Speciality in clothing: why the apron has become the most fashionable thing of the season

Leather or floral, with or without pockets, strict and playful, men's and women's aprons in various variations have become one of the main trends of the upcoming spring and summer season. At the recent Paris Fashion Week, Miuccia Prada proposed to move this piece of clothing, which is habitually associated with work and everyday life, into the category of everyday life. I did it loudly, but not the first one. About why the apron went beyond the kitchen in the 21st century, what social changes the trend is talking about and what social media users have to do with it — in the Izvestia article.

Aprons on the catwalks

Fashion week has died down in Paris, and aprons turned out to be one of the main topics on the agenda after it. Miuccia Prada made them the main detail of the Miu Miu collection and presented them to the guests of the show in a variety of styling options and methods: with a playful floral print over jumpers, strict and minimalistic, and leather jackets. Milla Jovovich was parading in one of them. However, aprons did not pave the way from the kitchen to the fashionable catwalks today.

— For many centuries in the history of painting, the apron has been associated with work — with those who work with their hands. In addition, aprons were associated with high school girls, with graduates of women's courses, including graduates of the Smolny Institute. But in the 21st century, the apron has lost its direct connection to the workplace. Today, it is made from a variety of materials — for example, lace, as in the spring-summer 2019 collection by Ulyana Sergeenko, which used not only Russian lace, but also cross stitch. You can also see aprons in the domestic Ushatava brand, which shows very beautiful denim aprons," Anatole Vovk, an art critic and fashion historian, told Izvestia.

And here it was not without social networks, in the space of which viral trends are regularly born today — the ones that suddenly bring forgotten tracks to the top of the music charts (there have been many examples in recent years), or aprons to the catwalks.

— A few years ago, the ticktockers began to show that cooking at home is fashionable, that is, cooking on your own has become a trend. Therefore, it is not surprising that the aprons, which were scattered with millions of views on social networks, soon appeared on the catwalks — in the collections of designers such as Marine Serre and Vivienne Westwood. However, the first experiments with this garment could be seen at Hermès and Vêtements. Later, Comme des Garçons, Mugler and Jacquemus joined them,— explained Vovk.

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Returning to the value of home life

The apron is an absolutely universal item due to its dimensionlessness and variability of prints and cuts, which is why, says fashion designer Igor Chapurin, it can be both the main accent in the basic image and part of the now popular multi-layered outfit.

— Designers continue to play with aesthetics, which is why last year we observed the aesthetics of office core, and this year the style of housewives prevails. Throughout its existence, women's fashion has been forced to border between masculinity and femininity. With the advent of social media, my colleagues and I were faced with the task of satisfying the interests of both those who are close to moving up the career ladder (speaking of office core aesthetics) and those who find happiness in everyday life, which is why such a wardrobe item as an apron is becoming a trend," said Igor Chapurin in an interview with Izvestia.

The trend, he said, reflects a broader social shift — a return to the value of domestic life and traditional roles, but through the prism of modern aesthetics and self-expression.

— The new interpretation of the apron becomes not just a utilitarian accessory, but a fashionable element that can be combined with different styles, emphasizing individuality. This allows women to choose for themselves how they want to express themselves, whether through a career or through creating a homely atmosphere. The trend mirrors the complex and multifaceted female identities of today," he added.

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More like a hype

The apron is also applicable to the male image. Izvestia met with fashion expert, TV and radio presenter Vladislav Lisovets. He has had a leather apron in his wardrobe for decades.

— The world is changing, he is looking for something new, but this trick is not new. This leather apron, designed by a Russian designer, shows off. — I've had it for 20 years. I sometimes wear it with a jacket, with a raincoat — the image turns out to be unusual and interesting. When I saw it on the podium just now, I smiled that everything is new, well—forgotten old.

He doubts that Russians will massively adopt aprons as part of their everyday wardrobe.

— This trend will not take root. Especially in Russia, in a country where work clothes have been mandatory for 80 years, which people are tired of. Russian fashion, on the contrary, strives for glamour and elegance. Aprons as an element of casual wear are more of a hype. It looks funny, ironic, but nothing more. You need to be a super stylish person to make it look good, and not throw back 60 years and not turn a person into a worker. There should be a fashionable haircut, an interesting modern bag, and manners," Vladislav Lisovets told Izvestia.

Those who are ready for fashionable experiments are recommended to style an apron, for example, with a jacket and tie. A more feminine option is a monochrome one with a polka dot dress.