Help me find tres chic beret
April 8, 2011 3:16 AM Subscribe
Black beret, with white cursive/handwriting text on it in French(I can't remember what it said). I've seen two people with these, brought back from Paris, but I couldn't find them over there myself. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Where would I find them next time?
(I have tried googling, though I don't speak French so there may have been better search terms.)
An ex-colleague had one and told me she picked it up in Paris - I kept an eye out, thinking that as I had seen them on people before they'd be pretty common tourist souvenirs, but never spotted them. The writing was all over the top of the hat, and was embroidered. I rather like them and would like to get myself one, so I hope they aren't a one-off!
(I have tried googling, though I don't speak French so there may have been better search terms.)
An ex-colleague had one and told me she picked it up in Paris - I kept an eye out, thinking that as I had seen them on people before they'd be pretty common tourist souvenirs, but never spotted them. The writing was all over the top of the hat, and was embroidered. I rather like them and would like to get myself one, so I hope they aren't a one-off!
Boinas Elosegui (warning: terrible flash site) in the Basque Country sells berets with their trademark on the top to be give to winners of competitions as trophies, prizes, etc. Apparently that's a thing.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:38 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:38 AM on April 8, 2011
Sounds like something our local artist Ben Vautier did – a béret basque (it's from Basque Country) with "tête de génie" on it ("mind of a genius" is the translation for meaning, but the French expression does literally mean "head of a genius"). Looks like it was indeed commercialized by Latitude Sud as linked by creeky above.
posted by fraula at 4:42 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by fraula at 4:42 AM on April 8, 2011
My first thought was also Latitude Sud.
posted by desjardins at 8:20 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by desjardins at 8:20 AM on April 8, 2011
Response by poster: Fiasco - the berets others had were definitely back from Paris, and not trademarked, more decorated with stitched writing. Similar to the 'Ginsberg is God' sweaters Kate Moss was photographed in, yet less lame.
posted by mippy at 8:30 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by mippy at 8:30 AM on April 8, 2011
Response by poster: Well, whaddya know - it was this one. Though I do like the tete de genie one too. Now to wait until the exchange rate goes back to normal...
posted by mippy at 8:34 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by mippy at 8:34 AM on April 8, 2011
That's a boina knockoff for Life Is GoodTM. Oh, the humanity.
posted by jsavimbi at 12:47 PM on April 8, 2011
posted by jsavimbi at 12:47 PM on April 8, 2011
I don't think so. I remember seeing those in Paris in 2002, before I saw any Life is Good stuff in the states, but I could be wrong.
posted by desjardins at 1:12 PM on April 8, 2011
posted by desjardins at 1:12 PM on April 8, 2011
I doubt it's a Life is Good knockoff, but rather a Ben knockoff. Ben has been "writing" art in France since forever.
posted by Paris Elk at 3:50 AM on April 9, 2011
posted by Paris Elk at 3:50 AM on April 9, 2011
Response by poster: ah, now that reminds me of the 'i love you' graffiti that was appearing over New York a while ago. I hope it's still there by the time I'm able to visit the place.
posted by mippy at 2:39 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by mippy at 2:39 PM on April 9, 2011
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posted by creeky at 4:04 AM on April 8, 2011