The idea of an apron might seem rather quaint to some of us, bringing to mind black and white images of women pulling cookies from gleaming new ovens. But for a simple piece of clothing, an apron can really come in quite handy! Do you wear one while cooking?
Aside from keeping our bodies protected and our clothes (mostly) free of food, aprons are useful for drying hands, opening jars, and wiping up a quick spill. They also come in handy when the oven mitts have all mysteriously disappeared and you need to grab something from the oven!
Of course, we usually remember to don our apron right after we've wiped floury hands on our jeans or splashed soup on ourselves!
What about you?
Related: Kitchen Color: Tea Towels and Aprons from Skinny LaMinx
(Image: Flickr member skvidal licensed under Creative Commons)
Elizabeth Apron fro...

I do, when I remember. I just got one for my birthday that says "It's all fun and games, until it ends up on Cake Wrecks."
I almost always wear an apron, especially when baking. I really love aprons that have pockets on the front.
I should really wear one more often and stop getting oil splatters on my clothes!
Oh yes, nearly always. And I tuck a dishtowel into the pocket.
Nope, I don't wear one at all. Maybe if I had one, I would? But I seem to do fine without yet.
Correction: without it*
I wear aprons all the time. I am not the neatest cook...(or dishwasher, etc) and aprons keep my clothes from being completely ruined. I have a few I've bought, but being crafty, I usually make the myself so they're pretty too.
I wear an apron almost every night. I am a very messy cook.
I always wear an apron when I cook. I feel like I'm not really in cooking mode until it goes on. It's one of those full-length jobbies (like in the photo) and it's not pretty (especially after several years of hand-wiping and grease-splatters), but it does the trick.
I have to have an apron on when I cook. It just doesn't feel like cooking without it - we must be on the same wavelength, Michelle of Montreal! The one I wear most frequently was given to me by my mother, and it was a wedding present that she never really put to use. It's a green and white striped 70s glam Marimekko number that thanks to me, isn't in the cleanest of conditions any more. But it IS well loved!
None of my clothes are fancy enough to warrant an apron for cooking. I see so many cute aprons though that I sort of want one.
I have one (and it's very cute!), but never wear it... I always forget because it's kept in a drawer. Outta sight, outta mind I guess.
I usually just tuck a dishtowel into the neck of my shirt. It's not a really attractive look, but it keeps most of the grease spatters off of my clothes. Most.
I don't have one, but I really really want one.
I'm with UptownGirl...don't have one, really want one. I've been hinting to my boyfriend for a couple months that I want one. Maybe for Christmas :)
I have one I got when I worked at a sandwich shop. It really makes me feel business-like when I put it on and I nearly always wear it. I have a bad habit of wiping my hands on my front so it's best if there's an apron between them and my clothes.
I only wear an apron if I'm wearing something nice I want to keep clean--usually, right before parties. Which of course leads to me spending half the party wearing an apron, having forgotten to take it off. But normally I'm wearing my around-the-house t-shirts and shorts or sweats to cook in, and I don't bother.
Most often I wear a light cotton apron I bought at Cost Plus on clearance. I like the lightweight fabric because it doesn't feel like a heavy arm-less coat hanging off my neck.
My mother bought me a monogrammed, heavyweight cotton apron from Williams-Sonoma that I will wear when cooking with oil or candy making.
I dropped hints to my mom until she made me one for Christmas a few years ago - my clothes would be destroyed if I cooked without it!
I have an apron and remember to wear it pretty often, especially if I'm cooking something messy or more complex. However, I'm kind of a klutz so I often splatter on my sleeves, where the apron doesn't help. I think I need more of a kitchen smock...
I almost always do. I had a vintage one for the longest time but after a while the material was so old that I couldn't wash it anymore, it would tear up. Then I made one myself with a pocket in the front so I can keep my cell phone and a pencil there. It's really useful.
Funny, I just asked for an apron for Christmas due to many ruined outfits!
I never wear one, but usually I'm cooking in jeans. If I happen to want to look nice before we sit down to eat (like if we have guests), I'll just change right before everyone arrives. I'm much more likely to get my clothes stained DURING dinner while I slosh red wine around and enjoy the conversation. :)
I have an apron that was my great-grandmother's. I love the fact that it has no tie, it just slips over your head and arms and has two nice pockets in the front. The fabric is getting so thin it's starting to wear through in places and I'm terrified I'm going to tear it. I need to take it apart so I can use the pattern to make more.
I also tend to stuff a dishtowel into my waistband or pants pocket for spill clean up. :)
I use to - but need a new apron. My daughters have several smaller ones and love wearing theirs while they cook.
heck yeah, i don't have time to do laundry constantly.
I absolutely do! I have a very fun one that I made with vintage "marrimeko-esque" fabric. It has a big pocket in the front so it keeps my clothing clean and holds thing.
i have a bad habit of cooking right when i get home from work, without changing first, risking spatters on my office clothes. so yes, i wear an apron, when i remember!
aprons are sexy.
I love my apron, though I often forget to wear it... sometimes start cooking on impulse then it becomes a frenzy and by the time I remember, i'm already in knee deep
I can't believe nobody else gushed about this....
oh well, I guess I'll do it anyway.
I so want a fancy-fancy apron from anthropologie... I look at them every time I'm there but never spend the $25.
I fantasize about myself as perfect wife, in one of these... with red lipstick (never wear), red stilettos (own, but ouch), and potholder (how glamorous), pulling out something fantastic from the oven.
Somehow I don't think this was what this post was about.
I don't own one and I don't think I've ever worn one, except when I waited on tables way back.
Not as often as I should.
Mine is from New Orleans, and says, "Don't make me poison your food."
I rarely cook or clean in my kitchen without wearing an apron. I love them!
Always! I love mine. I never used one before and then I fell in love with this one on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18394063. Now I covet pretty much every apron that seller has ever made.
I wear one when I'm wearing clothes I want to protect from potential disasters, which is most of the time.
I always wear an apron. Just couldn't function without it. My favorite is my black "Iron Chef" apron from my husband. I also tuck a dish towel in the pocket.
When i left Sur La Table I took my apron with me - the old hefty green ones they discontinued last year. I can't stand the horrible cheap brown things they have to wear now.
I use it half the time - usually if I'm doing something big. But if it's just a sandwich or a quick pasta I won't bother.
Don't have one, really want one of the Anthropoligie aprons. The problem is, the Anthro ones are nicer than the sweats I wear when cooking, so it's hard to justify it to myself.
Almost always, but also usually after I've already spilled something on myself. I have a couple of really cute aprons so that even if I forget to take it off after cooking dinner I don't feel like a total dork!
Yes; when I'm cooking or baking something that might splatter. Saves the extra steps on laundry.
I use a vinyl/oilcloth apron when I wash dishes or I end up with my shirt wet in the gut area. I don't use it for cooking - afraid it may melt if I get too close to the stove/oven.
I don't wear an apron because I don't have any. If I had a pretty one I'd probably wear it.
I need one.
Got some fleece tops for wearing around the house. Fleece and flour don't mix. Just saying.
I don't wear one, I tend to change into comfortable pants and a t-shirt when I get home so they can handle any splatter they get, when I am cooking for others I tend to just get changed into whatever I am going to wear that evening after the messy parts are done.
I always wear an apron because I'm a total slob. It's way easier to wash an apron than to try to get a stain out of a favorite blouse.
I love wearing an apron, especially a cute one. Often they are nicer than the clothes I am wearing, but it somehow makes me feel like a better/more serious cook!
PS, my favorite apron comes from a cute girl who makes and sells them at our local farmers market. She also sells on etsy, though her stock seems to be limited to children's items right now (her oilcloth bibs and kid's smocks are adorable!):
www.victoriawhiteco.etsy.com
Never cook WITHOUT an apron!! My husband and I both wear one whenever doing ANYTHING food related and also for washing dishes. I am messy...
I was a reading volunteer for my child's third grade and they gave me an apron all the student's signed. I wear it for special ocassion cooking.
but I wasn't paying attention to the ' lesson
No, I do not wear an apron. I also don't own one! hehe
But I would probably wear an apron if it was a really pretty one that I liked and if I cooked messy and time-intensive dishes regularly.
Yup, almost always. I like having somewhere to dust off my hands.
Always. I have four of them hanging on a hook and use them religiously.
I love aprons and love making them. One of my favorites has a tool belt type waist. So convenient!