Monday 4 February 2013

Well Loved Hats.



After the dog ate my 'ratting' beret (see here) I was forced to employ alternatives.

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).


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.



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21 comments:

  1. Naughty Bok - your Sunday best is particularly fine - me, I hate wearing hats.

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  2. I 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.

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  3. Excellent 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. :)

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  4. I 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.

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  5. Bok knows that berets are a good source of vitamins and anti-oxidants. Clever dog.

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  6. As 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.

    Didn't W Somerset Maugham refer to men walking about without hats as uncouth?

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  7. I always thought a beret was de rigueur for artists, although a natty green one was my school uniform hat for winter.
    I now have a large collection of hats (no beret I'm afraid).

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  8. You look very 'artsy' lol.

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    Replies
    1. I have no idea why berets are associated with painters; amongst my peers I'm the only one who wears one.

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  9. Abbe 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!

    You wear the beret very well.

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  10. Never heard of Abbe Pierre, just read about "The Uprising of Kindness" and fell in love.
    Mind if I nab it for a post? Will give full props to you, of course.

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    Replies
    1. It would be wonderful to have his name more known of, outside of France.

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  11. Love 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.

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  12. When 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.)

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  13. As 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.

    Your 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.

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  14. From my hats to yours, thanks for sharing your addiction to the hat. I never leave home without one.

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  15. I, 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.

    So, you're going to make sure your Sunday beret is up high on a shelf when off of your head, yes?

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    Replies
    1. Either that, or the boys will remain muzzled for the rest of their lives!

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  16. Thanks for that! Well worth reading. I think the world could do with many more uprisings of kindness these days.

    I wore a beret when I was a Brownie and when I was in the Navy. You look good in them!

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