EVELYSS / Guides / Accessories & Jewelry

How to Wear a Beret (Women): Where It Sits, Long Hair, Fringes and Outfits

“A beret looks chic the moment you stop wearing it like a beanie. Move it back, give it a slight angle, and let some hair show. It is the easiest way to make a plain winter coat look like you planned the whole outfit.”Her take

Where should a beret sit on your head?

Further back than you think. A beret pulled down to your eyebrows looks like a uniform; one set back on the crown, with a few centimetres of hairline showing, looks relaxed and current.

Do it in front of a mirror the first few times, and adjust in small steps.

• Hold the beret with the inside band facing down and place it on the back of your crown.
• Ease the front edge forward until it sits 3-5cm behind your hairline.
• Pull the fabric gently down and to one side so it drapes over that ear or slightly above it.
• Tuck the band behind your ears or let it sit just above them; don't cover them completely unless it is very cold.
• Slide two kirby grips through the band on the opposite side, crossing them in an X for hold.

Choosing a beret

Wool felt berets have the classic shape, hold their slouch and shed light rain. Knitted berets are warmer and softer, but stretch and sit more like a slouchy beanie. Cashmere and angora blends feel lovely but flatten in the rain.

Fit matters: the band should sit snugly without leaving a mark. Many berets come in a one-size band with some stretch, so try one on rather than guessing. Neutral colours such as black, navy, camel, cream and chocolate go with the most coats.

How to wear a beret with long hair

Long hair looks best worn down in loose waves or straight with a centre or side parting, with the beret set back so the parting shows at the front. Tuck a few strands behind one ear for balance.

For a polished look, wear a low bun or low ponytail at the nape with the beret sitting above it. Avoid high ponytails and top knots, which push the beret forward and off.

Wearing a beret with short hair or a fringe

With short hair, a bob or a crop, tilt the beret more noticeably to one side and let it sit slightly lower over one ear, so it doesn't perch on top. A side parting helps balance it.

With a fringe, place the beret behind it so the fringe stays out and frames your face. Pressing a fringe under the band leaves a crease; pin the beret behind it instead.

Outfits that make a beret look modern

Pair the beret with modern pieces so the outfit doesn't tip into fancy dress. A beret, a Breton stripe and a knotted neck scarf all at once reads as a costume; one classic touch at a time is style.

• A long camel coat, cream knit, straight jeans and loafers, with a black beret.
• A navy wool coat, grey roll-neck, black wide trousers and black ankle boots, with a navy beret.
• A chocolate-brown beret with a cream cable knit, a check midi skirt, tights and knee boots.
• A trench coat with a cream beret, white trainers and wide-leg jeans.

Keeping it on in the wind and the rain

Two crossed kirby grips on each side, through the band and into your hair, hold most berets through a windy afternoon. For wild days, sew a thin hair elastic inside the back of the band and loop it around a low bun.

Wool felt sheds a light shower, but if it gets soaked, reshape it by hand and let it dry flat at room temperature, away from a radiator, so it doesn't shrink or lose its shape.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Back on the crown, hairline showing, a slight tilt, two crossed grips, and modern clothes around it.

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