Women Aprons And Fashion

By Author: mary parker
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Aprons for women appeared as a practical solution for people who could not afford to have a large wardrobe. To avoid washing and drying their clothes too frequently, they referred to aprons, which covered their clothes underneath and ensured a certain protection to dirt. Washing them was a lot easier and could arrive every two or three days, unlike the other clothes that were washed once a week or even later. Women aprons, like everything that women touch and wear, became later decorating articles of clothing. They were worn by different categories like housewives, shop-keepers, teachers, secretaries, but also children.

The 1920’s and 1930’s brought aprons that were closely following the woman’s dress silhouette, which was long and had no waist line. In the 1940’s, the waist line was cinched and the apron got buttons and pockets made of materials in contrasting colors. Feed cloth, as heavier fabric was called, was the material women aprons were generally made of. Without any wasting back at that time, aprons and quilts used feed sack fabric as material. While the best parts were used to make quilts, what remained ...
... served to make aprons.

The 1940’s and 1950’s brought many advertisements related to housework and cooking in the magazines, showing apron-adorned women. They seemed to wear a kind of uniform. At that time, aprons for women were selling together with kitchen appliances, irons, or food products.

That was also the time when half-aprons appeared, made of various materials like feed sack, sheer fabric or starched cotton. Women aprons were trimmed with lace when they were worn on special occasions. They were no more a simple cover-up, but also elements of fashion. Printed and hand stitched designs in a variety of colors are characteristic for modern aprons for women.

In the late 1960’s, a new type of aprons appeared, the message aprons, which had popular messages embossed on the again popular full-length aprons. This was an influence of the feminist movement which was just in its early stages. The decorated kitchen apron, so popular earlier and afterwards forgotten, was revived again.

Television family shows, favourite of the average public, were presenting women wearing kitchen aprons in almost each episode. There were many re-run shows presenting the life of the 1950’s, so that later generations knew it. Showing the idyllic version of the 50’s, they ended by creating a true stereotype of that time and of kitchen aprons in particular.

The era of the kitchen apron almost ended in the 70’s and the early 80’s, after more than a century. For younger generations, remembering the time of their grandmother’s means looking for vintage aprons that can be found in flea markets and antique stores. The Internet is also a great source of patterns that may help to reproduce classic models.
Aprons for women have had a long history, with several changes of style and popularity. Nowadays, women aprons are still worn in rural areas or by those women who want to recall romantic and idyllic old times.