Apron a symbol of repression

[LadyJaneGreyspen]

Or just a useful bit of clothing?

Yes... So are tampons because they force us to conceal our periods, and leggings because they sexualise and, long skirts because they force us to cover our bodies and restrict movement and, hair comes because oh, oh wait, no they're not, they are just objects associated with femininity because women often wear them.

Ooh, DisturbinglyOrangeScrambledEgg, I'll have to look at Muji aprons. I love their stuff! Thanks for the tip.

497 (mostly) vintage photos of chaps in aprons, courtesy of Pinterest:

www.pinterest.co.uk/robertgleach/men-in-aprons/

A non-binary identifying acquaintance of mine posted on social media about bras/binders being the only truly gendered (I think in this circumstance ‘gender’ is correct, not ‘sex’?) items of clothing.

Haven’t really thought about it much but I suppose everything else does have an equivalent, even if it’s not particularly common in some geographic areas/cultures?

Flashback to my dad wearing one of those truly terrible naked woman aprons when barbecuing. Complete with nipple tassles. Cringe. It was a very long time ago.

Ha! buttcrack !

The first penis I ever saw was on a one of those biros that ‘stripped’ when you held it upside down.

It belonged to my great aunt who thought it was absolutely hilarious.

The Muji aprons are excellent coveralls for the torso etc.

Most of the housecoats I've seen are like button-through dressing gowns, or the sort in B&W stills from vintage Coronation St (but without the snood) I must see if they've changed.

Short of welder's gloves that extend to the shoulders (tad unwieldy) nothing would protect me from the sort of tomato reduction that bubbles and erupts nor spitting oil. There are waterproof sleeve protectors for washing-up but they look a hazard around heat.

DisturbinglyOrange - my nanna always wore a housecoat indoors as well! Always took it off to go out though. And I'm pretty sure they were quick-dry ones too!

I wear aprons when I remember - but only to protect my clothes, not because of any other reason. I have a couple. My sons also have one each - one says "chef in training" and the other one is plain. Only used to protect clothes, no other reason.

But yes, I do see the "patriarchal oppression" side of it as well - the 1950s housewife with her frilly pinny and feather duster, waiting in dutifully for her hard-working husband. You wouldn't catch me in one of those.

That must have been a very tiny todger Betty.

Damn - sold out!

(Modern versions appear to be rear view only - when did people get so scared of pubes?)

shop.herblester.com/products/tip-n-strip-pen

But yes, I do see the "patriarchal oppression" side of it as well - the 1950s housewife with her frilly pinny

This thread has inspired me to see if I can find one of those. I have one apron with a print of Laduree macaroons but my others are unisex/ gender neutral (or whatever the current preferred description is for "something really dull which isn't pink" )

These are nice.

www.cathkidston.com/search/go?view=grid&w=Apron

Betty, those are completely classically so awful they are wonderful. The policemen! The willies!

If they weren't sold out I would totally be buying some. Modern rear view only will not suffice.

I am a very messy cook, but lovely cooking, so wear one daily. I also like a sign outside our local coffee shop that says an apron is just a super hero cape worn on the front.

Lass, there are tons of cool vintage aprons around for pennies. I have a rather fetching 70s one with painted vegetables on it.

It’s tiny though, so no good for actually keeping one’s frock clean - suitable for wearing whilst pushing the hostess trolley only, I suspect.

There are a lot of super hero aprons. I actually quite like the Wonder Woman version. And the Star Wars storm trooper.

The novelty naked ones have been ruined with inflatable boobs and willies that would surely just get in the way.

I just put one on to eat my magnum! And stop it landing on my nice dress! but am so hungry the whole thing landed in my mouth! The ice cream not the apron!

I've never understood the waist ones. When I cook it's all over my front, not my lap.

arranfan
Short of welder's gloves that extend to the shoulders (tad unwieldy) nothing would protect me from the sort of tomato reduction that bubbles and erupts nor spitting oil. There are waterproof sleeve protectors for washing-up but they look a hazard around heat.

The only occasion I can think of when the hospital back-fastening design might actually be useful, if only it were made of more robust material.

I like a good frilly pinny. It makes me feel nice when I bake my cakes.

That said, I usually forget to wear any of my 10 million 5/6 aprons so end up in a right mess.

Can't say I've ever really thought about it as any more than something to protect my clothes!

Useful.
No one wants splattered bacon fat on their clothes.

Useful piece of clothing. When you're as messy a cook as I am, they're a lifesaver. I do have two very nice thick cotton striped ones that I bought years ago, and that would be completely suitable for either a male torso or a female torso. Practicality wins for me, every time. Sleeves would be good though - I may have to design and make one!

It's a piece of protective clothing to wear when you're doing something that could potentially make a mess and damage your clothing. Nothing oppressive about that.

I like my apron - it means there's less laundry

Repression? what a load of old tosh!

Love my aprons, wear them every day. Most of mine are plain white from a catering supplies company; a few have designs my kids did with fabric pens. I must have a good dozen at least.

Repression? Are home-cooks somehow expressing their repressed sexuality through baking, perhaps? Is the apron the symbol of repressed anger and rage at the era of mass production? Maybe repressed childhood issues surrounding meal times...

Yeah, possibly. If you like. Probably not though.