How to Wear a Beret Without Looking Passé

Ah, yes—the controversial beret. Is there a more chic, if not challenging, hat to attempt? Wear it well and you’ll look like an ingenue straight out of a New Wave cinema. Wear it wrong, and you’re suddenly in costume territory.

Luckily, there’s never been a better time to learn how to pull off a beret the right way. With Paris playing host to both Vogue World and the Olympics this summer, French style is once again very top of mind. Not that a beret is ever really out of fashion—or even necessarily à la Parisienne. Sure, the quintessential chapeau has been worn by every Left Bank-frequenting It girl from Brigitte Bardot to Françoise Hardy to Jeanne Damas, but it has also been a recurring accessory for musical icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Rita Ora, and Joni Mitchell, who—despite their origines nord américaines—always manage to pull it off quite effortlessly. And who could forget the ongoing cultural influence of revolutionary beret-wearers like the Black Panthers and Che Guevara?

Of course, the beret is an enduring style for a reason. It’s been around in some form or another since at least 3200 BC; the structured felt version we know best originated in the 17th century, when it was worn by farmers and shepherds in the Basque region of France and Spain. “Over time, it became associated with French culture as it was used by French military forces, artists, and intellectuals in the early 20th century,” explains Géraldine Lepère on her French culture YouTube channel Commune Une Francaise. “Nowadays, the beret is mostly seen as a French stereotype,” she says. “It can be very hard to pull off. You need the right amount of irony and functionality.”

How to Wear a Beret

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Steff Yotka, former Vogue.com staffer and current head of content at Sssense, says the beret’s innate functionality is precisely what makes it so appealing: “I find a beret to be a much better solution to keeping warm in winter than a traditional beanie. It has a nice structure that can turn the most basic outfit into something more special.”

Model and actress Zoe Alayrangues, who is a frequent beret-wearer, agrees that the beret is ideal for “embellishing” more casual looks: “I could wear joggers [sweat pants] like everyone else, but I wear a beret to counter the style. The beret adds a classical touch.” Even better, she notes that they’re easy to source sustainably: “I buy them in secondhand shops, like Guerrisol.”

Beret Styling Tips

When it comes to how to actually style a beret, it can be helpful to note that they generally come in two distinct sizes and shapes: large and loose or smaller and compact. Both are almost universally flattering and can complement any hair style from curly to straight, although those with bangs may need to experiment with sweeping their fringe to the side or tucking it under the beret’s band.