It’s not old hat

They wear it in the army and they love it in France. Welcome the beret back

Even before Phillip Lim sent model Irina Lazareanu down his spring runway in a tilted sequin topper last September, the beret had emerged as this year’s elegant revival.

Back in a way not seen since Faye Dunaway pulled one on in Bonnie and Clyde, the beret has been popping up on trendy starlets everywhere. Rihanna mixed a gray casual knit style with jeans and a daring bustier for a modern take during an MTV appearance, and during a Teen Vogue fashion show, Hilary Duff wore a black number.

Hat and accessory designer Eugenia Kim, whose funky styles are a favourite with Alicia Keys and Madonna, offers this advice: “If you have a round face, you can lose 5 pounds by wearing one. A chunky beret makes the face look slimmer.” A plush popcorn knitted style adds bulk to the top of the head. It’s even possible to wear the beret straight on the head.

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Long back, the beret was conscripted by armed forces where its tilt was determined by policy. Chic civilians need not worry about proper inclination, however; their focus should be on what looks good in the mirror. “Tilt it to the side you want to cover,” Kim says, “your less-good side.”

Black seems to be the standard beret hue, but colours and textures act as a catalyst in creating the stuff memorable outfits are made of. “Eggplant is a good colour because it looks good against most skin tones,” Kim says. “If you wear a purple hat with all black or all gray, it really punches up the outfit.”

Kim says a beret is a wonderful way for would-be hat wearers to break into the market. “But it can be the hardest hat to get. Play with it. Don’t just stick it in the middle of your head; tilt it and see what works.”
-Erin Weinger (LAT-WP)