What's the difference between a Pinafore and an Apron?

As I discussed in my previous post on half-aprons, a pinafore typically covers the bodice of a dress, and most of the skirt of the dress. Often it has ruffled straps that criss cross in the back, and attatch to the sides and top of the pinafore front. Pinafores were usually on the dressy side, and often served more as a protection for a dress, even a nice dress, whereas aprons were specifically designed to collect dirt. Pinafores were generally constructed of lighter weight material than aprons, and even well to do girls would wear them to protect their dresses from slight smudges. It was essential that elite girls look fresh at all times and pinafores enabled this. They could be whisked of at a moment's notice, and replaced. Frugal mother's kept a fresh supply on hand at all times.

Whatever happened to Aprons?

Remember back in the June Cleaver days when all of the housewives wore aprons? They were full length ensembles, some so sophisticated that they might as well have been the acutual house dress. Some were frilly,
some were practical, but no matter what the style, they were as much a part of the woman's stay at home garb as hat and gloves were when she stepped out.
Times are simpler now, and women spend less time in the home. Meals are no longer the sumptuous feasts they once were, assuming the family even eats at home. And while women may not slave over their culininary creations as in times past, it still makes one wonder--why don't women protect their clothing anymore?
Understandably, a woman who is rarely in the kitchen won't need as much coverage as the women of lore who slaved and strained over hot greasy platters of food (not to mention the non-kitchen jobs of hand washing and floor waxing). Still it does give one pause to think--isn't some sort of minimalistic protection helpful, in today's modern kitchen? We all know what happens when you lean against a wet sink. (Ah, but there it is--today's modern dishwasher). Women don't get sopping wet like they did in the old days of dish pan hands.
Well, before I go into situation after situation, let me tell you what I discovered. When I was newly pregnant, I found that dresses were the most comfortable way to go. And here's what happened...one day, as I was shredding carrots into the waste basket, I found that my dress actually stopped some of the peelings from hitting the trash can. I was standing upright, however the slight flare of the dress was just enough to stop the peelings from falling straight down. And so it was with many other tasks, as I wore my dresses. Blue jeans never presented this problem, hence articles of debris caught themselves on my clothing.
Another factor is the actual size of the pregnant womans midrift. If carrot peelings were deterred by the slight flair of my dress, how much more so by a growing preborn baby.
Woman of old did hard heavy work, wore dresses, and had babies. And that's why they wore aprons.

What Makes a Vintage Apron a Vintage Apron?

The other day, my friend and I were discussing vintage aprons. It happened as we were perusing a site about vintage clothing. I asked her, "How do you like vintage aprons?" I was startled by her response...
"Aren't all aprons vintage?"
I just looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Come on" she said. "No one wears aprons anymore"
"Some people do."
"Sure, old ladies"
"You mean old fashioned people" I corrected her.
""Yea, whatever...old... old- fashioned..."
"No, I'm telling you," I told her "Some people really do wear them."
"No one our age does"
"Sure they do!"
"Well," she said in I told you so tones..."Do YOU wear an apron?"
"Why of course!" I answered.
She snorted.
"NO, really,it's true."
Her eyes shimmered and shined.
"Show me.." she sneered.
Unbelieving, she opened the designated drawer and squealed incredulously.
"No way!"
"Mmm...Hmmm..." I countered smugly. Panel after panel of half-aprons spilled onto the floor from the overstuffed drawer. She just couldn't believe it! (I didn't have the heart to tell her that I run an apron business;
that would have ruined my point).
"Actually," I teased her, " I can't believe that you don't wear them"

Now, to be fair, I have to admit, my friend was right; I know FOR A FACT that I am the only one in the neighborhood (seriously) who wears them. At least my age. Or that I know. Okay, maybe there are others, but I haven't met them. How about you? Do you have one? Do your friends? Let me know I'm not the only one.