Beret designs first emerged in the Bronze Age when peasants and shepherds noticed how strong, warm, and waterproof wool clothing was. The Greeks and Romans wore a version of a beret depicted in ancient art pieces. The beret is linked with historical cultural moments, from military uniforms and art movements to social upheavals.
The French beret became a symbol of political resistance during World War II and is now associated with the quintessential Parisian style. When you don a beret from a shop on Etsy, you’re wearing a piece rich with history.
‘Tam’ is short for ‘Tam-o’shanter,’ a name given to a Scottish military variation of the beret, named after an epic 1790 poem by Robert Burns. Though very similar, the difference between tams and berets is subtle—tams usually have a band and sport a pom pom on top, while berets don’t. Traditionally worn by men, the tam made its way into popular women’s attire in the 1920s as the tam cap, meshing seamlessly with the ornate fashions and shorter hairstyles of the time.