French Chic - How To Wear a 1930s Style Beret

French Chic - How To Wear a 1930s Style Beret

Autumn is the perfect time to wear an iconic beret. This hat style is synonymous with elegance and French styling and remains a classic that never goes out of fashion. The style we all know and love captures a timeless and chic vibe with all types of outfits. It’s also the perfect way to inject colour into your look with the range of shades available. 

History of the beret

The classic design of the beret often conjures a stereotype of Parisian women sipping coffee with a cigarette in the city. However, the design dated back many years and was created long before they were named the beret. This hat style was originally known as a felt hat and was worn by farming classes back in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 1800s, it was adopted by the French and Spanish military, and in more recent decades, it became a symbol of style, with movie starlets from Greta Garbo to Marlene Dietrich sporting this headwear. 

How to wear a beret 

The beauty of the beret is that you can wear it in different ways. This adds a unique touch to any look and offers you a choice of hairstyles to match your outfit. 


The most popular ways to wear a beret include:

Worn sideways or tilted and pulled over one ear 

Wearing a beret pulled to the side is an iconic look and is often seen in old Hollywood films. This style creates an air of elegance and is ideal for styling hair in a low bun or loose curls behind the ear. For example, actress Marlene Dietrich was a fan of the beret, and pictures see her sporting iconic masculine style looks with this chic hat. Her style in the 1930s was quite rebellious for the time, but it gave her a unique and classic look that was adorned by others. 

Autumn Retro Beret Marlene Dietrich Blog
Marlene Dietrich wearing a  French beret

 

Pushed back on the head

Another popular way to wear a beret is pulled back from the forehead. This look frames the face and is ideal for pairing with curls. It’s also a great way to showcase beautiful vintage-inspired earrings and accessories. Check out this image for inspiration on how to style a beret this way.

 1940's Autumn Retro Beret Green Tea Dress Blog

1940s women is wearing a french beret

Sitting on the crown of the head

Wearing a beret sat on the crown of the head is a perfect way to mimic looks of the 1930s and 40s. This styling is another popular look with loose curls and pretty accessories. Plus, to secure it to the head, decorative pins may be used.

 

1950's Striped Black And White Top Black Beret Post

 

The Weekend Doll Beret collection 

The recent popularity of shows such as Emily in Paris has revived a love for berets. This headwear’s influence and timelessness have also made it a top trend for autumn/winter 2021. 


At Weekend Doll, we have a selection of berets available. Each is made from 100% pure wool and comes in beautiful colours for the season, including red, yellow, sage green and green. This hat is the perfect addition to your accessory collection. Plus, it makes an ideal gift for vintage lovers.

 

1930s Green Beret Hat