A beret is a soft, round, flat hat with no brim, traditionally made of wool or felt. Picture a pancake-shaped cap that sits neatly on top of your head, often tilted slightly to one side. Unlike a baseball cap with its stiff bill or a cowboy hat with its wide brim, a beret is completely soft and flexible, almost like a small cushion you wear.

Berets became famous as part of French culture, though they actually originated in the mountains between France and Spain. French artists, writers, and intellectuals wore them throughout the 1800s and 1900s, which gave berets a creative, artistic reputation. Many military units around the world also adopted berets as part of their uniforms because they're practical: they fold flat in a pocket, don't blow off in the wind, and look sharp and professional.

Today, berets remain popular in fashion and in certain professions. Army Rangers wear tan berets, while the Green Berets (U.S. Army Special Forces) are so closely associated with their distinctive green berets that it became their nickname. Artists and musicians sometimes wear berets as a nod to that creative tradition, but anyone can wear one simply because they like how it looks.