Back in the 1960s, no self-respecting parent would dream of trying to do anything in the kitchen without first putting on a cooking apron. In those days it wasn’t cheap to buy clothes or keep them clean, so it was madness not to protect them when working in the kitchen. But by the end of [...]

Back in the 1960s, no self-respecting parent would dream of trying to do anything in the kitchen without first putting on a cooking apron. In those days it wasn’t cheap to buy clothes or keep them clean, so it was madness not to protect them when working in the kitchen. But by the end of that decade things had changed. The cooking apron had begun to symbolise the downtrodden housewife. All of a sudden, being tied to apron strings was no longer cool.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Everyone is watching cooking shows on TV before heading into their refitted kitchens to try out their new-found cooking skills. And TV chefs wear cooking aprons. Once again, the kitchen apron, that enemy of the new woman, is in vogue in a big way. If we want to feel like a “master chef”, all we have to do is put an apron on. What we cook when we wear our cooking aprons is another matter entirely, of course (it all looks so much easier on TV, doesn’t it).

Today’s cooking aprons are now available in a masive variety of colours and styles. And perhaps because of the area of the body they cover, the most popular aprons feature a joke on the front. Novelty cooking aprons are all the rage. You can even give wings to your creativity and have a humorous quip of your own invention printed on the front of your cooking apron.

The way we buy cooking aprons has totally changed since the 1960s. Online. They are easier to find, easier to browse for and cheaper to buy. We can carry out the whole transaction from the comfort of our kitchen’s breakfast bar. In fact, it can be so easy, so comfortable and so cheap that we buy more than one. At the end of the day, it’s always good to be ready if guests arrive unannounced. And they have to be prepared to wear your latest cooking apron creation and get their hands dirty, if not their clothes, in the kitchen.