I've Got You Covered

I know this isn't going to help my 50s-housewife-in-a-time-warp image, but I'm a huge fan of aprons (yep, me and June Cleaver). Yeah, they're girly and old-fashioned, but the thing about aprons is that they make a lot of sense. I like nice clothes and I'm a slobby cook — without aprons those elements of my personality would be a disastrous combination resulting in triple-digit dry cleaning bills.
Happily, gone are the days where my only option would be an unflattering "Kiss the Cook" number; there are tons of stylish and attractive aprons on the market now. Sometimes, I think they even make my outfit cuter. And wearing an apron in the kitchen gives whatever you cook are air of legitimacy that I truly believe makes it taste better - you might as well be wearing one of those chef hats. And I'm pretty sure that the sight of a woman in heels and an apron falls squarely on every man's fantasy list (whereas the sight of a woman in a chef hat...not so much). I love to give aprons as housewarming or bridal shower presents, and I even gave one to my mom last Mother's Day (which I end up wearing myself whenever I cook at home).

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1. Red polka dot half apron, $32, from Gourmand Apron Creations; 2. Floral apron with green ruffles, $32, from Anthropologie; 3. Laminated stripe apron, $25, from Gourmand Apron Creations; 4. Yellow floral apron, $30, from Flirty Aprons; 5. Ruffled rose-pattern apron, $45, from Williams Sonoma; 6. Blue roses apron, $29, from Elizabeth's Embellishments; 7. Aqua polka dot half apron, $47, from Daisy Shoppe; 8. Navy stripe apron, $20, from Sur la Table; 9. Pleated pink half apron, $18, from Florence Adams; 10. Hot pink ruffled apron, $62, from Haute Hostess; 11. Green paisley patchwork half apron, $45, from Progeny; 12. Cheery cherry half apron, $31, from Jessie Steele. Photo above: Cupcake ruffled half apron, $22 from Splendid Minta on Etsy.

Above is a roundup of some of the cutest aprons available online now. My next project is to start sewing my own- I'll keep you updated with patterns and how-tos when I get around to it. And remember, eBay also always has a great selection of real vintage ones, which can be even more charming. Tie one on!