PrintDo you wear an apron?
Aprons have a long history...an icon of the 1950's June Cleaver baking cookies in a frilly apron & heels. Apron chic taps into the rise of home entertaining & gourmet-type cooking. Equally appropriate for both men & women---styles & designs can be traditional or a quirky design. Do you own or wear an apron? Seen any unsual or silly ones? Do your friends or family wear aprons?
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37 Comments:
I never did, thought they were silly. But one Christmas a family member gave me a apron that had a picture of garlic on it. The quote was "potent, proud, and pure" I started using it, and I seem to have just gotten into the habit. I'm known to be messy and a bit of a klutz...so it has come in handy!
Lilartist at 9:49PM on 09/06/07
I wear an apron only when baking or doing anything messy. My favorite apron is one that I picked up in Taiwan.
watchforbears at 9:56PM on 09/06/07
I wear an apron when I cook for holidays. I also wear chefs jackets sometimes, as I wore them during a month long baking course. I would love to own some funkier aprons- I think I'll buy some!
Mich23 at 10:15PM on 09/06/07
I wear my Rosie the Riveter (sp) all the time.
pbisNOTmyname at 10:58PM on 09/06/07
Never
paris221966 at 11:08PM on 09/06/07
I asked for an apron last year for Christmas, and my mom says, indredulously, "You want an apron?" She doesn't cook, so I'm sure that was a foreign idea for her...anyway, she got me an apron that says "Queen of the Kitchen" on it. I love it, and I always think of her when I wear it, which is often. :)
erinlovestoeat at 11:35PM on 09/06/07
I have a collection of vintage aprons. I usually wear one while baking. Izzy has some cute ones too. He likes to wear one when I do.
izzy's mama at 12:05AM on 09/07/07
I don't have an apron. Hell, I barely have a kitchen. I have the tiniest ktichen in Baltimore and I make do. When I have kids, I will totally give them the "When I was your age, I only had a 9 x 15 counter to work on..." speech . My kitchen sucks, but because I love to be in the kitchen, I make it work.
Point is that I do not wear an apron, but I want my kids to!!!
charm city cupcake at 12:13AM on 09/07/07
i don't wear an apron. However, I have accidentally turned some of my shirts into "shirts to wear while cooking".
But part of me really wants a fantastic retro apron.
lola27 at 1:26AM on 09/07/07
I own one. It is a basic black, bib-type. I only put it on after I've already splashed myself with something or when I remember that I am going to be busy in the kitchen for extended periods; holidays, larger dinner parties or doing big projects like canning or preparing big quantities to freeze for later.
Lola, I've got those shirts too but I've lost enough of my self-concern that I wear them anytime, anywhere. If I didn't wear my spotted shirts in public I'd have to convert to nudism!
czken at 4:20AM on 09/07/07
Thanks for sharing!
What are some other "instead-of-apron" garments worn?
Has anyone been given an apron with their monogram on it?
JEP at 5:38AM on 09/07/07
I always forget about my apron and vow to wear it the next time I cook/bake, but never do.
K at 8:45AM on 09/07/07
i almost always wear an apron and i splurged and got a pretty expensive one because i knew i would wear it daily. it's red with flowers and has some frilly bits on it and i like to keep it on even if i've got company over.
ceforrester at 8:58AM on 09/07/07
Lola, omg can I sympathise! I have three aprons and never remember them untill its too late. I always swear i'm going to buy a rubber apron just for doing dishes, i'm fairly short and always look like a contestant in a wet tshirt contest after i do dishes :(
huney_bumper at 9:08AM on 09/07/07
What a great question! My mom keeps picking me up these laminated fabric aprons from Harrod's. They're fabulous! I wore one on Wednesday night while I prepared an Indian feast for a friend. They wipe down quickly, unlike plain fabric aprons that require laundering. I highly recommend them.
hereandthe at 9:20AM on 09/07/07
Once upon a time, lab coats were made out of heavy cotton rather than the no-iron synthetics now available. I had a couple that were standard issue for us in nursing school. I also had a deeply cold kitchen and not much money, and I began using the lab coats with the sleeves rolled up just a little instead of an apron. They were fabulous. Pockets! Frying-splatter protection! Bleachable!
But that was years ago. Decades ago. Now I only use them if I'm wearing good clothes. My favorite is a gift from my son and d-i-l, from the White House Mess.
lemons at 10:00AM on 09/07/07
I have several aprons that I wear while cooking....including one with my name on it.....I also have several vintage aprons that are for show only. I paid too much for some of them to get food on them! lol
I learned from too many ruined clothes, that an apron is my best defense.
mepolo at 10:27AM on 09/07/07
I usually don't - until I notice that I'm in danger of being spattered by tomato sauce or hot oil! Then I'll put on one of my husband's chef coats, it works great.
Chau at 10:46AM on 09/07/07
This is such a fun question! I never thought about people actually wearing aprons because my parents NEVER wore aprons when they cooked. I've seen them worn at friends' houses, but my family is a much of non-apron-wearers.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 11:26AM on 09/07/07
Thanks for all the comments!
I can see where buying a child an apron (especially one with their name on it) might help get them in a creative mood while cooking with a parent or grandparent---hey, I think I have solved my own holiday gift idea!
To those who grill----do you wear an apron while tending the grill?
JEP at 11:48AM on 09/07/07
I love aprons. I have one that my Mom bought me a few months ago from Ikea. I keep forgetting to wear it! I also have a vintage black Christmas one with gold sparkly poinsettias on it that I love. I've been wanting to collect some more vintage ones to display. Now I'm inspired to do an apron post on my blog. Thanks!
gwenpentland at 12:36PM on 09/07/07
I'm partial to a standard black, heavy cotton/poly blend, bib-type with a couple pockets, but usually it's just folded over and tied at the waist unless I'm doing something really messy (read: "fun").
Oddly enough, my dryer keeps eating my aprons.
I swear, they disappear more frequently than socks.
corycm at 1:21PM on 09/07/07
Like gwenpentland, recently started scouting around for vintage aprons. I own two, both bought ~25 years ago. One reads: Never Trust a Skinny Cook. The other: To Hell With Calories. A more modern version would be: To Hell with Fats and Carbs. Wear them only when cooking messy stuff, like pasta sauces and gravies. And, yeah, sometimes think of June Cleaver when I do -- but have yet to cook in high heels, although my partner would probably love it. ;-)
hatlady at 1:22PM on 09/07/07
Good question!
I want one (for many reasons) but don't have one. They're ace.
Christina at 4:01PM on 09/07/07
I only wore an apron once in awhile. Then earlier this summer I went along to cook for the teenage horde that our church takes on a mission trip to Mexico. We had a couple of propane stoves and Weber grills to cook on and the big pots got all that black gunk on the outside--so in order to save what few clothes I brought with me, I took to wearing an apron. After one week of wearing an apron, I was hooked and I now wear one from the moment I begin cooking dinner until I have finished the dishes.
jsd517 at 4:15PM on 09/07/07
I have 4 aprons, and I have them hanging in the kitchen area. I almost always remember to put one on right before I start doing anything in there, cooking, and especially cleaning the dishes.
I love them, my mom never wore one when I was growing up, and I am not sure why I started, but can't imagine not using them now :)
Sarahrm at 5:13PM on 09/07/07
I really enjoy reading everyone's comments!
Today, I happened to pick up a magazine with an article on vintage aprons. One person suggested passing on aprons to family or friends with a note attached saying this vintage apron has a story to tell.
Does anyone have special holiday themed aprons---Halloween, Thanksgiving or others?
JEP at 5:53PM on 09/07/07
Thanks for the apron reminder, sure I have a few with the linens. I also have " big shirts" that I wear when cooking for a crowd but definitely do not wear them in public. Will check the linen closet to see if I have any holiday themed.
elaine at 6:10PM on 09/07/07
I haven't really worn an apron since I worked in the food service industry DECADES ago. I do have a few commercial grade red ones around, "just in case," I suppose. The funniest one I ever saw belonged to Martin Yan. Yan had a cooking show on PBS before the food network was even a twinkle in anyones eyes. It was called "Yan Can Cook" and was one of my favorite shows. He always wore an apron with a saying on it and one day, he put one on that said "50 ways to Wok your dog." I laughed my ass off when I was that and have always wanted one like it. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Tommy
dukeofpornia at 7:48PM on 09/07/07
OH MY GOD! I honestly thought that Yan Can Cook was a weird imagined dream of mine. I live in Ireland and when I was little (early 90s), the main tv station used to show Yan Can Cook on Sunday mornings. I loved it, but nobody I've ever met remembers it. Thank you for the reference! Anyway, back on topic, I never remember to wear an apron but the odd time I do I like my laminated white apron with a big picture of asparagus on it. It says "Asparagus" as well, which I find very descriptive!
Mitsi at 9:15PM on 09/07/07
I didn't until about a year ago when I inherited my grandmother's apron; I nearly wore it out, and now i have several. An apron is a must when baking, for sure, or doing anything with tomatoes.
dettling05 at 9:52PM on 09/07/07
What other famous chefs have been seen wearing aprons? I am trying to remember, did the Galloping Gourmet wear one?
JEP at 9:39AM on 09/08/07
i never wear an apron. i might if i could find something that didn't accentuate my butt and gut. i inherited my mom's little jacket apron she wore daily since the 70's...so thin you can see through the material! i think wearing a shirt is the ticket...i'll steal one of my hubbies.
i think cary grant wore a lovely frilly apron in a movie. haha. didn't graham kerr also wear a frilly apron as a joke once or more times?
scruz at 4:00PM on 09/08/07
Jeff Smith, the Frugal Gourmet, wore a dark blue and grey pin-stripe. I learned a lot of foundational skills watching his program. How they fall...
czken at 4:42PM on 09/08/07
I learned to wear an apron working as a server and line cook and prep chef for years. Unfortunately, when I went 'civilian' I had a horrible habit burned in to just wipe my hands on my thighs or grab a corner to get hot pans. My regular clothes have suffered the efects for a long time now: I am just learning to be civilized. It horrified my mother every time she saw me do it, that, and when I would just sweep everything onto the floor (crumbs, etc) as if someone was coming right along with a hose and broom to clean up every 15 minutes! I am afraid to try aprons again...
Cary at 2:55PM on 09/09/07
If you could have a personalize saying on the front of an apron, would would it say? What color & style would you choose?
JEP at 3:20PM on 09/09/07
I love aprons! Retro and sexy. High heels a plus but only if you have an admirer around and no desire to get any actual cooking done.
For actual cooking protection, my favorite is this heavy duty number:
http://www.tate.org.uk/shop/product.do?id=25121
How could you not like them? Yet another opportunity to accesorize ;)
LondonM at 11:58AM on 09/11/07