At the Elie Wiesel lecture last night at Boston University:
Man with yalmulke on head?
Reverence to G-d.
Man with beret on head?
Instant pretentiousness factor.
Mais oui!
Gents, don’t let me catch you in one of these unless it’s at Les Deux Magot. In which case you should buy me a cafe au lait and we’ll take a little walk down to Notre Dame and laugh at the Flamboyant Jesus they have at the top, who looks like He’s warming up for “Dancing With the Stars.”
If you see a guy with a beret at the Deux Magots, it’s a sure bet he is an American!
I’ll be in Paris in a couple of weeks for a few days (oh, I really needed to say that) and will report on the beret situation. Not many of them around these days. Probably more yarmulkes. And Islamic headscarves.
Unless they’re over 75. Old men in berets look adorable. Unlike the whippersnappers, they somehow look as though they’ve *earned* it. [I have to agree with you there. The eminent historian Conrad Wright wears one and he’s SMASHING. – PB]
I guess the “gimme cap” (cloth cap with a bill, adorned with the name of an organization or a product logo) would be the “anti-beret” (unless you’re Michael Moore).
Hmmm…hats indoor for men – non! Hats on men outdoors – Oui! I luv me a snappy beret (minus the pretentious attitude of course. Don’t get down on the brothers who might want to cover their bald spot or add a dash of panache!
When in Paris and in the small towns of Normandy 20 years ago, I couldn’t find a single beret. Not without getting into National Lampoon’s European Vacation territory, and even then there were very few for the tourists.
I thought that was a sign then. It hasn’t changed since.
The French no longer “own” the beret — love to see a man who can really “rock” that look! My own pastoral partner looks smashing in a beret, and always gets positive comments.