Bib apron
A bib apron is an apron which, in contrast to the so-called half apron , also covers the entire upper body and thus also protects outer clothing such as sweaters or shirts from dirt.
variants
Classic
In the simplest case, a classic bib apron consists of a large piece of textile fabric, which has a loop for the neck at the top of the bib hem and two straps at hip or waist height to tie over normal clothing. These aprons are usually kept simple, ie they are only slightly decorated and usually one color. But sometimes they have pockets.
West apron
In the vest apron, the bib has been replaced by a vest-like attachment; in addition, this type of apron usually only has ribbons at waist height. The vest-like part is almost exclusively buttoned with a fabric strip.
Cocktail apron
The cocktail apron is a particularly elegant and stylish women's apron, which is almost reminiscent of a dress and is often lavishly decorated with embroidery, frills, lace, etc. A cocktail apron is sometimes tied crosswise in the back and then has no neck support, but shoulder straps.
use
Workwear
Waitresses sometimes wear cocktail aprons in cafés , as a simple serving apron only covers the waist or hips and therefore offers little protection if food gets on clothing. When wearing a bib apron, however, the rest of the clothing stays clean and only the apron has to be changed afterwards. The use of cocktail aprons is considered elegant and chic. Because of the better protection of the clothes, the salespeople behind the counter sometimes also wear bib aprons, but rather simpler models.
Sometimes, bib aprons (typically black) are also worn by cooks or bakers. But this is rarely the case; instead of an apron, they usually wear a special jacket.
Butchers wear plastic bib aprons because blood splatters cannot adhere to them and cannot easily be removed from textile fabrics, and there is also the risk that the blood will migrate through other textiles. This would be possible when wearing fabric aprons and would thus impair the actual protective function.
From florists predominantly green Latzschürzen be worn because the chlorophyll in the leaves of plants Green dirty textiles less obvious than, say, white clothes. If the apron is also water-repellent, you can protect the clothing underneath from soil and moisture.
Hairdressers , too , often wear bib aprons when dyeing hair. This is because the hair color is almost impossible to remove from clothing as it is waterproof so that it is not washed out when you wash your hair.
household
Bib aprons (mostly made of cotton, these are light and breathable) are worn especially when cooking, as the risk of soiling the rest of your clothing is lower than with a half apron. When cleaning or washing the dishes, bib aprons coated with plastic are recommended as they are water-repellent. Bib aprons, which are made entirely of plastic, are not necessary in the household because these models are heavier and the thin plastic layer is sufficient for a water-repellent effect.
Gardening
When gardening, you can basically use the aprons that florists wear when working: They should be kept in green if possible, because chlorophyll is hardly noticeable on green material, and a water-repellent material to protect against soil and water would be recommended.
Bib aprons made of leather are recommended when working with wood , because these are robust and wood splinters cannot get through the leather into other clothing. A problem that affects all items of clothing and objects made of leather: Leather can easily become brittle and must therefore be cared for carefully. What speaks in favor of leather, however, is the air permeability, so you don't sweat that much.
Artistic activities
When making pottery you should use bib aprons that are coated with plastic (i.e. exactly those that are recommended for house cleaning, see above ), because the damp clay cannot migrate through the plastic and thus the clothing is optimal against water and clay stains protected. Such bib aprons can also be used when painting if you don't have a smock at hand, and the plastic layer also ensures that paint cannot get onto the rest of your clothing. When working with textile or poster colors, you should wear such an apron even if you have a smock, because these colors are very difficult to remove from the fabric.
Everyday clothes
In some families today, too, small children are put on bib aprons before they eat food, especially if they cannot yet eat properly and a simple bib should not be enough to protect the rest of their clothing. It is rare for children to still wear aprons as normal everyday clothing these days, but it used to be quite common for girls to wear bib aprons over their outerwear so that the items of clothing did not get soiled easily when playing and romping, as washing was still very laborious and time-consuming . Aprons of all kinds were also part of girls' school clothes.
Advantages and disadvantages of a bib apron
advantages
- Better protection than a half-apron (already indicated several times)
- Fits better to clothing because the neck loop or cross tie prevents it from slipping
disadvantage
- Donning and doffing can take more time, especially when tying crosswise
- If the neck loop consists of 2 separate straps, tying it together is tedious and may require help
Trivia
- A young lady with a black blouse, black dress and decorated white bib apron is the typical cliché for a maid.
