I first started wearing berets way back when I was about 18. I seem to remember that my first one was grey, and I originally considered them less likely to blow away in strong winds than a 'peaked' or 'brimmed' hat; I was probably wrong.
I have experimented with other forms of head-gear, and did once own a wonderful brown Harris Tweed peaked cap. But I stupidly lent it to a pretty Parisian girl and that was the last I saw of it; a bereavement of sorts. Proof that a pretty face can bring Cro to his knees!
When Bok ate my beret I was almost in shock. A hat that one wears EVERY DAY becomes a part of you; it becomes that 'old friend'.
So, on finding the remains, I was forced to revert to my slightly smarter weekday beret, and my Sunday best beret. Above is the Sunday; my weekday must have been otherwise engaged. The portrait photo, above, is by Charles Fenton-Savage; it makes me look ancient, but I rather like it.
Of course I can't speak of berets without mentioning my all-time-hero beard/beret combo wearer; the wonderful Abbé Pierre (below).
So, on finding the remains, I was forced to revert to my slightly smarter weekday beret, and my Sunday best beret. Above is the Sunday; my weekday must have been otherwise engaged. The portrait photo, above, is by Charles Fenton-Savage; it makes me look ancient, but I rather like it.
Of course I can't speak of berets without mentioning my all-time-hero beard/beret combo wearer; the wonderful Abbé Pierre (below).
I think this must have been his Sunday beret too!
I draw NO comparisons between Cro and the Abbé Pierre, other than our penchant for floppy hats.
Nota Bene: Anyone who does not know of L'Abbé Pierre might read his 1954 'Uprising of kindness' speech. It's well worth 2 minutes of anyone's time.
Naughty Bok - your Sunday best is particularly fine - me, I hate wearing hats.
ReplyDeleteI need hats these days to prevent arthritis of the skull but sadly they make me look like an unholy cross between John Wayne and Questin Crisp playing with a dressing-up box. A pith is the nearest I can find to a sane look.
ReplyDeleteExcellent protrait, Cro and you don't look ancient at all! Keith has embraced flat caps over the last couple of years, and when I say 'embraced' I mean the damn thing is welded to his head indoor and out, unless I relieve him of it. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like me!
DeleteI like a man in a hat, but it has to be a good hat, not one I disapprove of (I know...I am such a control freak..) and yours looks just fine Cro....it suits you.
ReplyDeleteBok knows that berets are a good source of vitamins and anti-oxidants. Clever dog.
ReplyDeleteAs I boy, I once asked my German Grandfather why he always wore a hat when out walking. 'How else would a Gentleman pay a compliment to a passing lady?' he replied.
ReplyDeleteDidn't W Somerset Maugham refer to men walking about without hats as uncouth?
I always thought a beret was de rigueur for artists, although a natty green one was my school uniform hat for winter.
ReplyDeleteI now have a large collection of hats (no beret I'm afraid).
You look very 'artsy' lol.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why berets are associated with painters; amongst my peers I'm the only one who wears one.
DeleteAbbe Pierre sounds like a very interesting man Cro...thank you for the introduction. The speech was obviously very inspiring, it's a pity more of our religious leaders aren't like him. I loved his stance on the Vatican!
ReplyDeleteYou wear the beret very well.
Ancient? No, wise.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Abbe Pierre, just read about "The Uprising of Kindness" and fell in love.
ReplyDeleteMind if I nab it for a post? Will give full props to you, of course.
It would be wonderful to have his name more known of, outside of France.
DeleteLove your hat, Cro. You wear it well. Unfortunately, here in the rural "wilds" of Michigan, John Deere (tractor) baseball caps are the height of fashion.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child, my father used to embarrass us by wearing a beret. My husband had abandoned wearing a beret before I met him. I'm not sure we would have married if he had been wearing it still. Perhaps, if I moved to France, my beret consciousness would change. (But I do know exactly what you mean about a friendly hat. I have friendly scarves too.)
ReplyDeleteAs teenagers, several of my friends and I bought berets at a military surplus store and thought we were tres chic when we wore them downtown.
ReplyDeleteYour new beret suits you. I guess Monty thought it was time to retire the old one.
Thanks for the info on Abbe Pierre. I may have to feature him in a post in the near future, too.
From my hats to yours, thanks for sharing your addiction to the hat. I never leave home without one.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have favorite scarves that keep my neck nice and warm and sometimes double as a hat on my head when desperate. Thanks, also, for the info on Abbe Pierre. I'm going to share the Wikipedia link on Facebook - his story should be more widely heard. I, for one, knew nothing of him before your post.
ReplyDeleteSo, you're going to make sure your Sunday beret is up high on a shelf when off of your head, yes?
Either that, or the boys will remain muzzled for the rest of their lives!
DeleteThanks for that! Well worth reading. I think the world could do with many more uprisings of kindness these days.
ReplyDeleteI wore a beret when I was a Brownie and when I was in the Navy. You look good in them!