Saturday, October 3, 2009

Modern Style for an Old Standard - Aprons

By Chris Du Tea

When one thinks of aprons, generally an image of a housewife from the 50's will pop into mind, due in no small part to the efforts of advertisers of the time trying to promote the apron as a stylish addition to any woman's wardrobe. They came in all sorts of styles, but the most popular were the frilly, with an abundance of ruffles combined with a cute ribbon tie on the back. More than just a fashion statement, however, aprons were also invented for functional also.

An apron is pretty much a piece of cloth that you can wear in the front of your body, tying in the back and normally looping around the neck. Not only used to shield your clothes, aprons can also be vital for hygienic reasons in the case of hospital workers or those who work in messy environments. Nurses and people who work with children may also consider the use of an apron. The apron can be seen as just an adult version of a bib.

Aprons can be created in a variety of materials. The standard kitchen ones are generally cloth combined with lace, but in other industrial environments, Aprons can be created with stronger materials such as rubber or vinyl. Some household varieties are made to be waterproof, and coated with PVC or constructed from oilcloth. They can cover just the lower half of the body or the whole front.

What was once related with women and the need to protect delicate clothes, the traditional barriers of apron-wearers have eased over the decades. These days, aprons are worn by men and women alike, and are even enjoying a fashion renaissance. With vintage looks on the rise, there has been a high demand for vintage styled aprons, with dedicated stores to cater for this need, and high sales rates in online retailers such as EBay.

With so many different styles and fabrics, there is an apron design for everyone. Whether one just wants to wear aprons as a fashion statement, or if one really has a messy job to do, they are easy to purchase in any kitchen store. Usually employers will provide the apron for their employees, such as restaurant workers or people who work in fish canneries. One new function that has arisen in recent years is the use of the apron as a medium for corporate logos or slogans, for professional chefs to advertise their sponsors much in the same way that athletes have logos on their uniforms.

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