As women, we’re usually the carers of the family, being in charge of nutrition and health. But to be honest, cooking didn’t exactly feel all that natural to me. Sure, I could make extra fluffy pancakes with my signature whisk back in the beginning days of the relationship with my now-husband, and make the occasional omelettes, cookies and smoothies, but taking a step beyond these meant forcing myself into an unnatural territory.

More so when having to come up with wholesome meals for little picky eaters. And yet, putting on an apron changed all my views and fears related to cooking and baking. Somehow, the act of physically putting on this cloth helped my brain switch to a cook version of Eliza that I never knew was in me prior to this simple move.

This was some years ago, and now I’m the proud chef of my family, doing everything from preparing hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, to baking my own bread at home. I can say with certainty, this top layer has given me the courage and self-confidence needed to know that I too can be a chef even if I wasn’t aware of all the chemical processes and the right dosage of the ingredients.

So, my advice to you novice wives, mums, or women who always thought of themselves as anything but cooks, is to try and put on a professional chef apron and see how it makes you feel around the kitchen. The trick also lies in having the perfect design so you can be covered in style, hence it’s important to consider some factors when looking through the vast options.

Decide on the Fabric

All the splashes and mess that are typical for the commercial kitchen are present in a residential kitchen too, so you don’t have an excuse not to treat yourself to one of the higher-end designs fit for utmost protection. And of course, the difference lies in the fabric the apron is made from. A cheaper option might help you save a few dollars, but that won’t add to the durability.

A quality chef apron on the other hand offers all the needed protection from the stains, in addition to the colourfastness and ease of cleanliness. All of this you get from the incredible cotton canvas and cotton blends. Denim and leather are two heavy-duty choices that are sure to make a lasting impression.

Now that you know you’re not short of options, still it’s best to keep the purpose in mind to make the best choice. What an expert grillardin may require with protection from splashes from juicy meats and grill grease can differ from what the baker of the house prefers when dealing with flour flying around; one needs the sturdiness of denim and leather, whereas the other could do with cotton and cotton blends.

Check the Style and Colour

Just because the apron is meant for work around the kitchen at home doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish – a woman can look her best all the time with the right accessory! To get more in the mood for food prep and cooking, it takes paying attention to the style and colour too, much like you would with choosing your other clothes and accessories. There’s another reason why you ought to pick the style carefully – that of its role in your comfort.

There are the adjustable aprons for chefs that provide all the needed flexibility with tightening the neck straps to your desired fit and your specific size. Then there’s the smock style that offers full coverage, and the waist apron for half coverage. And, if you want the best of it all, you have a little bit of all these benefits in the cross-back style; the coverage with added flexibility and weight distributed evenly for utmost comfort. To make things fun, involve kiddos in the cooking process too by getting them matching aprons.

Choose the Features

Aesthetics and durability aside, functionality is something that the features can have their part in too. The number of pockets as well as their positioning are two aspects that can significantly influence the usability of the apron for you, so you can’t leave them to chance. You can choose depending on the purpose, as I mentioned, and the number and type of items you plan on carrying along with you.

Room for bottle openers, bottle caps, and muddlers is rather different from the one needed for a smartphone for a check-up of the recipes, and some tools and accessories for the meal prep, cooking, and baking. If you simply can’t find what it is you’re looking for with the exact number and positioning of these features, check to see if some retailers and manufacturers provide the option to have your design customised. This way you’d get the specific model that ticks all the boxes for you, as the family’s chef.