Derived from the French word “naperon”, meaning a small tablecloth, an apron is a garment worn in the front of the body for practical, decorative and ritualistic purposes. Aprons can also depict the rank or a group affiliation of the wearer. Often the first garment a sewing student learns to stitch, its design can be simple and tough or delicate and intricate. Made of cotton, muslin, linen, canvas leather, rubber or lead, the apron’s material depends on its functionality.
The apron is not a new garment. Although the date of its origin is quite difficult to place, chances are it is pretty much the first garment to be ever worn. Some claim that when Adam and Eve fled the Garden of Eden they were wearing aprons made of fig leaves. In ancient Crete, aprons were worn by fertility goddess and sacred aprons were worn by
Assyrian priests. Egyptian pharaohs wore jewel encrusted aprons. In Europe, during Middle Ages, homemakers, working people, tradesman and artisans donned the aprons. During those times, the profession of a person could be guessed looking at the his/her apron. For example, English barbers wore checkered aprons, stonemasons wore white aprons, cobblers wore black aprons, butchers wore blue stripes, butlers wore green, and so on. Aprons are still worn in Masonic ceremonies and are often a part of a working person’s uniform, often featuring a corporate logo emblazoned on the front.
There are various types of aprons. A half apron, is a small piece of fabric that is worn around the waist and extends from waist to mid-thigh or longer. A full or bib apron covers the chest and ties behind the neck and ties at the waist. A pinafore is an apron that features more fabric over the shoulders than a conventional full or bib apron. Often worn by little girls, the pinafore is an attractive garment that can be trimmed with ribbons or bows.
The resurgence of aprons can be owed to its utility as a collectible and its requirement as a kitchen essential. Some say it stems from a growing interest in domesticity by a generation of young women who grew up in homes watching their mothers work, rather than stay-at-home moms. Others identify with its nostalgic element fueled by the likes of chic
Betty Draper in the TV show Mad Men.
Whatever be your reason to buy an apron, check out beverlyheels.com for the perfect design.
