Let's talk *apron-accessories* for posh 40s frocks... weird, I know...

M

mercyonthesubway

Registered Guest
Let\'s talk *apron-accessories* for posh 40s frocks... weird, I know...

I've noticed this in one or two dresses I've had, particularly those designed by the new female leisure-wear cohort of the 40s-50s. So, okay, this Louella Ballerino set I just sold had a funny tie/edged accessory which you could see either as a shaped shawl/headscarf, or as an apron..

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So, okay, that cuts it as a multi-use accessory, right? Somewhat like this early Foreman label Tina Leser I bought from Candy and which is still in my collection, which has an extra accessory which has been reshaped (from what I don't know) by an owner into a semi-side-shawl of some kind:

earlyforemanfull2.jpg


Now, both of those are summery and folky, so that kind of thing fits.

What I have here, though, is a dress with another accessory, which is *definitely* a faux apron, and nothing else. It doesn't attach to the skirt. It's completely separate. It hangs off a belt and buttons at the back. It's lace with sequins and matches the neck flounce. Kind of Handmaid-Glitz...?

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Has anyone else had anything comparable? this velvet number has the late 40s Leser Foreman label in it. I'd be really interested in any catalogue images or similar...

L
 
A-*ha* Hollis, I'd never seen that Mainbocher design, that's really interesting. 'glamourbelt'?, but isn't it interesting that it's a visual play on something domestic? Do you know if there's any history in the 18th or 19th centuries of seriously glamming up the apron, to something with an un-apronlike function?

I can see how it might appeal to Leser and McCardell, with their playing with traditional or folksy forms, but this high glamour register is really interesting...

Thanks so much for these insights! It's making me aware of context I didn't know about.

L
 
Oh yes - there were beautiful apons in the 18th C that were amazing embroidered silk pieces. And again in the 1890s formal tea aprons were in vogue that were very ornate and fine and were worn by the hostess for afternoon tea to protect her dress when serving. The ones I have seen were silk.

Hollis
 
I've seen these featured in wartime fashion magazines - two looks for the cost and fabric of one.

And so many women where wearing aprons during the day (as nurses, other wartime work) that maybe they just got so used to wearing them...
 
hmmm, so maybe a mixture of the omnipresence through work, a continuation of that wartime work ethic-sentiment, and a little bit of New Look extra-vintage inspiration?

It's fascinating. One of those things that reminds you again that something as relatively simple as a wearable vintage dress is still an anthropological puzzle that sent out different signals at the time.

L
 
My mom's (full length, slipper satin) wedding dress from 1950 had a lace apron on the front. I think it was just an odd little trend.
 
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