Introduction: A hat, a thousand meanings
In the world of hats, the beret is the most culturally profound. From the French military cap to the standard of Paris painters, from the left-wing student movement to the styling weapon on the fashion show, the historical footprint of the beret is all over politics, art, gender, race and aesthetics.
1. Symbol of art and creativity: inspiration starts from the hat
1.1 Visual symbol of painters and intellectuals
- When it comes to berets, the first thing that comes to many people's minds is:
- Oil painters standing in front of the canvas, wearing a beret crooked and an apron
- Or French intellectuals wearing low-key street wear, a black beret completes the whole style
This is not a coincidence, but a collective cultural impression. Since the end of the 19th century, European literary and art circles have begun to regard berets as an "unofficial uniform of artist identity".
1.2 Why do artists like berets?
- The hat shape is soft and malleable, easy to express personality
- The asymmetrical wearing method reflects the free and uninhibited temperament
- Differentiated from the traditional aristocratic tall hat, emphasizing the anti-mainstream and civilian identity
- Artists, writers, photographers, architects - they wear berets in an eclectic way, which is both a choice of clothing and an expression of personality.
2. Symbol of the army and power: a style weapon in discipline
2.1 The formal symbolic meaning of military berets
The reason why berets are widely recognized is largely due to their widespread use in the global military. From France, Britain to the United States and Russia, berets are regarded as part of the military branch, skill level, and symbol of honor.
For example:
- Green Berets: Represents the US Special Forces
- Red Berets: Common in airborne troops
- Black Berets: Tank soldiers, marines or guard troops
2.2 Fashion meaning in military caps
Although the original intention was functional identification, the military beret later became a representative of military style and was borrowed by civilian clothing.
- Neat structure, emphasizing discipline and aura
- Black or military green are often used in street style
- Women's clothing uses the "female officer style" to create a powerful female image
3. Symbol of rebellion and identity politics: when hats become declarations
3.1 Black Panther Party and black berets
In the 1960s, the black liberation movement in the United States emerged. Members of the Black Panther Party wore black clothes and black berets, which became a political style that shocked the world.
This hat is not only a dress, but also a symbol of social protest and power awakening:
- Refuse to surrender
- Fight for ethnic equality
- Fight against mainstream oppression
3.2 Berets in the left-wing student movement
In the "May Storm" in France in 1968, students and workers took to the streets. Many demonstrators wore berets, accompanied by slogans and red flags, which became a cultural symbol of anti-capitalism.
In this context, berets symbolize:
- Anti-mainstream ideology
- Intellectuals' challenge to social structure
- Externalization of individual free spirit
4. Symbols of gender fluidity and multiple identities
4.1 Representatives of genderless hats
Berets are a kind of item with "neutral tension":
- It has no exaggerated structure and is suitable for both men and women
- It can be gentle or strong, depending on the style of the wearer
- It will not strengthen gender identity, but help blur the boundaries
Against the backdrop of the rise of the concept of gender fluidity, berets just meet the style needs of breaking gender solidification and expressing free identity.
4.2 Choice of the LGBTQ+ community
In many LGBTQ+ parades or art projects, berets are often used as:
A visual symbol to emphasize the uniqueness of identity
A modeling language that displays aesthetics that are different from the traditional gender framework
5. Symbols of ethnic and geographical cultural identity
5.1 Cultural symbol of the Basque region
Berets originated in the Basque region on the border between Spain and France, and are still an important clothing symbol for local residents.
- White or red berets are common in festivals and celebrations
- This element is still retained in folk dances and traditional weddings
- While being regarded as "French style" overseas, it also represents local cultural identity
5.2 What do the French think of berets?
- Although not all French people wear it, it is still regarded as a visual epitome of "romance, freedom, and artistic sense"
- Many tourists in France "experience France" through berets
- French fashion brands continue to recycle this cultural symbol
6. Reinterpretation of symbolic meaning in modern fashion
6.1 "Beret attitude" on fashion shows
- Dior women's wear series has repeatedly paired berets with suits and military boots to convey the power of female independence
- Gucci rewrites the impression of berets with shiny materials and exaggerated structures to create a postmodern mix-and-match style
6.2 Social media and self-image shaping
On Instagram and TikTok, berets are often used for:
- Establishing an image of "knowledge" (reading, drawing, thinking in a cafe)
- Creating a "French sense" or "literary girl" style
- Increasing the completion of the shape and improving the recognition of the outfit
7. The potential meaning of berets of different colors
- Black: authority, calmness, political attitude, military, street style, commemorative activities
- Red: revolution, enthusiasm, identity statement, student movement, performance, festival
- White: Purity, literature, abstraction, art photography, high fashion
- Green: life, nature, peace, US special forces, environmentalists
- Pink: soft, rebellious (non-mainstream meaning), women's rights march, LGBTQ+ visual expression
Conclusion: Wearing a beret, you choose more than just style
In a sense, a beret is like a mirror and a business card. It reflects your:
- Aesthetic stance
- Cultural identity
- Political beliefs
- Gender attitude
- Personality expression
When you choose to wear a beret, perhaps you are silently expressing: "Who am I", "What do I believe in", "What kind of world do I embrace".
This is the charm of the beret - it is not just as simple as fashion, but a concentrated symbol of the intersection of fashion, culture, attitude, and identity.