Vintage aprons for women

Posted by juliabennet on January 19th, 2013

In times when washing machines were not yet invented and women of the lower classes could not afford the luxury of a large wardrobe, aprons came like the most at hand practical solution. They were covering women’s underneath clothes almost all day long and this way prevented them from getting dirty. Aprons for women of the working class like shop-keepers, secretaries and teachers, but also for housewives and children, were a common apparition. They were protecting women’s clothes and could be washed after a couple of days, looking always clean. Nowadays, their popularity has decreased and women usually look for vintage aprons in places selling antiquities.

Last century, in the 20’s and 30’s, aprons were full-length articles, without a waist line, and followed the silhouette of the woman’s dress. About ten years later, in the 40’s, the waist line became cinched and accessories like buttons and contrasting color pockets appeared. Generally, aprons for women were made of feed cloth, as was the name of heavier fabric. There was no wasting back at that time. Quilts and aprons were made of the same feed sack fabric, but quilts were made of the best part of the material, while aprons were made of the remaining material.

Magazines of the 40’s and 50’s included many advertisements on topics like housework or cooking, showing women wearing aprons like a kind of uniform. At that time, women could buy aprons as selling features for food products, irons, or kitchen appliances.

At the same time, a new style came with half-aprons made of various materials, such as sheer fabric, starched cotton, or feed sack. They were trimmed with lace if they were meant to be worn on special occasions. Aprons ceased to be cover-ups and became elements of fashion, with hand stitched and printed designs, in various colors.

The 60’s brought the message aprons, with their popular messages embossed and in full-length again, as an influence of the early stages of the feminist movement. There was also a revival of the decorated kitchen apron, earlier forgotten.

Aprons for women became a frequent presence in television family shows that the average public watched regularly. Almost each episode was showing women wearing kitchen aprons. Many shows were re-runs of older ones, presenting the 50’s idyllic version of life to later generations. This true invasion of such shows had as a result the creation of a stereotype of the 50’s and the kitchen apron as a central character.

The 70’s and early 80’s represented the decline of the kitchen apron after more than a century of glory. Younger generations remember those glamorous times when their grandmothers were wearing aprons and, for their sake, try to revive that style. Antique stores and flea markets are almost the only places where vintage aprons can still be found. An alternative is represented by the Internet, which is a valuable source of patterns of classic models.

Aprons for women appeared as a practical solution in a time with no washing machines and detergents. They are not so popular these days, but women who want to buy such articles can find vintage aprons in antique stores.