We are back today with another runway styling hack. As a refresher, this is a summertime 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 backward-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?
Photo: Courtesy of José Criales-Unzueta & Laia Garcia-Furtado
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 everyday attire, so I’ll take it to the beach this weekend. This one’s all on you, Garcia-Furtado.
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.
Photo: Courtesy of Laia Garcia-Furtado & José Criales-Unzueta
Garcia-Furtado: Okay, 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 wears these little striped dresses with their cotton aprons on top, and I was so charmed by it that 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 quote-unquote 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.
Criales-Unzueta: 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 matchy-ness of the white on white. The apron itself gives The Row vibes—remember those doilies?—so I feel like there’s something here.
