The history of the French beret begins in the Basque and Béarn Pyrenees, where shepherds and farmers wore it as early as the Middle Ages to protect themselves from cold and rain. Later adopted by the army, by artists and then by urban fashion, it became far more than a regional accessory: abroad, it single-handedly embodies the image of the “French hat”. At JJ Hat Center, a luxury hatter, the beret remains an exceptional piece, crafted in the purest tradition of wool felt.
History of the French Beret: From Pastoral Origins to the Catwalk
Long before it became a national symbol, the beret was workwear. In the valleys of the Pyrenees, shepherds knitted and then felted the wool of their own sheep to create a soft, waterproof headpiece that could easily be folded into a pocket: the beret was born of necessity, not fashion. Its artisanal production, by felting and then fulling the wool, remains the same today as that upheld by the great French hat-making houses.
Contrary to popular belief, most of the beret’s historical production did not come from the Basque Country itself but from neighbouring Béarn, around Oloron-Sainte-Marie: it is the name “Basque beret” that took hold in everyday language, far beyond its exact region of origin.
From Shepherd’s Garment to National Symbol
In the 19th century, the beret left the mountain pastures. The French army adopted it for its Chasseurs Alpins, then for other elite corps: its lightness and discretion made it a practical military headpiece. At the same time, workers, farmers of the South-West and soon Parisian artists and intellectuals took it up in turn. Montmartre painters, Resistance fighters, factory workers: the beret crossed social classes without ever losing its popular character, which explains why it came to represent France as a whole rather than a single region or milieu.
The Beret, the Foremost Symbol of the “French Hat” Worldwide
Abroad, it is hard to mention French style without the image of the beret coming to mind, often paired with the baguette: a tourist cliché, admittedly, but one that speaks volumes about the unique place this headpiece holds in the collective imagination. Cinema and international fashion did much to sustain this association throughout the 20th century, making the beret the most recognisable ambassador of the French hat, well ahead of other pieces just as rooted in the national heritage, such as flat caps or newsboy caps, direct cousins of the beret in the history of French hat-making and equally representative of a certain art of holding one’s head high.
Basque Beret, Military Beret, Newsboy Cap: Telling Them Apart
Under the generic name “beret”, several quite distinct headpieces coexist. The traditional Basque beret is recognisable by its wide, soft crown in felted wool, with no rigid internal structure, whereas the military beret, smaller and stiffer, is cut to stay in place under exertion. The newsboy cap, for its part, is not a beret: its panelled construction and short peak bring it closer to flat caps than to the soft felt of the beret, even though both belong to the same family of popular French headwear handed down from generation to generation.
Laulhère, the House That Preserves the Authenticity of the French Beret
At JJ Hat Center, berets are offered notably under the Laulhère name, a specialist French house that has made Pyrenean craftsmanship its sole purpose. In our range, Laulhère ranks sixth among the most sought-after brands, with demand around 57 % higher than that of the next brand in our catalogue: a clear sign that artisanal authenticity remains prized by a discerning clientele, far removed from mass-produced imitations.
Discover our full selection in the Basque berets collection, from the classic plain wool model to the most refined finishes.
How to Choose Your French Beret from a Luxury Hatter
An exceptional beret is judged by a few precise details: 100 % felted virgin wool (never a cheap synthetic blend), a carefully finished interior and a crown proportioned to the head, neither too flat nor excessively full. The Campan Basque beret, one of the ten most sought-after models in our entire catalogue across all headwear, perfectly illustrates this balance between a generous crown and an impeccable fit. A well-chosen beret is worn tilted slightly to one side, never perfectly straight, to reveal its full character.
The beret has also inspired many popular expressions and images in France, a theme we explore more broadly in our article on French expressions and proverbs about hats.
Frequently Asked Questions about the French Beret
Where does the French beret come from?
The beret originated with the shepherds of the Basque and Béarn Pyrenees, who felted the wool of their sheep to make a warm, waterproof headpiece, long before it became a national symbol in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Are the Basque beret and the French beret the same thing?
In everyday language, yes: “Basque beret” and “French beret” refer to the same iconic headpiece, even though its historical production is in fact more Béarnese than Basque.
What is the difference between a beret and a newsboy cap?
The beret is a round, soft headpiece in wool felt, with no peak and no rigid structure, whereas the newsboy cap is built from panels with a small peak, closer to a flat cap than to a beret.
Is the beret still worn in France today?
Yes, the beret is enjoying a genuine revival, worn both as a proudly heritage piece and as a style accessory, well beyond the tourist cliché.
How do you choose the right French beret?
Choose 100 % felted virgin wool, a carefully finished interior and a crown suited to your head size, and wear it tilted slightly rather than straight.
