Wednesday, 1 May 2013

The Return Of Fashion Aprons

By Adela Beasley


Aprons are garments that are most often used to cover the front of people's bodies. They protect outfits while the wearers could possibly soil or damage them. Sometimes they are included in uniforms, such as in service businesses like restaurants, hospitals, and cleaning. Fashion aprons are resurfacing, and are enjoyed by many who like to be creative and trendy.

These garments can be manufactured from various materials and fabrics. They can be sturdy, light-weight, or flimsy. Styles range from plain to elegant. Historically, they were worn by women to protect their clothing while cooking and cleaning at home. TV programs and movies showed them conducting their daily domestic duties, wearing dresses and high-heeled shoes.

Wives who lived in the country or on the farm had to make their clothes from feed sacks. Their cover-ups were constructed from the same fabrics and designs. Since they often had only a few sets of clothes, they had to take special care of them. Because laundering was a long and tedious process, using washboards and line-drying, they wore clothes as long as possible. Naturally, they had to be protected during cooking and cleaning.

City women were more apt to be portrayed as sophisticated and fashionable. Their wardrobe might consist of fancier designs and cloth, so stylish cover-ups were used to protect the clothing. Many of them were chosen to complement the clothing they covered. Ruffles and bows or satin and lace could dress up a Sunday cooking session.

When automatic washers and dryers became more common in mid-60's households, it was easier to care for women's clothing. Due to that change, it was not as necessary to keep clothing so protected while doing work in the house. New fabrics that were permanently pressed made it easier to launder outfits, so cover-ups were used less frequently.

More women than men have historically used cover garments as they performed the duties commonly associated with homemaking. With the popularity of outdoor kitchens, however, more men have recently become experts at grilling foods and entertaining. Tailgating at sports events has also brought about new social gatherings among men, who proudly wear their aprons with their favorite logo, cartoon, or team mascots.

At some social events, many guys cook and share recipes, while wearing their favorite macho-slogan apron. Their cover-ups may be made of burlap, camouflage, terrycloth, or broadcloth. They seem to be comfortable nowadays with other men knowing they can share what used to be the traditional female roles.

The popular, modern hostess will often cover cocktail dresses with complementary fashion aprons. Pairing the little black dress with an elegant, floral satin cover offers a chic look for greeting guests. In order to develop a desired look, any number of accessories can be added to a simple or fancy design. Some examples to add cheer and charm are ruffles, netting, rhinestones, or rickrack. They can even serve as costume ideas, such as the French maid uniform. Even though these cover-up items are returning, they are not as popular as they were before their decline in the 1960's.




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