Canadian Boys' Headwear: Berets


Figure 1.--Here is a snap shot sent to us by a French Canadian reader. It was taken in 1942 of himself and his older brother. Both boys wear berets. Click on this image to see a photograph of the family.

We have noted some younger Canadian boys wearing berets. We are not sure how common it was. Nor are we sure what the chronology of this were. We have noted Canadian boys wearing boys during the 1930s-40s and even the early 50s. We see very few examples by the 1860s. We think most of the boys we have found wearing berets were French-Canadian boys, although we can not yet confirm this. Our archieve is rather limited and berets may have been worn earlier. Unlike France, we do not see older boys wearing berets. While French Canadians spoke French, there cultural contacts with France were less than might be expected. They were largely severed by the English victory in the French and Indian ar (1756-63). Until after World War II, cultural ties were primary literary. Thus we are unsure just to what extent French fashions influenced French Canadian dress. Rather like America, the beret seems to have been a style for girls and younger boys. One example here is that after World War II, we note some Canadian Scouts wearing berets. Most of the boys wearing berets seem to have been French Canadian boys. Here we see two French Candian boys wearing berets in 1942. We are not sure if Canandian girls wore berets as was common in America. We believe that English Canadian boys did not commonly were berets because the French had a lower-class status in Canada. In America French styles were considered fashionable and stylish wiithout any of the lower-class association in Canada.

Prevalence

We have noted some younger Canadian boys wearing berets. We are not sure how popular berets were in Canada. We have not found very many images of Canadian boys wearing berets, but our archive is still limited.

Chronology

We are not yet sure what the chronology of berets Canada. Our Canadian archive is still limited, but we have begun to develop some limited information. We do not know when the beret first appeared in Canada. Canada was essentially cut off from France by the French and Indian War (1754-63) which resulted in British control of Canada. We do not yet have many 19th century images. We have found one 19th century tintype from Quebec. It is not very clear, but it does look like a boy wearing a beret. He wears a knee pants suit with an Eton collar. We are not sure how to date it, but we would guess the 1880s. We see more examples in the 20th century, but this may be bacause we have more 20th century images. Berets seem most common in the inter-war era. We have noted Canadian boys wearing boys during the 1930s-40s and even the early 50s. We see very few examples by the 1960s. We think the beret had essentially disappeared for boys by the 1970s.

Cultural Trends

We think most of the boys we have found wearing berets were French-Canadian boys, although we can not yet confirm this. The snapshots we have found rarely identify the individuals. While French Canadians spoke French, there cultural contacts with France were less than might be expected. They were largely severed by the English victory in the French and Indian ar (1756-63). Until after World War II, cultural ties were primary literary. Thus we are unsure just to what extent French fashions influenced French Canadian dress. Most of the boys wearing berets seem to have been French Canadian boys. Here we see two French Candian boys wearing berets in 1942 (figure 1). We believe that English Canadian boys did not commonly were berets, perhaps because the French had a lower-class status in Canada. In America French styles were considered fashionable and stylish wiithout any of the lower-class association in Canada.

Age

Unlike France, we do not see older boys wearing berets. The images in our achive show Canadin boys wearing brets up to about 10 years of age.

Gender

Rather like America, the beret seems to have been a style for girls and younger boys. We are not sure if Canandian girls wore berets as was common in America. We have not yet found imges of Canadian girls wearing berets, but our archive uis very limited.

Scouts

One example here is that after World War II, we note some Canadian Scouts wearing berets.

Reader Comment

A French Canadian reader tells us, "Before asking if the béret was worn by many French Canadians, do go to the etymology. Even if it is a derivative of Berr from ireland (a kind of headwear worn in the middle ages, Béret is a PROVENCAL word from the south of France (Pays Basque near Spain ) ; it is called "Béret basque" distinct from other form like Béret Alpin (Alpine béret or Béret militaire). The shape is a kind of headwear characterized by softness and flatness. At first, it was a military headwear in France but also in Great Britain. Think of Général Montgomery. Gradually, the Béret became a kind of label of middle-class French people as seen by strangers like Americans. It was very popular in the 1930s until the 70s. [HMB note: We would suggest a different chronology for the French beret.] It was worn by all classes of French Society. The big advantage with this cap is that it can be folded and put in a pocket. Texture was rainproof. The béret was less popular in Canada for a simple reason: Winter. That is why kids wore caps with protective ear flaps. But when temperature was mild, the béret was worn extensively. It was rapidly associated to intellectuals, students and children. Workers cap were a kind of symbol for laboring class. I wore myself a béret until I was 20 years old. I was sometimes laughted at by those who left schools at the end of the primary. It was more worn by middle-class children."








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Created: 8:30 PM 9/9/2004
Last updated: 11:56 PM 2/17/2011