Fashion

Apron my word: stylish aprons for Christmas cooks

Style File: And what about alternatives to that fashion perennial – the little black number

Cooking up something stylish in the apron department. File photograph: Getty Images

Deirdre McQuillan's face
Deirdre McQuillan
Sat Dec 23 2017 - 06:00

Apron suits you

While many will be dressing up to the nines flaunting their finery on Christmas Day, spare a thought for those slaving away in the kitchen where festive regalia faces stains and spatters.

Stylish aprons, like the long ones that French waiters wear are hard to find, but one company making the most beautiful linen aprons is Endure and Enrich in Banbridge that elevate the humble kitchen workhorse into something special with brass fittings, one inch thick straps, zigzag stitches for extra strength on corners and a little linnet motif.

Blue linen apron by Enrich and Endure 62 www.enrichandendure.com

They come in super chic shades called carrot, oatmeal, black coffee, lava, acorn, turmeric and turquoise as well as black, grey, navy and bright blue and cost €62. Find them on enrichandendure.com

Alternative to the Little Black Dress

If you’ve steered clear of sequins, studs and glitter during the party season, the failsafe fallback is always the little black dress or ensemble in the added allure of satin or velvet – and velvet is tipped to be a trend for winter 2018.

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Black velour blouse 39,95, satin trousers 49,95, court shoes 89,95, white shirt 39.95. Kimono satin long jackets 69.95, velour trousers 59.95, white shirt 39.95 all from Benetton, St Stephen's Green, Dublin.

Benetton have teamed a black kimono with velour trousers and high heels for a nighttime look or styled with a cutaway top and flares – just add silver jewellery for festive shine.

A big silk deovre velvet wrap by Mel Bradley, silk lined, handpainted and made in Ireland. From Mel Bradley's Gatehouse Gallery Millmount Craft Centre, Drogheda, Co Louth

There is nothing like velvet to catch night-time light and one person who knows how to do it with style is the textile artist Mel Bradley based in Drogheda, Co Louth.

She makes and paints silk devore velvet and her latest collection of luxurious wraps and tops took a lead from the court of Louis the Sun King (a book on Fashion and Versailles has just been published by Flammarion). Well known for her work with John Rocha and Louise Kennedy, Bradley’s large silk wraps like the one featured here are €250, silk tops €375 in the Millmount Craft Centre, Drogheda.