Liberated by the Apron.

For years I have struggled as a clumsy house wife to keep my clothes clean. It doesn't matter what I am doing during the day my shirts always end up filthy by the end of the day. I have a tried several things to remedy the stains on my clothes, everything from Harsh chemicals, soaking, pre-treating, only wearing black. I am sure you get the picture. Every day I dig through my drawer of casual clothes to find everything from paint, grease, and mystery stains on my shirts.
Yet, one idea was put into my head more than 2 years ago to save my clothes. A friend of mine and artist told me I should just buy an apron. First, the truly liberal,woman power part of me said..what next "Corsets". At that moment I looked at the 1950's images in my head of that happy housewife in a corset, dress, and apron, thinking NO way am I taking women back that far. Like everything else though, the women of generations past knew things about home care that far escape most all of the Women in my generation today. So in trying to be neater over the past few years, avoiding the "apron", I am ruined more than 2 dozen t-shirts, and countless "blouses." I doubt June Cleaver ever ruined a nice frock while wearing her favorite apron.
Yesterday though my frustration with stained shirts came to a boil. My college team had finally won after a three game losing streak. They also played extremely well, and dominated the game. I was wearing my college T-shirt and really wanted to go out in public with it, but I couldn't. From the elbows down, this shirt has everything from Spaghetti stains, grease stains, and some weird brown stains. I have used Oxyclean, Clorox Bleach, and just plain pre-treating it with detergent to get this shirt clean. Yet this shirt is stained for good. I told myself that I was buying myself an apron and it would be soon!
After all like every person in America I have a right to clean, stain free shirts. I have a right to have as many as I deem necessary. I however shouldn't have to dig through my drawer to find a shirt with the least stains, or skipping over a stain free shirt in fear of it getting stained. I deserve a way to keep my clothing neat. Apron shopping would need to be done but not without some rules and ideas first. The market place, had far advanced since 1950, aprons weren't frilly and feminine anymore. While we are at it lets be honest, I am not a lace, and ribbon type of woman, and I am not plain either. I like things with Character and charm. I wanted an apron that was like me. I knew that wouldn't be easy, and I knew I had need to have a will to where it. Basically if it was to frilly or boring, I'd just wear my old shirts and keep plugging a long.
Last night I bought my apron at the discount store Ross. I was so happy to see all of the different styles, and they were full length. I picked through them until I found one that matched my Kitchen, and Matched my style. I have a coffee house type feel happening in my kitchen and so I bought an apron that appeared to be a sack of coffee beans. One of my concerns with aprons was the length. I am pretty short, so having an adjustable neck was important. That was one feature I couldn't ignore in favor of saving a few dollars. What good would an Apron do it if was dragging the ground?
Do I think I have sent woman kind back in time to a more oppressive life? Hardly. If anything I have liberated myself and my budget. I no longer have to be sad after a day in kitchen that I ruined yet another perfectly fine shirt, I no longer have to spend money on new shirts every couple of weeks. My $6 investment will pay for it self in every single shirt that I save.
Now what to do with all of my old stained shirts....well that will be in my next blog as they are good for more than the trash.

For all of the women out their who have suffered the sadness of ruining a good shirt, go buy yourself an apron. Get one that is just like you, there's thousands of opens, no longer does it have to be frilly, or even say "Kiss the Cook."
What to look for
- One with Personality, you will be wearing it often so it may as well be fun and it can double as a kitchen accessory.
-Full Length
-Adjustable neck strap, so you can adjust the length for your Height
-Sturdy Fabric, so that food coloring, and grease cannot seep through to your clothes
- Easy to wash.