Beret

ca. 1950

Not on view

A classic French hat, the Breton beret, long familiar as a form of regional headwear, here has been adapted by a well-known Parisian milliner for a fashionable clientele. Instead of the utilitarian heavy wool felt worn by nothern French farmers as protection against the sun, the designer's creative adapation has been remade in fine felt and elegant velvet. The softer textiles allow for greater manipulation of the form and give the hat a more sculptural quality. This version appears different at every angle and allows the wearer some creativity in how it can be worn, while still paying homage to a classic French style.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Beret
Designer: Rose Valois (French)
Date: ca. 1950
Culture: French
Medium: wool, silk
Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Joseph McCrindle, 1960
Object Number: 2009.300.1995
Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

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