Tuesday 26 September 2017

Carry On Up the Revolution


This is what called a Barge cap or Breton Cap  (Not to be confused with a Breton Hat which is a totally different hat shape)

Its also known as fiddler cap, Lenin cap, skipper cap, or mariner's cap, although that depends on if they have embroidery on the headband or peak.



Normally made of thick wool to provide the main stiffness, they are always peaked, they have firm wide headband, and usually come in black or navy blue.


Worn by 20th C merchant navy, barge owners and northern European factory workers.


The Fiddler cap name came about because of the film Fiddler on the Roof where the main character Topol wear one.


They came in to use in big way in Tsarists Russia due to the banning of Jewish style head ware.


Worn with with a black scarf it creates a ideal early 20th Century workers revolutionary look.

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Tuesday 19 September 2017

Green Beret

The Green beret without much military knowledge I would immediately associate with British royal marines. 


This beret is however khaki not green so probably from another regiment of the army.


A quick search online for khaki berets brings all these just for the UK alone, Foot Guards, Honourable Artillery Company, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, Royal Anglian Regiment, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Royal Welsh, Yorkshire Regiment, Mercian Regiment, Special OP Battery Royal Artillery. 



Bt the way this a loaned air-soft gun, it's not real, although a pretty substantial weapon I have no idea how close it mimics the real thing.


Berets are cheap and easy to make and have been the default headgear for many military groups since the later part of the 20th Century


Tuesday 12 September 2017

Purple Beret

A purple beret is ideal for a flamboyant character, definitely not a military beret or one you could wear to start a revolution.


This beret was added to our lrp crew kit by one of the refs Amy.

Made from nice soft felt with little felt cord in the center that is common to many non-military berets




Monday 4 September 2017

Fur Beret


This is basically a fur beret picked up from a charity shop, probably ladies hat originally but no labels will never know for sure, but it works for me.


A very comfortable hat, the brim has a wide slightly elastic band which makes it an easy fit.



Following a classic beret shape where the soft fabric overhangs the brim and lies almost flat on the head. 

The fabric is not fabric in this case but animal skin and the hat as no lining just leather of the animal skin stitched to form the shape, with its fur on the outside. The brim itself is made from a wide strip of elasticated jersey like fabric which remains hidden from view as it clings to the head.