Yes, indeed! Aprons are not only enjoying a revival, but they have gained a certain cache in the fashion world. Apparently, they have become sex magnets.
Remember in junior high, when girls took Home Economics and boys took Shop? I don't know about you, but at my school, girls had to sew an apron. As I recall, it was our first "needle" project. We all showed up with our fabric, rick-rack, and a seam ripper.
We also showed up with varying degrees of enthusiasm. An apron wasn't exactly a novel idea. None of us were strangers to aprons; the women in our families had worn them for decades on a steady basis. An apron was a kitchen basic, designed to protect clothing during food preparation and serving. They came in two styles: waist-tie or bib. Sure, they might have a jazzy print or a snappy holiday pattern, but they were...well, just aprons.
I had little interest in sewing and zero interest in making an apron, even though mine had the handy feature of a hand towel stitched into the waistband. What a bonus! You could wipe your hands anytime you wanted! Or use it as a potholder! I also knew I was stuck with it; my own mother didn't want another apron, even disguised as a gift. It was a burden for a seventh-grader who preferred reading and science.
An apron probably takes less than an hour to make; I'm sure our class spent the entire school quarter on this dreary task. I earned a C on mine. Lucked out; had the grade reflected my attitude, it would have been much worse.
After that escapade, I didn't give aprons another thought until I was about to get married. They cropped up at my bridal showers like mushrooms after a rain storm. Okay, I thought. I guess this means I'm really going to be a wife now. And I wore them...I did. To bake, to cook, when I wanted to look festive serving Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Didn't live in them, but I came to appreciate the purpose and the protection.
What goes around comes around...again and again. Fast-forward fifty years, and guess what? Aprons are not only functional, but they are COOL!
Even better, now they are sexy!
I can't quite wrap my mind around that. My primary memory of aprons is totally related to my sweet, pudgy grandmother, who lived on a farm in Southern Illinois. She was constantly in the kitchen making the next meal, skimming the cream off the cows' milk, baking for the church bazaar, putting up canned goods, or stoking the coal stove. I'm pretty sure she didn't feel the least bit seductive. And I bet she came to despise aprons.
Now, aprons are suddenly hotter than Victoria's Secret! A quick visit to the RetroRevival blog features aprons as the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Cindy, the site's blogger, cheerily tells us: "I've been sewing Valentine-inspired aprons during the past week!" Pause. Make no mistake--I'm all for creative craft projects and the Etsy marketplace. But here's where I had to take a step back: "They'll certainly last longer than flowers or a box of chocolate. And I think they're just as sweet!"
Hello?? I'm guessing if some misguided male takes Cindy's advice, that apron will definitely last longer than anything, especially the relationship. Unless he has some--also misguided--fantasy about French maids, he should turn away from this gift idea. If any man is reading this and doubts my words, please contact me. Now.
There is also Flirty Aprons, which boasts testimonials:
"The 1st time I wore this apron, my husband walked in the door from work, looked at me with wide eyes and said 'Wow- that is sexy'. I was sold!"
- Andrea 
"I love the animal print and it makes me feel adventurous in the kitchen! If you made an apron in leopard print, I would have to get that, too!"
- Char
One more: Homestead Revival ("Journey Back to the Farm") features "Apron Eye Candy." Beautifully photographed aprons, including clotheslines and chickens. Almost nostalgic. But not quite, if you consider what an apron has historically represented.
Lest you think all is feminist and/or sexual, I offer a counter-balance. Aprons are being used to lure women back to home and hearth. A site called Catholic Home and Garden has pronounced aprons as...ready?..."The Garment of Domestic Vocation."
Here are a couple of excepts from the article:
"A utilitarian garment, it is a symbol of femininity that resonates with love and nurturing. As much as a habit is a symbol of a nun's vocation, so too is the apron a symbol of the domestic vocation."
"A happy family starts with a good marriage and that means pampering your husband. Sparking some romance in your relationship will help strengthen it. Showing your loved one that they are worth the effort makes a big impact...Dressing up for a romantic evening for two can be even flirtier if you wear a pretty apron while preparing dinner."[Bold from the article.]
I don't get it, either sexy or homespun. It's an APRON. It prevents grease spots. And aprons always equal work--for women! Can anyone help me out here?
And...What's the next fashion-cum-sexy revival? Hair nets? Rain bonnets? Knee socks?
P.S. This reminds me of the recent cupcake craze. I wrote about it a few years ago.
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