APRON DRESSING

Aprons are worn to preserve clothing when cooking and dining and often thought of as an unglamorous piece of apparel. In the 17th century it was known as a "laisse tout faire." In the 18th century however the apron reached moderate levels of elegance. It was worn as a vehicle for flirtation during this century when aprons were fashioned from silver and gold lace. The name apron was given to the piece of fabric on the front of a skirt or dress that featured a fabric, print or decoration that differed from the rest of the garment. The apron could feature fine embroidery or could be completely plain if the underlying garment was a complicated pattern.