When I was growing up in the 1930s and 40s, it seemed that all the "ladies of the house" wore kitchen aprons. These women included my grandmothers, their sisters and their daughters-in-law. Kitchen aprons were common household items that were worn while cooking, cleaning, and of course, playing hostess. Pretty much anything that needed to be done in the house was done while wearing an apron. Women have been wearing aprons to protect their clothes since the early 1700s, possibly earlier. Back then, they didn't have wash-n-wear and stain-resistant fabrics like they do today. Back then, the extensive washing of dresses wore them out in no time. Clothes were washed with scrubbing boards in big tubs until the late 1930s when wring washers became popular. Even then, all clothing materials still needed to be ironed. The obvious purpose of wearing kitchen aprons was to protect apparel, thus salvaging an important piece of clothing from yet another rough ride down the scrubbing board or through the wring. Aprons, on the other hand, were more durable and could be washed 2-3 times a week while dresses could usually be washed just once a week. The wearing of aprons didn't end in the household; they were often used by shopkeepers, schoolteachers, blacksmiths, metalsmiths, secretaries, and even performers. Vocations such as butchers, waiters and welders have made plenty use of aprons since the early days. Fishermen used to and still do utilize these handy garments to protect their clothing from fish guts and stench. Different occupations adorned different colored aprons. Barbers from Great Britain wore checked aprons and were known in the community as checkered men. Stonemasons wore white aprons. Garbage men, gardeners, weavers and spinners wore blue aprons. Butchers wore blue stripes, cobblers wore black, and butlers were attired in green aprons. Servants and maids used to wear long white aprons with the upper portion pinned to the dress, but they now use the half apron. There is no doubt that aprons have a rich history. Some of the aprons of old have been memorialized in the form of popular retro aprons and vintage aprons that many women find fashionable today.
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