How to Wear a Beret

A beret is a type of soft, flat hat which became popular in the 19th century in Central Europe. Nowadays berets are worn mainly for fashion, as a great way to added a little retro glamour to an outfit or disguise a bad hair day. The beret is also worn by certain military personnel as an organizational item. Read below to find out about the many ways of wearing a fashion beret, along with instructions on the correct way to wear a military beret.

Steps

Wearing a Fashion Beret

Purchase or knit your own berets. Choose colors that play well against your hair color and wardrobe. Look for berets with tight brims so they'll stay on your head. Consider whether you want a thinner, lacy beret for spring and fall or a thick beret for winter.

Fix your hair. You can wear your hair in almost any fashion with a beret, depending on what kind of look you're going for. If you choose a bun, make sure to place it high enough to fit inside the beret, or low enough to sit below the band. You can also do a low side ponytail or two low plaits on either side of your head. Wearing hair loose with a few large curls makes for a glamorous 1940s look.

Experiment different styles. Show your hairline or don't. Place it in front of your ears or behind. Figure out what looks best for you. Remember that berets are traditionally worn a little lopsided. Have fun with it! Here are a few specific looks you can try:
- Tuck in the brim of the beret and tilt it to one side, pulling it low over your forehead. This looks good with a low side bun or plait on the non-tilted side of the beret.
- Untuck the brim of the beret and allow a little air into the hat, to create a mushroom effect. Place this on top of your head, pulled over the ears and tilted to one side, if desired. This style looks best worn with loose straightened or curled hair.
- Pad out the front of the beret using a silk scarf or cotton wool to give it some lift. Set it back on your head so the front of your hair is exposed. Secure the rest of the hair at the back of your head with a loose bun, or tuck it under the beret. A finger wave or fringe roll gives an added vintage effect.^[1]

Accessorize the beret. If the beret seems too plain, or if your outfit needs some jazzing up, add a broach, flower pin, or bow to the hat. Bold earrings are another option. Make it your own.

Pin the beret to your hair. Use crisscrossed bobby pins on the hair close to your temples to secure the beret on both sides of your head. A slipping beret can mess up your hair or fall off, ruining your careful styling.

Flaunt your beret. You can also carry a baguette and talk in a french accent, if you feel so inclined.

Wearing a Military Beret

Position the edge binding straight across the forehead. It should be one inch above the top of the eyebrows and fit securely around the head. Ensure that the binding is completely straight.

Position the flash above the left eye. The flash and the stiffener should be centered over the left eye.

Pull the excess material over the right ear. The excess material on the beret should be pulled over the right ear, extending to at least the top of the ear and no further than the middle of the ear.^[2]

Adjust the ribbon. You can tighten or loosen the beret by adjusting the ribbon. Once you are happy with the fit, tie the ribbon with a ribbon knot, cut off the ends and hide the knot under the edge binding at the back of the beret.

Wear long hair tied back. Soldiers with long hair should wear their hair tied back in a military bun, in a position that does not distort the appearance of the beret. Hair may not be packed into the beret. No hair should be visible below the front edge of the beret.^[3]

Wear your rank or unit insignia on the flash. Army officers should wear their rank, while enlisted soldiers should wear their unit insignia or unit crest, centered on the flash.

Know when an army beret is worn. Army berets are worn with class A, class B and class C uniforms, in garrison environments. They are not worn in the field, during training, or any environment where they are deemed impractical.^[4]