12 Stylish Aprons That Have You Covered in the Kitchen

The right apron can be a game changer while you are cooking. Along with protecting your clothes from stains, splatters, and spills, a well-designed apron can help make preparing your meals a little bit easier. "A good apron helps to make everything in the kitchen go smoothly," says Christina Weber, the founder of Studiopatro. "It will keep you covered so you can make a mess and not worry, hold a towel to dry your hands without thinking, and keep your phone, timer, or most-used tool safe and handy. It will become your favorite kitchen companion start to finish."

Whether you invest in an apron with pockets for stashing dishcloths or one with utility loops for hanging utensils (or both!), Weber says the most important thing any home chef can do is choose one that's comfortable to wear. If it's not, you'll never use it. "It's essential that you look forward to putting your apron on," she explains. "It should feel good over lightweight summertime clothing or over a big heavy sweater when you're grilling outside in the winter."

Of course, it doesn't hurt if an apron is stylish enough to wear when you're done cooking, too. "Buy something you feel and look great in," says Chris Hughes, founder of Artifact Aprons. "An apron is part of your wardrobe." Both Hughes and Weber suggest sticking with an apron made of fine, breathable fabrics, like cotton, denim, and linen, that fits close to your body and won't get in the way when you're cooking. "I love an apron that looks great enough to wear from stove to table," Weber says. In the market for a versatile apron that's as fun to wear as it is functional? From storage-savvy styles to denim aprons and beyond, here are 12 of our favorites.