We are back with another runway styling hack today. As a refresher, this is a summer-time series in which two Vogue Runway editors, Laia Garcia-Furtado and José Criales-Unzueta, test straight-off-the-runway trends and figure out how to style them in real life. Our backwards shirt experiment proved fruitful earlier this week—and surprisingly versatile—so we decided to up the ante. Today we’ll try out the apron. Yes, you heard that right. Aprons got a high-fashion makeover when they appeared on the spring 2024 runways everywhere from Hermès and Christian Dior to Ann Demeulemeester. Let’s get cooking, shall we?
José Criales-Unzueta: I have this Duckie Brown apron-esque piece from their spring 2024 collection. It’s basically an apron with sleeves cut in the most billowy of fabrics. It’s one of the most fun pieces I own, but one of the most challenging to style, too. I did my best to style it here but I think it just screams summer holiday rather than every-day attire, so I’ll take it to the beach this weekend. This one’s all on you, LGF.
Laia Garcia-Furtado: I looooved that Duckie Brown collection when I saw it in the showroom. I think a summer holiday fit doesn’t mean it’s a flop, but yeah, I don’t see you wearing this at the office anytime soon.
LGF: Ok, so I bought this vintage cotton and lace apron two years ago after a postpartum TV diet that was made up almost exclusively of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age, but it was the latter that was definitely the catalyst. The “downstairs” crew wear these little striped dresses with their cotton aprons on top and I was so charmed by it, I thought there was a way I could wear it and make it look cute. I think I got it on Etsy and when it arrived I was like, “what was I thinking?” So I put it in a drawer until this moment. My first instinct when confronted with any sort of “strange” piece of clothing is to wear it with a pair of jeans, but I have to say it did not work. It looks like I’m wearing… an apron over a pair of jeans.
JCU: The Gilded Age! Our favorite show. I love this piece and I love a good backstory. I agree re: not jeans, it would definitely give “I was cooking at home and just stepped out to buy something.” I actually like it with jorts, and with black jorts, it gives it some intention. I wonder if it needs a black shoe or a colorful one rather than the matchiness of the white-on-white. The apron itself gives The Row vibes—remember those doilies?—so I feel like there’s something here.
LGF: I think it felt too actual apron-y with the jeans. But it’s funny you bring up it being too matchy-matchy because that’s literally what I went for with the second try when I switched the jorts for my fave Hed Mayner giant cotton shorts and then switched the shoe for my go-to black Mary Janes. I think this works? Like the lace trim of the apron blends with the lace trim of the shorts? I would actually wear this.
JCU: Oh, this eats. I love this. The Hed Mayner shorts are the right vibe because they exist in the same aesthetic space, I think. I think the all-white on top gives it a very “studied” intention, which is what the apron of it all needs, so it makes sense in the outside world. The black shoe with this also works because it grounds it. I think this is the one.
LGF: I’m definitely saving this look. If you see me wearing this during NYFW, well, you’ll probably see me wearing this during NYFW.
JCU: Somebody call Phil Oh!
