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For those of us born and raised in the 1950s and 1960s, having a stay-at-home mother who wore a kitchen apron was common. In fact, homemade bread, desserts, and pot roast on Sunday were expected. The fascinating thing about the kitchen apron back then is that it was more of a fashion statement than a necessity. Yes, the apron did provide clothing protection from food spills and splashes, the color, pattern, or design was more for show.
In addition, most television shows at that time also featured stay-at-home moms, wearing a kitchen apron. One of the most popular shows was “Leave it to Beaver” in which June Cleaver usually wore a kitchen apron and string of pearls. Another famous show in which the kitchen apron was seen was “I Love Lucy”. Although we went through years of women’s liberation, a time when the kitchen apron was the furthest thing from a woman’s mind, we are starting to see a comeback. Although today’s kitchen apron is more for functionality than appearance, you can still find a wide range of colors and styles. For men and women who love spending time in the kitchen, the apron can be very beneficial. In fact, you will see cooks in restaurants wearing aprons, caterers with white linen aprons, and even people competing in barbecue contests wearing aprons. Many of today’s kitchen aprons are white but as they become more and more popular, we now see many of the old styles returning. For instance, you could shop at your local department store, finding creamy yellow aprons with daisy appliqués, red, white, and blue aprons for the Fourth of July, or perhaps an apron that is bright and bold with red, orange, or yellow geometric shapes. Keep in mind that while aprons are usually kept for special occasions, they can be used for everyday cooking. Additionally, some people simply enjoy collecting them. Some of the kitchen aprons from the 1960s included unique collections such as the white apron with bright blue or red ties or even a western themed apron with oversized pockets. Now, for formal entertaining, you would see mom or grandma pulling out the best. A beautiful chiffon or sheer organza kitchen apron with hand-stitching was considered elegant and charming. Regardless of the style, one of the most important aspects of the kitchen apron was the pockets, used for added convenience. The bottom line is that spending time in the kitchen can be messy. If you are doing some last minute food prep or cooking before company arrives, you might already be dressed for the occasion, meaning the kitchen apron could provide protection. Wrapped on and tied in the back, you could step back in time, allowing the kitchen apron to do its job while letting you experience a little bit of hominess and charm that your mother once enjoyed. |
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