I watched "Collectors" on TV last night. It featured a woman who owns over 500 aprons. She buys them second hand and some of them date back 70 years. She said that she enjoys wearing her aprons and sees them not as an accessory to drudgery but as a symbol of choice for herself and for women generally.
It got me wondering about my own relationship to aprons. I have two aprons, one is the one I was required to wear in school home economics classes and the other was one I bought, or maybe a gift from my Dad, I can't remember but it has a nice print of Australian native flowers.
I wear an apron sometimes but not always. Why? If it was a purely practical matter I should wear one all the time.
Apron wearing certainly doesn't represent choice for me because my domestic duties are just that, duties. I think my decision to wear an apron on any given day and for any given task might (just maybe) symbolise my commitment to the task and sometimes it's just that I have stopped to think for long enough to realise that I want to preserve the clothes I'm wearing.
I want my apron to be a close fit and so I bring the ties from the back to the front and thank my genes that I'm just thin enough for the ties to reach that far and still be tied. I'm very insistent on this close fitting business, what's with that?
Of course aprons are great for wiping your hands on and carrying a hanky if you have no pockets, they're also great when you have a cold because you don't need to walk to the bin with your tissue every five seconds...just wipe your nose on the apron (oops, no really I'm joking, but when I saw the way the sentence read I couldn't help adding that) You can put the tissues in the apron pocket.
As I watched this woman with her multitude of aprons I imagined that she would have one to match any outfit. Imagine that, a utilitarian garment that complements your fashion statement. It really takes fashion to new levels, someone in Milan should run with that.
Talking of fashion though, one of the beauties of the apron is that you can have any crazy, fanciful or outrageous design on an apron because it's only an apron. No-one takes them seriously so there's a complete freedom of expression there.
Lastly, I once saw an ad for a company which sold rather lovely aprons by mail order but I didn't have any real need for one so I kind of ignored it. After some time I decided I would like a beautiful apron but do you think I could find the ad? For some inexplicable reason I regret not buying one. Funny the things we regret, eh?
where's my lawyer friend?
ReplyDeletedid you all pick my mistake there?
ALL of our garments started as utilitarian items...look at shirts, they keep you warm, hats keep the sun off and shoes stop you hurting your feet. silly me
Who knows where your lawyer friend is, but I'm here, so snap out of it.
ReplyDeleteShirts don't keep me warm, they cover my boobies and dangling biceps and not only make me feel good about myself, they help me look presentable. My sweatshirt or a coat keeps me warm. Hat's hide a lot of grey hair and forehead wrinkles (I know that's true because when I buy wine I'm often asked for my ID, one lovely lady even had me remove my hat on a day I hadn't showered (why did she think I was wearing a hat?!). I wanted to strangle her. I mean really, right there in front of the whole line I had to do that. I gave her the look. You know what I mean. Shoes, I agree. Unfortunately I wear flip flops most of the time, so my feet hurt like h***.
Now...aprons! Love um, don't wear one, but want one. I grew up with a grandmother who always had one on and who kindly put one on all her grandkids. Lots of colors and choices. I want to go back to being able to wipe my hands on myself and using a pocket for a used kleenex bucket. Bliss. I'm going to buy one. Not something practical, something really beautiful or funny, so that when I catch myself in the mirror I think "how wonderful," and smile.
Thank you for that my dear. Always love being here.
XO Suze
thanks, suze. yo're always one for a good comment and i appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteand you are probably just as nitpicky as mr lawyer (in a good way)
you just confirmed my argument....all clothes fulfil a function and i'm glad my shirts cover my boobies.
if the hat covers your indicators of legal age your face muct be REALLY good, really young.
i know the look....expert at it :)
yes, get an apron, for whatever reason....i always feel glad i look the part, even if i'm not :)
Personally, I find aprons old fashion. It makes me think of the old days when women were expected to be seen and not heard, and expected to do all of the child rearing, house cleaning, cooking, etc.... But, I could hook you guys up with some fantastic homemade aprons. I actually have a friend and fellow blogger who hand makes aprons and sells them on etsy. There is a link to her blog on mine. It is Splendid Designs. Her aprons are really cute. So cute that I have considered purchasing one. Especially after seeing all the stains I've found on some of my favorite clothes. The problem is that in order to bring the string all the way around my back and then tie it in the front would take about a mile worth of string. Either that or mega expanding elastic. But Kylie, I liked this post. It was fun.
ReplyDeleteKylie,
ReplyDeleteGood day to you!!!
After seeing your post am thinking about getting a apron too...No one in my family use one...
There is so many use for caraway seeds.. use in your rice or stir fries....will smell heavenly.
Take care
love
bindi
You guys are crackin' me up. No I don't look young. I think the caps throw a shadow that camouflages my wrinkles brilliantly. That's why I try to wear one every single day of my life. Of course I take it off when I sleep (if I sleep).
ReplyDeleteCecile, aprons are now all about FUN!! Do you think Kylie or I would want to go back to that other crap? We'd be nutty. You're with me on that, right Kylie? Thanks for the the link to your friend and as soon as I have time I'll take a peek. Because your friends aprons are custom I'm sure she could make about "a miles worth of string" and attach it to that sucker. Just think outside the box honey. It might cost you extra through!
Bindi, how much caraway seed to a cup of rice? And what do you eat the rice with to compliment the caraway flavor? I never even considered the combination. Thanks for making me think outside the box.
Always a pleasure to find you all together. You're too much fun.
I adore you,
Suzanne :)
p.s. Kylie, who's the "lawyer friend?"
oh, yeah and aprons are about fun.
ReplyDeleteenjoy
I'll also come to Australia! My hubby said "If you ask one more time how to spell Australia, I'll send your ass to New Zealand!" Now I don't think I spelled Austrialia wrong! I'll have to go back and look at that. It looked wrong. Maybe not!
ReplyDeleteXO Suzanne
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Kylie,
ReplyDeletehope you had a good day.
here how i use the caraway seeds..
I use a tsp of caraway seeds in two cups of rice. first saute caraway seeds, bay leaf and onion in a tsp of butter or olive oil. then add the rice and saute for another minute add water and cook covered on medium heat.
these are another uses.
For enhanced flavor, lightly toast Caraway Seed before use in cheese dishes or potato salad. Caraway Seed is great for use in sauerkraut, soups, and stews; add Caraway in the last 15 minutes of cooking for best flavor. Sprinkle Caraway Seed lightly over spice cakes before baking. Mix 1/4 cup melted butter with 1 to 2 teaspoons Caraway Seed; spread on French bread or pour over green beans.
love
bindi
in case of spelling difficulty, make australia "oz" easy.
ReplyDeletei always need tissues my dear,they dont make bras in negative sizes :)and it's handy when you get a cold, although bust size shrinks dramatically.
bindi, thanks for your suggestions...if they're too successful i'll have to buy caraway all the time and then the pantry door will never shut :)
ReplyDeletehope you're doin well and having fun with the wee one
Oh dear! I don't think I should be here :)
ReplyDeleteM.
oh dear, mark
ReplyDeleteit was a very female-centric post and comments....come back though. i'll be back on track soon
:)
Yes a full size apron for me. Even then the splatters would get me from behind.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try the Carraway seeds in rice to start with. Kylie, did you use these in the special rice you cook?