Women’s Aprons of the Mid-19th Century

A piece of broad fabric tied around the waist with “strings” constitutes the apron’s most essential form. Sometimes an upper section of fabric above the waistband is supported by a band of fabric around the wearer’s neck, or affixed to the underlying garment by a pin or button. 

This is a reference page with examples of aprons worn by women in the mid-19th century. Images included are from public domain or creative commons sources.

• This is NOT a comprehensive list, nor is it a representative sample. Certain apron types may have been more prevalent than others.
• This page may be updated as additional examples are found.

Pretty and practical throughout every era, aprons are used to protect the clothing of both women and men from dust and grime. Aprons are easier to wash and replace than larger or more complex (and therefore expensive) garments, and can be donned and doffed with relative ease.

Examples of mid-19th century aprons captured in Daguerreotype photography.

All photos used in this post are part of the public domain.

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1840s Aprons

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1850s Aprons

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Date Unknown – Mid 19th Century Aprons

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Learn more about the clothing of ordinary 19th Century Women

Snarky skincare advice for backwoods women [Mid-19th Century Sunbonnets, Part 1]

Romanticized Myth or Pioneering Reality? [Mid-19th Century Sunbonnets, Part 2]

6 Reasons Why This Historic Photo of St. Louis is Amazing [Mid-19th Century Sunbonnets, Part 3]

Dress Fabrics of the 1830’s, 1840’s and 1850’s: A Reference.

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Find more example images in my Pinterest Collections

Much more exists online than what is public domain or creative commons. Check my Pinterest boards. There you’ll find links to additional images that I’ve collected.