazilionPT]

In Portugal we mostly associate the beret, not with France, but with the Basque Country (so, also in the Pyrenees, and in part in France). We refer to it as "boina basca", the word "boina" being derived from French "bonnet".

[@dinomann1147]

the part of the pyrynees that is show in the map is part of the basque country at least some part of it lmao

[@GazilionPT]

@@dinomann1147I think he mentioned Béarn, which is not part of the French Basque Country, but right beside it; both the French Basque Country and Béarn are part of the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

[@dinomann1147]

basques never really had hard borders, for example in catalan a lot of words are borrowed from basque, also been is historically basque until the french did a genocide and forced them outside lmao @@GazilionPT

[@theraven6836]

My grandfather was a Spaniard from Andalusia. I have distinct memories of him wearing a black beret w the little thread at the top center. He wore them until he died in the early 70s.

[@dTristras]

Yeah in Spain is called "Boina"

[@Balrog2005]

Nearly as popular in Spain that in France decades ago, yes.

[@oiausdlkasuldhflaksjdhoiausydo]

Boina!!

[@user-qs7gx7rp7m]

The Spanish have had the most extravagant Berets of all. Pure style of extreme. Wish I had one.

[@elfpimp1]

I knew a woman. She wore a raspberry beret. The kind you in a second hand store. I think I loved her... 😬

[@dixiecyrus8136]

Built like she was, she had the nerve to ask me if I planned to do her any harm🎶🎶

[@tecumsehcristero]

I love Prince

[@tecumsehcristero]

@@andrewjohnstone963 he’s quoting Prince lyrics from the song Raspberry Beret

[@andrewjohnstone963]

@tecumsehcristero he is not is he I.thought it was Byron or Shakespeare!

[@steveclarke3939]

Captain Sensible lead guitarist with the Damned has worn a red beret for years.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

I served in the South African Defence Force in 1989/90, in the Armoured Corps. Our beret was black, as was the Intelligence personnel and Technical Services Corp. (Mechanics) Green was infantry, Bright Blue was Maintenance. Dark blue for Engineers. Maroon for Parabats and Reconnaissance Special Forces. Burgandy for medics. Khaki was Personnel Services. Red for Military Police. After basic training I went to S A Medical Services to train as an Operational Medic. Our platoon was made up of every single colour beret in the SADF, so our group was called 'The Smarties' If you don't know what Smarties are, just Google it to find a picture of button shaped, multicoloured candy coated chocolates. We did indeed look like a box of Smarties.

[@Philc40]

You couldn’t find my grandfather without his beret, he was a baker in France and in 1950 he started working in the local Italian Bakery here in the US always wearing his beret!

[@CAP198462]

A beret was also notably worn by one of the presenters of the television series Mythbusters.

[@coppertopv365]

Jamie I think it was.

[@danielstickney2400]

Mythbusters host Jamie Hyneman chose a beret as the most cost effective and practical solution to cover his baldness--inexpensive, compact, no bill to get in the way, and readily available at military surplus stores. If you pay attention you'll notice the hosts mostly wore a standard outfit (Adam's was a black t-shirt) when they weren't in costume to make camera setup easier.

[@joshrogan9854]

The cast of Bonanza always wore the same costumes so the editors could use footage from previous episodes....

[@mikephotos225]

I wore a black beret in the US Army Armor Corps in the 1970s and really liked it.

[@coppertopv365]

The rangers had a black Beret, but when I joined the Army the Rangers switched color to the Tan Beret and regular Army got the black colored one. After I left there was some uproar an the military went back to a patrol cap. I liked my Beret as well.

[@majorbruster5916]

The story of how the beret got adopted by US forces is a lot more interesting than the short explanation given here. I read a first-hand account of its introduction to a what I believe was a special forces unit, sometime in the 60s, in an American military magazine (SOF ?). Following the gift of the original berets from the British, the American unit tried to have some made, but the examples that were produced looked more like floppy chef's hats than a beret. Eventually, they found a Canadian company that supplied the Canadian military with berets and got some. When this unit, I think it was what is now the 'green berets', tried to make a very senior officer an honorary member and plopped one on his head, he immediately threw it off, stormed out shouting he didn't ever want that expletive thing near him. If there is someone out there who has the time and interest to discover more, I would be grateful because this story deserves to be told and would be a great addition to this very informative series.

[@Riceball01]

FYI, the proper name for the Green Berets is Army Special Forces and I believe that is what they prefer to call themselves, and not Green Betets.

[@user-qs7gx7rp7m]

Suggestion or do I recall something similar way back in the day ?

[@ellenmarch3095]

I love this guy. Another passionate eclectic sharing his passion on KZbin. Thank you!! 😊

[@GavTatu]

i'm former british army, i was issued three berets over 12 years, sort of five and five and two years. they become very well formed, with shaping.... and last well !

[@mbr5742]

Fun fact: ALL (west) german Infantrymen use the green berett. In the cold war the germans had no special forces but some "language guides" translated Jäger (a light tegular infantry force /motorized infanty) as Ranger. That in turn got funny reactions from first time REFORGER participants from the US Army ;)

[@bertshutler5973]

My father was in the Canadian infantry in WWII and the beret was the official head gear

[@adamzieba8364]

In Poland beret was popular among the working class after WWII till about 1990. This little thread at the top center was often colloquially named "antenna" and "beret z antenką" means "beret with antenna".

[@petermagula6056]

In Czechoslovakia at the same time, it was called "rádiovka" which means a "radio hat" from the same reason: the antenna on top.

[@medwayhospitalprotest]

We were in the Basque region last summer, we spent a few days in Bilbao and I saw quite a few old men wearing berets. Of course the shops are full of them for tourists. Lovely part of the world. One of my ancestors was Basque, I'd always wanted to go!

[@richardsteele6776]

I bought a genuine high quality French beret. On my way to Italy last year we had a layover in Paris. For two hours I wondered that amazing airport wearing my beret. It felt good.

[@mrca2004]

Mine is italian, a Borsolino.

[@aaronha994]

впечатляющий русский и французский. и английский. очень хороший. у нас есть интересный человек, который очень красноречив.

[@WeimarAmerica]

What a delightful and informative presentation! Thank you! I was born and raised in Germany after the war, and in German boy scouts we wore a "Baskenmütze!" I still wear one today, along with a Fedora and a Homburg (not simultaneously...). I will check out your work on those chapeaux, next!

[@davidblyth5495]

An additional benefit of the beret in the South African Navy some years ago, was the protection that it gave to one's head against hard surfaces aboard ships It did have the disadvantage of not having a peak to protect the eyes against sun glare We now wear baseball caps as part of the Action/Working Dress

[@jefferywylie4456]

When in the US Air Force Air Police wore blue berets, pararescue wore red berets, ROMADS wore black berets. Berets used to be earned. Now everyone wears them.

[@thecrow3380]

Zut! Comme tu parle bien! I wore a large, black Bearnaise Berger beret for several years, straight on my head, slightly pulled down in front. It was never particularly comfortable, though, and somehow it just never became broken-in. Finally my dog ate it. It was at least nearly waterproof, but surprisingly expensive.

[@mathewfines8727]

Great presentation ! I'm glad that you included a Hans Holbein portrait from the era of King Henry the 8th of England. The military and Black Panther references are fascinating, and the Israeli photo was just plain funny! Thank you for what you do!

[@killerkraut9179]

Wasnt kinds of Beret not popular by the Landsknechts?

[@jean-pierrepatte6615]

Congratulation for your British version! Surprisingly good for a Frenchman!😀

[@hathistorianjc]

Well, I have no merit, I'm half American ;)

[@mercurywoodrose]

Assume you’ve read the children’s book caps for sale that book illustrations are so visceral to me. I can practically taste the different hats colors.

[@petem7118]

Very interesting mate….. Thank you…. Another detail of the military beret was told to me whilst serving in the French military and that was the ribbon detail that used to be placed within the leather band of the beret, I imagine originally put there to be able to tighten the head band if needed, however we would wear the black ribbon long so it hung down in 2 long pieces over the back of the head. The reason for this I was told was to be a remembrance or mourning for our fallen comrades…..

[@lib556]

I always wondered about why the French leave the ribbons to hang down. We are very careful to tuck them under lest you get dinged on an inspection.

[@sirfox950]

I knew it! Next one is the panama hat, remember my words

[@cesarbravo6697]

When I was young (I'm a middle aged man now) berets or "boinas" as we called it, were associated with old people in at least in the northern regions of Spain where i've lived all my live. Almost all elderly men used to wear it then (my gran parents included). Pretty much as you have explained for France.

[@mrca2004]

I am an artist, a photographer who shoots out doors. If I wear a ball cap and I want to shoot in portrait orientation, the camera hits the brim so I have to turn it backwards and can miss a shot. But sometimes I need the viewfinder shaded. With the beret, no need to turn it around for portrait orientation, and if I need to shade the viewfinder, I can just pull the beret fabric forward. It doesn't blow off in wind and can be easily stowed in my camera bag. It is practical headgear. But, oh mon dieu, it is so french. Where is my croissant?

[@HistoryOnTheLoose]

I'm an American, 1st generation from Wallonia, and wear a wider beret about half the year. Being wider, it gets pulled forward rather than to the side to shade my eyes. Been doing this for years.

[@Lassisvulgaris]

My favourite military headgear. followed by the knitted wollen cap and "loslue" (ushanka) for cold Norwegian winters....

[@harriettanthony7352]

Hey Ho! Fine presentation and information. Query; this writers knowledge says the pom pom to the Scots beret evolved from the War of 1812 were it was used to denote an office. Being on the top, as most decorations of this era were; it made the officer visible to the sniper in the tall mast rigging, both for good and ill.

[@mitchellsmith4690]

I still have my maroon beret from the US Airborne, in the 1980s...the red flash for DIVARTY and the 319 crest...

[@willardjohnson3832]

I wore and still have the black beret issued to me when the Army switched from the patrol cap to the beret as daily uniform wear.

[@mitchellsmith4690]

@@willardjohnson3832 ummmm.....which denotes what?

[@sedoff1948]

I’m joying your videos on hats. Thanks for your efforts. The beret reminds me a bit of the “pakol” hat worn in Afghanistan and Upper Pakistan.

[@corringhamdepot4434]

The British Army would roll up their beret when not worn, and place it under the left shoulder strap of their uniform. My father who was in the artillery during WW2, wore a beret for over 30 years after the war until he died. Cycling to work wearing a beret, a donkey jacket and a canvas army shoulder bag.

[@darrenhunt9049]

Wear my beret with the Royal Australian Corps of Transport badge every ANZAC Day and on certain events.

[@RobertBDANIEL-ouest7est]

Je me souviens une visite guidé à l'usine de Nay, en France. On fabrique le béret béarnais [voire : basque] là-bas ! ! Je vs. remercie pour votre vidéo constructive... 🎉

[@killiansirishbeer]

I bought a woolen beret this winter and I love it 😍 I used to think hats just didn't fit me, but I'm learning that it has more to do with how you wear and style them rather than a black or white, it fits or it doesn't. Note: in french we sometimes say that someone has a "tête à chapeaux", a head for hats, meaning someone that can pull off any sort of hat just by putting it on their head. I know someone like that who went to police academy and someone jokingly brought a kepi (police equivalent) to try on, because no one looks good with a kepi, but, surely enough, it fit her 😂

[@ek-nz]

I bought one in Montmartre in around 2006. The quality seems fine, and I still sometimes wear it on cold days. I also wear one weekly with uniform and it’s much more practical than a service cap or even than a baseball cap. Great video!

[@chiron14pl]

I love your channel. I've been fascinated by hats. My particular interest is in academic regalia. Besides the traditional mortar board there are a variety of head pieces in the academic world. I'd love to see a video on the range of caps in academe.

[@nido5616]

Regarding The IDF dress code of the beret, you are supposed to wear it pulled down to the right with the emblem above the left eye. However, along the years the dress code zig-zagged/changed back n' forth as one authority set it to be worn at all time on the head and some permit it to be tugged in the left shoulder epaulette with the emblem facing up. Storing the Beret in the epaulette lead to the habit of soldiers fashioning the beret into the "boat"/"roofed" shape almost like a side cap, via shaving/burning lightly/water-forming. Thus the esthetic/look of the beret varies, some commanders will be more stern about the dress code and will confiscate a "fashioned" beret.

[@archivist17]

Interestingly, in English cartoons of the early 19th century, the stereotypical Frenchman is depicted wearing the phrygian cap, which was associated with revolution and sedition. As for berets, in my youth, I wore a green beret as a Boy Scout for the short time I was a member in the late 70s. About 1980, I joined the Air Training Corps, and sported an Air Force blue one.

[@rollinwithunclepete824]

Thanks Jean-Charles.

[@bern1228]

Thank you. I've been waiting for this without realizing until I saw this. Next I hope to see that particular military hat that looks like an envelope. Remembering my Army dad wearing it, I've always been curious as to why. It doesn't seem very functional. Appreciate you!

[@hathistorianjc]

Merci! And I think you mean the garrison cap, right? I'm sure I'll get around to it at some point.

[@bern1228]

@@hathistorianjc Great! Thanks!

[@NyPer920]

I'm ex Brit military, though not common when I served (1967-86) it was often worn by senior officer's drivers, usually in Regimental colours. We called it a 'side cap'. The original versions had the side portions that could be pulled down to protect the ears, lower head and buttoned under the chin - similar to a balaclava. The Scottish Glengarry was similar.

[@racheldavila6431]

Love these video’s especially when you say @ I tip my hat off to you” and I enjoy your peaceful, melodic voice 🥰🥰💗💗

[@zpy-nq7wv]

ALWAYS VERY INFORMATIVE!❤

[@dennis12dec]

The black beret in the Philippines is worn by the Army's Scout Ranger Regiment and the Air Force's Special Operations Wing which are the elite special forces units of our Armed Forces and also the Special Action Force of our National Police. The beret here is always associated with the military.

[@TiglathPileser3]

Thank you for a good hat history.

[@infoscholar5221]

J'ai appris mon français dans l'arrière-pays de la Louisiane. Cheers,

[@musicalkey]

So nice to learn about hats!! Thank you!

[@dr.chrismort8448]

Excellent historical video

[@philvanderlaan5942]

One of the videos I can’t stop watching, especially showing family I think this is is my fifth viewing

[@kgriggs75]

I love these videos I learn so much.

[@shishdim]

Very nice - thank you!

[@andrewjohnstone963]

Excellent! Informative and well presented! Merci🇫🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦

[@normanbreuer6624]

It is much-used by all kinds of people in the rural sector, especially livestock, in Argentina, Uruaguay and Southern Brazil, and occasionally Paraguay to this day.

[@eucitizen78]

J'aime ta chaîne, merci beaucoup ☺

[@daringdare5078]

Thanks for making this video; I’ve bought and ware a beret often since my request!

[@hathistorianjc]

It sometimes takes a while because I have my own schedule for which ones I make, but I generally get around to making the ones people request eventually!

[@AxelPoliti]

Merci beaucoup pour votre série, j'ai appris beaucoup surtout sur le béret. A flatteuse histoire pour un plat chapeau

[@ek-nz]

Funny, that last sentence kind of works even better in English.

[@willempasterkamp862]

I believe the history goes back all the way to the phrygian (part of Anatolia) 'beanie' hat, a little higher but with a nod and tip more like the military baret, and dating from ancient times. The round version is named in dutch 'alpino pet' to identify with southern europe indeed. There is also the less round 8 segmented version popular with clergy and jurists, don't know if that one has a special name ? The type that Erasmus wore and even the pope wore sometimes.

[@PureDWhiteCloud]

Amazing!

[@Trey_816]

My girlfriend wears a baret sometimes (she's Korean) while I wear my tricorn. I already told you I wear a tricorn, but I didn't tell you how I got it. My girlfriend's grandmother made it for me.

[@bobo0202]

Oh god, I'm dying. I wear a bicorn. Like Napoleon's. I like to wear it at work. It's very empowering.

[@KeithPrince-cp3me]

The "Onion Johnny" as he was known has actually become an iconic British figure, especially when stereotyping the past.

[@EndrChe]

The guy at 4:36 is the proprietor of South Pacific Berets, a site from which I’ve purchased two berets, and which is unmatched if you’re in the market.

[@MayumiC-chan9377]

my husband still wears his dark green military Beret from his time in the South African National defense force. He’s proud of his service to the country of his ancestry.

[@vioara_nyc]

i have and wear a leather beret that i wear almost every day... no regrets at all and would highly recommend buying one

[@doubled334]

Great video. Just bought one from Saint Jean de Luz :)

[@alfa4pete]

Chapeau!

[@simongee8928]

I sometimes wear a beret when out hillwalking as it won't blow off in windy conditions. But I do have the slope to the left in recognition of my French ancestry - ! 😊

[@tommunyon2874]

The beret in my closet is a memento from when I was in a production of "Gypsy". It was indeed cheap enough that the costumer didn't want it back.

[@CyclopsFromMUGEN]

This... Explains.. SO MUCH.

[@jointgib]

really good

[@Mike-eo5jk]

I'm really enjoying your videos! Glad you mentioned the Israeli soldiers. I was going to shoot you some pictures. I'm an American and play the bagpipes. I've always like the way they "tent" their berets so I tried but couldn't make it stand up like they do. Keep up the great work!

[@puma1304]

this is a funny channel! interesting! unfortunately this time you forgot us! Here in Patagonia (and all the way to southern Brazil) gauchos wear berets: some the smaller french model, others the larger basque txapela (aussi quelques des bergerons bearnaises), and some a bigger version resembling the one from the tirailleurs alpines, or the highlander tam (incidentally many scots worked around here). Different colors are used, and also indigenous motives woven into the fabric. Myself, being patagonian and also of Basque descent wear it everyday, on informal and formal occasions. It is a strong identity marker and worn exactly because of that! (and by also having irish roots a paddy-cap is my alternative when I go fishing or hung around in font of a stout) Greetings from wild, wet, windy and wonderful Western Patagonia, Chile, and Gora Euskal Herria!

[@bnthern]

THX

[@marvwatkins7029]

For striped shirts, also see Russian military. For craziest berets, see National Lampoons European Vacation.

[@trikyy7238]

In the Finnish language, we have both "baretti" for the military from "beret", and "baskeri" for the artistic type from the Swedish "basker", likely originating from the Basque connection.

[@BaronessErsatz]

Mine is dark blue and has a paratrooper badge. I used to wear it often. I want to get back to that.

[@piratas-333]

Soy Colombiano, would be awesome if you made a video About El Sombrero Vueltiado and i have family in Argentina would be cool also a video about The Gaucho Beret

[@timothytikker1147]

My organ teacher in France, the noted composer Jean Langlais (1907-1991), born in a small village in Brittany, wore a beret.

[@mrs.g.9816]

I used to wear a beret many decades ago in college. A beret looks chic on a young, pretty woman. I don't think I can carry it off now!

[@HootOwl513]

[8:18] The *Royal Marines* wear the green beret, not the British Army.

[@dcjacklin]

Royal Engineers who are commando or para trained wear green or red berets, so some in the Army do wear green.

[@skeptiwolf5654]

In the third grade I wore a wine red beret to school every day. I thought it was cool.

[@olivierp.samvame2266]

Ici au Québec, on appel nos calot des képis (cadets - forces armées) et nos "flatcaps / newsboy cap" des bérets. Non, on ne parle pas un français très raffiné😅

[@MarcoCaprini-do3dq]

In Italy we call the beret "Basco" (basque)

[@Niinsa62]

Brilliant channel, I'm glad I found it! Aha, so this is why this kind of cap is called a "basker" here in Sweden, it has to do with the Basque. Even if the cap isn't really from there. Never really thought of the name. Also, here in Sweden, the beret in the military is mostly only issued to elite forces, and it is so highly valued that the final examination test before you are accepted into the elite force in question, is referred to as "baskerprovet", or "the beret test".

[@hannalee5756]

He doesn't mention the thousands of girls who wore/wear berets as part of their uniform in UK schools!

[@SnepperStepTV]

I've got one for the artist vibe!

[@rmar127]

I always thought the striped shirt stereotype came from the uniform of French Navy sailors during the Napoleonic Wars.

[@marleneclough3173]

I was in High School in UK and we wore a beret

[@maltedmilkball2985]

a historian for hats? hell yeah

[@coppertopv365]

I had a Beret in the US Army. Though times change, I'm still proud i had one issued, still have it. I also didnt mind wearing it.

[@kylewaddington1983]

Michael Cowford wears on playing Frank Spencer

[@lib556]

Ummm, Betty...

[@lindsayheyes925]

Robert Lindsay playing Citizen Smith channeling Che Guevara the hopeless revolutionary, 1977 to 1980; And who could forget the alluring femme fatale of La Resistance, Yvette Carte-Blanche played by Vicki Michelle in ''Allo 'Allo!', the spoof of the brilliant 'Secret Army'. I have often wondered if the name of her character was a respectful nod to Passe Partout of 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

[@bobmetcalfe9640]

In certain circles in the British Army, those who wear khaki berets are called "crap hats". And the onion sellers were called "onion Johnnies".

[@Oszczywilski]

For the military berets. They had been spreading through Europe even before IIWW. In Poland they were used in tank formations and in the air forces, but only in black. In modern Polish Army berets are sadly widespread. That's very sad, because they replaced the traditional rogatywka. In the Polish army currently there isn't a soft field rogatywka, but only berets, when even during the communist times the field rogatywka was used for the field uniform. But even more scandalous is that in several formations of the Polish Army berets are used for dress/service uniform instead of the traditional dress version of rogatywka. I hope that one day you will make a video about the rogatywka. Beret in Poland also has another popcultural association with the communist time and a stereotypical image of a worker from this time. It is often visible in the movies from that era. But those berets weren't worn pushed to one side or another, but just pulled on the head straight, which looks kinda funny. The Russian paratroopers of the VDV use blue berets, because at first they were trying to use maroon, but somebody higher ups wasn't happy with imitating "western imperialists", so they switched to blue berets, the sky is blue and the paratroopers come from the sky etc. But interestingly in the communist Poland paratroopes used maroon berets, also because after 1956 and destalinization linkink to the tradition of the Polish western paratroopers who fought in the Market Garden operation was allowed, and there weren't any other Polish paratrooper tradition. I wonder why people wore berets for protecting against cold, when berets leave ears exposed and this is the part which lost most heat, so a knitted cap is overall more utilitarian during winters.

[@GrandLordGeek]

What of the Landsknechts and their Tellerbarret?

[@diefreikorps9754]

Oh damn am I early? Anyways, another awesome vid, dude!

[@steveclarke3939]

Both Captain Sensible and Paul Grey of the Damned wear a beret. Captain Sensible has worn a red beret for years and Paul Grey now wears a black beret on stage.

[@panelvixen]

"I thought when I left the Airborne I would never have to wear a beret again." -SGT Calicose (not his real name) June 2001

[@jaggiecz]

In the Dutch language it's called baret. I still have mine from the time was in the Dutch army, back in the eighties.