DEBORAH CROMBIE: I've been thinking a lot about my mom lately, prompted in part, I think, by our discussion earlier this week about growing up in a tea or coffee household. In the image that immediately comes to mind of my mom in the kitchen, brewing her perocolater coffee, she is wearing a half apron made from a terrycloth dish towel. She made these herself, and I remember them as being striped in the ugliest colors imaginable, perhaps gray, brown, and orange together, with the waistband and ties made from whatever cotton scraps must have been handy. She would not do anything in the kitchen without the everpresent apron.
My mom's aprons did NOT look like this! Nor did she ever serve my dad tea from a teapot.
I also thought of mom and her aprons when I was cooking the other night--without an apron, as usual--and splashed a big spot of hot grease on my thigh. Ouch, and a good thing I was wearing old pants.
How did I not aquire this very practical apron habit from my mom and grandmother (who preferred the pinafore type apron with a bib)? Partly because I am a slob when home and wear such ratty clothes that a spill or a splash is not a disaster, and partly, I think, because aprons had gone out of style by the time I was beginning to cook in my own kitchen.
Aprons have been worn as far back as the 1300s, and the name is thought to have come from the French word napron, "a small piece of cloth." Here's a lovely painting from the French artist Leon Bonvin, circa 1862.
The 1950S and 60s were the heyday of aprons in the US, when ads and TV moms always featured a woman wearing an apron. (June Cleaver, anyone?)
But if the advent of feminism, more casual clothes, and women who worked sounded a death knell for the trusty garmet, it is apparently having a resurgence. Etsy is awash in aprons, vintage and new, and they pop up in upmarket clothing lines, too.
I do remember to put on an apron when I'm cooking for company--therefore wearing nicer clothes! Here's my favorite, from Anthropologie. Who could resist? (It does have to be ironed, unfortunately, as you can tell from my not very professional ironing job...)
How about it, Reddies? Do you have an apron handy in your kitchen?
Of course I have an apron handy in my kitchen. Do I wear it? Of course not [mostly, I think, because it never become a habit and I usually don't think about putting it on . . . . ]
ReplyDeleteSame here, Joan. I need to work on that habit.
DeleteI remember wanting one when I was reading Little House books - my mom didn’t have one. Then having to get one for home ec in the 80s. They weren’t very popular at that time, so I remember getting a very ugly pinafore style, the only one I could find at Kmart. Now I have a couple pretty ones hanging in the closet that are rarely used because I a) rarely cook and b) also wear ratty clothes when I do.
ReplyDeleteI think part of the trick to aprons is keeping them handy. That said, mine hang on a hook in the kitchen and I still don't remember to put one on!
DeleteJust watched “with love, Meghan “ on Netflix and she put on an apron when cooking with Alice Waters.
ReplyDeleteEveryone in my family wears aprons when baking or cooking. I didn’t think about it until you mentioned people wearing aprons. It seems to have gone out of style?
Yes, they were very out of style for decades, but are now getting popular again.
DeleteI never used to, but after splattering several of my favorite casual-but-suitable-for-errands shirts with grease, creating spots that won't wash out, I bought a white apron with a bib. And yes, I do wear it, although only when sauteing. I've even considered buying one of those chef's coats to further protect me when I'm being sloppy. But since I'm far, far from being a chef, the idea seems ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the "housecoat" will make a comeback, too!
DeleteI DO wear an apron in the kitchen, primarily because I can be relied on to spill something or splash something as I cook. I especially like the "housecoat/apron" typical in Galicia, where I bought a couple in a local market, of all places. It's so nice, because you can actually dress for company that's coming and then don the apron and cook without worrying. Ironically, young women don't like those aprons. They remember their grandmothers wearing them. But they really are so practical.
ReplyDeleteThey really are practical, aren't they? Maybe they will make a comeback here. Meanwhile, next time I go to London I'm going to keep an eye out in Portobello Market!
DeleteWhat a great subject, Debs. I think the true heyday of the apron must have been the 18th century, when every woman wore one. In your daily life you had few clothes and had to do your best to keep those clean. In New England, most daily aprons were blue-and-white checked linen tied around the waist and covering most of your gown or petticoat to your ankles. However when you were being social or going to meeting, you also wore an apron -- smaller, often of silk, either white or black! I'm so sloppy, I've always cracked up at the thought of a silk apron. Working men, artisans, also wore aprons, of leather.
ReplyDeleteMy mother wore aprons occasionally but she rarely cooked. I am extremely slapdash and have always worn aprons. I used to bake bread almost daily and I regularly fiddled with milk and cream making cheese, butter, and ice cream. Even now if I am cooking (rather than reheating something from the freezer) I put on an apron, but when my children were young it was such a habit that I even packed an apron for our family vacations. A friend came with us once and seeing me unpack, she said, "I think we might need to stage an intervention." Most of my aprons are simple over the head restaurant bib aprons that tie around the waist, but I do have one that is in a full pinafore style, falling to midcalf and tying behind in a bow. For most of my life I had long hair braided down my back or pinned up at the back of my head. Another friend came to my house when I was cooking in the long pinafore apron and when I answered the door she exclaimed, "You look... Amish!" (Selden)
What a wonderful picture, Selden! I'd love to have seen you in Amish mode!
DeleteMy mother always wore an apron in the kitchen. She used to make aprons for leftover bits of cloth and sell them at the church bazaar. I made an apron in grade seven home economics sewing class. It had a bib that buttoned on. I have an apron in my linen closet but rarely wear it!
ReplyDeleteDorothy...We also had to make an apron in our seventh grade sewing class but it was a simple half apron only. I was terrible at sewing and struggled making that apron so I can only imagine what would have happened if I had to make one with a button on bib. I'd be doomed!
DeleteMe, too, Evelyn!
DeleteI have a few aprons and sometimes pull one out of the linen closet the rare times I do the cooking. One is my own that I believe was a bridal shower gift which had a matching oven mitt once upon a time. I also have two that belonged to my grandma and one that was Mom’s. Wearing an apron doe make me feel close to them. My husband also has a couple of aprons of his own hanging in the pantry, which he has never worn; but he didn’t get rid of them when we moved. One has the kids’ handprints on it and the other was also a gift.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading that more men are wearing aprons these days, Brenda. You should encourage him!
DeleteI just don't think he sees the need to protect his clothing from messes.
DeleteI have many aprons that were my mother's and a couple that were hostess gifts. A couple of my mom's are half aprons, stylish (for the 50's), and 2 are French silk sleeveless jackets that tie at the waist in big bows. I have Edith's author apron which is very cute. When I remember to wear an apron, it's usually one of my father's, a big white butcher style aprons with a bib. They provide the most protection. There is one in the kitchen all the time to wear for messy cooking or baking something chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI love that you have one of Edith's, Judy, but I am befuddled at the idea of wearing something silk to cook in!
DeleteGreat topic! I always wear a bib apron when I cook and I have a half dozen on the hook in the cubby near the broom, the rag bag, and the mop. I taught my sons to wear them when they cooked with me as children - and they still wear one when cooking.
ReplyDeleteThe half apron wouldn't do me any good. Because I'm so short, half the stuff gets spilled or spattered on my top half.
My grandmother sewed a bunch of aprons similar to the one in the first picture for our family when I was small. Each kid wore one to the dinner table. My mom was practical like that. It's like a bib for big kids. I still have one of those old aprons, but I always take mine off before I sit down to eat.
I like aprons so much, I ordered a bunch of custom author aprons as special giveaways. The idea fits with my foodie books and fans seem to love them.
Your book aprons are such a great idea, Edith! And I am with you on the "short." Half aprons make no sense for me, either.
DeleteI have a restaurant-style muslin bib apron printed with a duck and "le canard," which dates back to Taylor and Ng in San Francisco. Very functional. I gave my daughter my plastic Xmas apron with twinkly nights and a 9 volt battery pack.
ReplyDeleteOh, Deborah, thank you for Mother Apron memories. My mother never wore and apron, had a whole drawerful of those 1950s “cocktail aprons”, and thought me exceedingly odd for wearing a full bib apron whenever in the kitchen, even over my old ratty jeans. Her mother always wore an apron, not a bib one, to cook and to read the newspaper (remember print coming off on hands and clothes?) Take care, all. Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteI have a few aprons but rarely use them.
ReplyDeleteMy mom usually did not wear an apron while cooking.
I’ve been brought up in the fifties and sixties . I love and use pinafore aprons while cooking, in part because I’m a bit messy but mostly because I love them. Many of my aprons are souvenirs from travels. It reminds me of beautiful places and good times.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure I used the good word to describe my aprons ( pinafore ? bib ? ). They look like the first picture of the blog. How do you call it ?
DeleteI know what you mean, Danielle, and, in my opinionated world, I would call your style of apron the only sensible one to wear! Without that top bib, the apron is little use to prevent damage to clothes from the waist up -- which is precisely the part of the body that stands above the height of the stove and is, thus, the most vulnerable!
DeleteI also like to pick up aprons on my travels. The one I wear the most often is from a restaurant in Paris that sold them in a little shop in front of the restaurant. It’s soft, short (like me), and reminds me of that special lunch I had there right after 9/11 and felt so welcomed by the usually-not-so-welcoming Parisians! Aprons are quite practical for me as a messy cook. I keep one folded on the counter to remind me to pop it on whenever I am in the kitchen. I love the Anthropologie apron in the photo above. I’ll be going on a deep dive later today to try to find a similar one for myself. It looks like it would do a great job of hiding stains.
DeleteStacia, I just found this one at Anthropolgie. The print looks like my Blue Calico dishes AND it has has phone pocket! I may have to order this one! https://www.anthropologie.com/anthrohome/shop/lavender-canvas-apron?category=collection-kitchen-table-linens&color=053&type=STANDARD&size=One+Size&quantity=1
DeleteMy Mom and Grandma always wore an apron when working in the kitchen so it just came naturally for me to use one as well. I prefer the bib style apron and have several that I use.
ReplyDeleteDianne Mahoney
So practical!
DeleteWhen I was in the seventh grade our sewing project in homemaking class was in apron. It must have been just before Christmas since all of the fabrics the teacher found for us were holiday prints. So that apron became a gift for my mother and she wore it forever after during the holidays. Of course wearing an apron was second nature to her, unlike to me, although I do have one handy in the kitchen, if only I could remember to put it on before I actually needed to.
ReplyDeleteBack in the Fifties, in our rural community, clothing items made from feed bags were very common. Although the so-called fabric of the bags was a bit coarser than fine, it worked very well for aprons. My paternal grandmother, a great seamstress, made several bib aprons. Since women seemed to wear them all day long, except when they sat down to eat (which is when I am most likely to actually need an apron,) it was necessary to own more than one.
Did you make note of the style apron that Mrs. Hall wore in All Creatures? It certainly provided good coverage. Was it mostly an England thing, Debs, since I don't recall ever seeing similar ones while I was growing up?
Oh Judi, just what I was coming here to comment on. Mrs. Hall's pinnies (my grandma--born in Wales in 1893--always called them pinnies, short for pinafore..."Better put on a pinny, dear.") After someone drew my attention to them, I started watching out for them, and noticed that Mrs. Hall seems to have a huge variety of them. I wonder if it's an in joke in the show.
DeleteTonight I'm going to pull up an episode of All Creatures so I can check out Mrs. Hall's pinnies. And now I'm trying to remember what my Scottish mother-in-law wore...
DeleteYES to aprons. Always. My mother went through a phase of making aprons for friends and family, with the recipient's initial on them. A treasured item. I have several aprons hanging on a hook on the back of the kitchen door, and I always pull one of them off to cook anything that involves the stove. I've had too many accidents with spatters and spills and stains that won't come off clothes. An apron prevents all that angst. Cook away!
ReplyDeleteI love that you still have the aprons your mother made, Amanda!
DeleteHallie, I remember those ugly kitchen towels! My youngest aunt always gave me something ridiculous and cheap instead of paying me to babysit my cousins. More than once she gave me one of those. "For your hope chest", she said.
ReplyDeleteSelden brought up a good point about keeping a vastly smaller wardrobe clean. They couldn't just chuck a gown or a woolen dress into the washing machine!
In sophomore year Home Ec our first sewing project was an apron. Sister Julie gave us basic instructions, and then the sky was the limit on our finished project. Mine was a pretty blue sprigged cotton, gathered to a wide waistband with ties, had embroidery trim, and two pockets. Which came in handy two years later in my co-op job as a waitress in the local diner. When I was teaching my grandson to sew he made himself and his dad matching barbecue aprons.
I have several over-the-head restaurant type aprons: red for the holidays, a black one, a beautiful flowered one from my daughter, and a coated one with rainbow veggies that I bought to wear for the garden tour.
Our Grade 8 Home Ec sewing project was also an apron. I gave it to my mom.
DeleteAlas, she never used it. My poor sewing ability must have drove her nuts! She didn't even keep it.
Aw, that is sad. But you said she never wore aprons, so that's probably why. The one Robin made me is far from "perfect", but she was only ten.
DeleteKaren, apparently gardening aprons are a thing now, too. And they really make sense. I'd love something with pockets for my clippers, etc.
DeleteI bought a gardening apron because of its punny “hoe” saying and wore it in the kitchen. Loved the wide divided pocket! Elisabeth
DeleteI've been wearing a gardening smock and/or multi-pocketed pants or shorts from Duluth Trading, but an apron would be great when I'm wearing jeans with too-small pockets! I could easily make one.
DeleteWhat a fun question—and YES! I wear aprons every day! Otherwise I would ruin everything I wear. They aren’t fancy but they are fun—I have several FIRST CHAPTER FUN aprons and some French striped ones and one from the Lawyer’s Guild that says TO SERVE MANKIND. Oh and one that says BE CALM AND MAKE PIE.
ReplyDeleteHank, I pegged you as an apron wearer! I can't imagine you slopping around the house in clothes that could double as dish towels, so of course you'd need to protect your nice things. And I love that you have a First Chapter Fun apron. Also the French striped ones. So classic.
DeleteOh and they are all “bib” aprons—the others seem like they would not matter….
ReplyDeleteMy Mom wore aprons when cooking, the half aprons.She was a better baker than a cook, but after working all day I think she just wanted to get dinner on the table for us. I wear aprons also, but the bun type because it saves my tops. No matter how I try there is always flour, or something that splashes. I do not wear my apron at the table. And at Christmas I even have Christmas aprons.
ReplyDeleteI don't really get the half apron, even for baking. If I am baking--rare occasion that it is--I get flower all over myself! I suppose the terry cloth ones like my mom wore were really good for wiping your hands, however. And Christmas aprons, yes! I don't have one but now I think I need one!
DeleteLove hearing about the aprons among us. My mother never set foot in the kitchen, as she herself said, unless it was "to get ice cubes." And that tells you everything you need to know about her mothering. I *love* being in the kitchen. I get to make the foods that *I* am in the mood to eat, so I confess it's a bit of a control thing. Plus I'm a good cook! And I get to wear the apron my daughter Molly made for me as a 7th-grade project(!) decades ago. Such a revealing topic... thank you, Debs
ReplyDeleteI love that Molly made you an apron, Hallie, and that it's well loved and well used. I wish now that I had kept at least one of my mother's, just for sentimental reasons, but it never occurred to me that I could miss something so ordinary.
DeleteI have one of my mom's aprons, which covers both the top and bottom and has pockets! It is bright yellow, her favorite color. I do wear it, but only if I'm doing an unusually large cooking project. My dear friend Nettie brought me a beautiful red apron from her trip to France last fall, but I haven't used it yet. It takes more getting into, with ties etc. Mom's apron slips on easily over the head.
ReplyDeleteTies at the waist and at the neck? Now I'm imagining it looks like the red apron in the Bonvin painting!
DeleteI have a lot of aprons I've received as gifts over the years. My favorite is one made by my daughter when she was about 6 or so. Other aprons are ones my mother sewed and are lovely. But, I almost never wear an apron. I also don't get spills on my clothes when cooking, and flour just brushes off.
ReplyDeleteMy husband wears a large napkin tucked into his shirt when eating, even when we are out at a restaurant. I am too self conscious to do so, and regrettably I have stained tops to show for it.
I've been known to tuck a napkin into my shirt when eating something really messy!
DeleteI *have* an apron in my kitchen - do I wear it? On various rare occasions.
ReplyDeleteIn the house where we raised our kids, we had a pantry big enough to walk in. On the wall we had assorted hooks for keys, leashes, and my aprons. While they were there and always at the ready, I only tended to wear them when cooking the meal for Thanksgiving, Holiday Baking, and the big holiday meals. Silly I didn't wear them more.
ReplyDeleteOh, the walk-in pantry! We used to have one in this house, and it was big enough that we kept a second refrigerator in it. But when we remodeled our kitchen that space was opened up and incorporated into the kitchen. It made the kitchen much more functional, except for storage, and I do miss it.
DeleteI am enjoying the ongoing theme of our mothers and childhood memories rituals and traditions related to the kitchen. Today is about aprons and I love Deborah's lead- in story about her mother's aprons, her own relationship with using aprons (or rather lack of using them :-) ) and the history of aprons in general. I remember well how the character June Cleaver in the TV series "Leave It To Beaver" was always impeccably dressed in what were called shirtwaist dresses, usually adorned with a half apron and a simple gold necklace or string of pearls. She'd be whipping up breakfast or dinner always dressed at the ready. No jimjams and bathrobes EVER made as far as the kitchen or dining room thresholds! (Barbara Billingsley was a treasure.) When I think of my own morning appearances in the kitchen it makes my head throb...lol. Usually I shuffle into the kitchen in my LL Bean flannel nightgown and robe in mismatched plaids and a pair of clog slippers. As for using aprons in my kitchen they never make it past the hooks they hang on that have graced two different kitchens I've had since marriage. They are only used for decor and their colors are selected to "match" the kitchens. Can you believe that?!!! I am a bit embarrassed to admit I would use an article of clothing as decor. They are always pin-striped bib-style aprons I purchase from Williams-Sonoma and are always monogrammed "Bunny" (There goes that monogram theme again!) which my beloved dad nicknamed me at the age of two and continues to this day thanks to my husband. My other nickname at Harvard was ironically "June Cleaver" because despite wearing jeans, casual shirts and "sneaks" everyday I always carried a Dooney handbag and wore a string of pearls. When I left in 2009 the science department colleagues gifted me with a Dooney bag and a charicature of me swinging that bag adorned, of course, in my pearl necklace. So it seems I had no use for a practical item like an apron in the kitchen but I loved wearing my pearls...ha!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely consider aprons in the kitchen as decor! Mine are always some variation of navy/cobalt blue, and I, too, love the aprons from Williams Sonoma. I have a tea towel I bought at London Le Cordon Blue gift shop, and I wish I'd bought a proper chef's apron, but I was worried about packing space.
DeleteOh, and I love your nickname, Evelyn, and the image of you in your jeans and pearls!
P.S. In Junior High back in the "old days" the girls had to take a half year of home economics (which I loved) and a half year of sewing (which I did not love). We were always assigned the task of making an apron with our initials stitched onto the pockets. It took me that entire 1/2 year to make that damn apron. And I never used it. Clearly I was not a good seamstress. The sewing teacher told me at the end of that school semester that I had a "soft bobbin" and was by far one of the worst students she ever had.
ReplyDeleteSo funny, Evelyn! I was exactly the same about Home Ec, except I hated having to learn to cook, but was impatient to learn everything about sewing.
DeleteLove it, Karen! What makes the world go round is all of us are not the same!
DeleteSomehow I missed Home Ec. Too bad, maybe I would have learned to sew. Or not:-)
DeleteMy grandmother (my mom’s mother) wore the pinafore type. My mom wore aprons, but the half-aprons. She wore them only for cooking. I have a couple of aprons, both the pinafore type. One was a “freebie” from a promotion that some now defunct company was running. The other was made for me as a Christmas gift, has great pockets, and is my preferred apron. Guess which one got put in a “safe” place after the last time I washed it? It’s here somewhere…
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Oh pockets are great. I would love an apron with pockets!
DeleteMy great-grandmother always wore a bib-style apron, my grandmother one that tied at the waist, and my mom could tie a hand towel (and yes, some of those were those hideous striped ones!)about her waist to use as an apron. Moi? I own no aprons. Wear old clothes when cooking because I too am a slob around the house. (Flora)
ReplyDeleteThe devolution of aprons! But, seriously, I don't see any point in wearing apron without a bib, especially as I'm short and my upper half is closer to the mess!
DeleteI have a couple of great bib-style ones and get mad at myself if I don't put one on when I cook anything with tomatoes or sputtering olive oil!
ReplyDeleteYes, and as I cook pretty much everything in olive oil, I should be better at remembering to wear mine!
DeleteI have several bib aprons that were given to me but I never wear them. I don't remember ever seeing Mom wear one either. Or her mom. When I was in junior high some magazine I read recommended making aprons (no bib) for gifts. So I bought three different colors of gingham for Mom and my two sisters. That project died quickly as I didn't know how to use a sewing machine. The foot has to be down when you press the pedal to go?
ReplyDeletePat, that cracked me up! Wonder what happened to the pretty ginghams?
DeleteMy mother wore an apron every time she cooked (bib/pinafore style) and couldn’t understand why I didn’t. Well, Mom, I do now! Not every time, but more often than not when I’m actually cooking and not just microwaving. I took a couple of my mom’s aprons when we cleaned out her house. I received an apron for my retirement that says “Too many books, so little time”. I have gifted the same to my librarian colleagues on their retirement! — Pat S
ReplyDeleteThat's a great one, Pat! I certainly need it!
DeleteNo aprons here. I don't remember my mother or either of my grandmothers ever wearing one, either. I do have the habit of putting a dishtowel over my shoulder, handy for wiping my hands, or a spill, or grabbing a hot pot. Pretty sure I got that from my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteYour apron is pretty, Debs. But I don't iron shirts - I'd never iron an apron! LOL
I don't mind the ironing part, really. It's the setting up the board that is such a pain--or rather the taking down the board, because always sticks. I often throw a dish towel over my should, too, Liz.
DeleteI have never worn aprons, because I always wore old clothes around the house. I can’t really picture my mom in an apron either, but can very clearly remember my grandmothers in their aprons. They weren’t bib aprons, but more like loose sleeveless tops in the front, with a tie at the back of the neck. They had pockets, and the pockets usually had something in them - tissues, for sure. These aprons were for when they were dressed and finished with their house work for the day. Until then, they wore house dresses, with snaps or buttons down the front. Remember those? That’s another discussion entirely!
ReplyDeleteYes, the housedress! I just mentioned that above! I'm thinking the housedress is different from the "housecoat," which you wore over your clothes. The house dress was something you wore at home to be comfortable, but would NEVER wear out. I want these to come back in fashion for summer when I want something loose and cool--but it has to have big pockets!
DeleteThanks for making me think about my mother, Debs. She wore an apron and so do I--in fact, I am such a slob in the kitchen that about ten years ago, I asked my sister-in-law, now retired but then a hospital lab tech, for a couple of her old lab coats. Since then, I've gotten my own. Too bad they're white, because they get so stained with food that I can't get the spots out even with clorox, but I love them and always wear them for cooking AND gardening on my balcony.
ReplyDeleteI think if my grandma and great aunt who wore a ‘pinky’ over their clothes every day in the house. I have already refused to wear an apron in the name of feminism. This means quite a few ruined garments. I do have several good aprons-/ presents from Liberty of London etc. but it is John who wears an apron to cook. I’m always in such a rush I forget to put one on
ReplyDeleteCurse you, autocorrect. I typed in pinny twice and it still changed it
DeleteMy mom wore a half apron and a friend of hers made one for me when I was a child. It was eventually lost in a move. I didn’t wear one for years although I should have. Then I became a cake decorator and really needed aprons to keep the colors from ruining my clothes. Now I have a collection from food shows and conventions and a friend who makes reversible aprons with pockets on both sides.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs, this is so much fun. I love the beautifully - fantastic art piece you included, by Leon Bonvin. I took Art History in college but his name in unfamiliar. I looked him and what a sad and short life. Such a skilled artist.
ReplyDeleteI love aprons, but I don't wear them. I think it's an affection for the vintage that fuels my love of them. My mother wore a half apron when cooking, but it was never anything fancy, just utilitarian. When I was in junior high and had one of my most beloved teachers of all time, Miss Howard, one of our sewing projects was to make a full apron. Mine was gingham blue, and I still remember sitting with Miss Howard working on it. I wasn't someone who sewed, but I did a good job on it, as I didn't want to let Miss Howard down. Of all the many, many things my mother saved, I can't believe I didn't find it when my siblings and I went through all the saved items after our parents died. I think it must have gotten overlooked, as I can't imagine my mother getting rid of it. One of my favorite pictures of my kids is when they were helping make the fudge one Christmas and both were wearing full aprons. Ashley was wearing an old one of her Memaw's (Philip's mother) and Kevin was wearing a newer one made for kids.
ReplyDeleteI hope this isn't a duplicate - as I think my post got deleted probably by me, by mistake.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is so interesting DEBS. I was particularly drawn to the painting you included by Leon Bonvin. I took Art History in college and was surprised I hadn't heard about his work. It is so detailed and beautiful. I looked him up on Google and he had a sad and short life. How unfortunate.
oh first my post did make it - sorry for the duplicate :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I (we're 50) always wear bib aprons when in the kitchen. One of my grandmothers often wore a housecoat, but neither my mom nor MIL wore/wear either.
ReplyDeleteShalom Reds and readers. I can’t remember ever wearing an apron. Nor my mother or grandmother doing so. (Now my paternal grandmother is a different story. She died a few months before I was born and I’ve not seen many photographs of her. However, she seemed very proper in the photos I have seen, so perhaps?)
ReplyDeleteI spend all of the eating holidays with the same family friends here in Doylestown. Last year or the year before, the New York Times, in one of their Thanksgiving sections, advised guests instead of bringing another dish or dessert, that they bring an apron, and be ready to help in the kitchen. I didn’t own an apron, but I did bring my own “Tupperware” for leftovers, which they also suggested.
A couple of months ago, I did check the internet (including Etsy) for aprons that featured books, reading and libraries. I found a few. I didn’t order any but perhaps now is the time as we approach Easter.
I’d be more likely to use an apron (and kneepads) in the garden. One with Captain Kangaroo size pockets for tools and odds ‘n’ ends accoutrements.
Yes to aprons! My grandmother made her own (she was a great seamstress), but my mother bought hers because she hated to sew. I don't use one because I have no place to hang one (sighing after that walk in pantry). But I do have a gardening apron (more like a tool belt). My Dad also had aprons as he got into his last years--he tended to get food all over himself when he ate. One yellow, one red. I must take after him because I'm always baptizing myself with soup or salad dressing. My son's girl friend just made me the perfect thing: a dining stole. It looks like a shorter version of the stole my minister wore to preach, but it has a velcro closure to keep it in place. Works wonders for a messy eater like me and preserves my clothing from those nasty grease stains.
ReplyDeleteKate, for many years my apron hung off the side of our refrigerator, courtesy of a magnetic hook. Would that work for you?
DeleteFabulous, whimsical aprons from Lush Designs in London!
ReplyDeleteYes! My grandma Aggie made all of our aprons. They slipped on from front to back like a straight jacket and also had big pockets. Now that you mention it, I need to find the one that I still have which is brown with pink tiny polka dots. I wear an apron that goes over my head all of the time when cooking as I hate to try to scrub the stains out of even my around the house clothes. The aprons hang on an odds and ends closet in our kitchen. Alicia Kullas
ReplyDeleteI have a number of full aprons hanging on the back of my pantry door, And a special one for Christmas. I always wear one when I'm cooking and its a must have for eating spag bol I am so messy! I occasionally forget I have it on, especially when serving up for large family gatherings and find myself still with the apron on half way through the meal. Honestly I dont understand those half aprons most of my mess is 'up top'!!
ReplyDelete