EDITORIAL My Mom always wore an apron. I remember her coming home after working 9-5 at the Farmer's Bank. She didn't slow down. She didn't change clothes. She threw on her apron over her bank uniform. I loved the navy blue outfit with the satin pinstripe blouse with a sewn-in necktie bow. And the thin matching vest. And the perfectly fitted A-line skirt. Probably polyester, but you would never know the way she wore it. It didn't seem hot or scratchy. Let's not forget her L'eggs stockings and high heels. My Mom was the coolest. And when she and her friends would
PAULETTE WOOTEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
drink Tab. Hello, next-level woman! I only dreamed I could grow up and be like her. Her elegance and ease topped with the humble apron is the essence of who she was, serving love
This issue is like apron strings tying together Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo with food,
and the best of the best Southern dishes.
music, and hospitality. The string of stories
I'm obsessed with aprons. I've been collecting
writers, chefs, songwriters, artists, creators,
them for years. Mine are not as flowery, flowy, or as feminine as my mom's, and they don't cover polyester business suits, but they are part of my daily wardrobe. Sure their primary function is to protect my clothes, especially when cooking with turmeric, but mainly, they make me happy. Like I think Mr. Rogers was happy with the habit of changing his shoes and sweater. It's comforting. It's routine—a ritual. When my apron gets dirty, I'm doing my job, and my day feels complete. Putting on an apron is like going into the closet and finding yourself in Narnia. I thrive on rubbing sticky BBQ sauce, splattering spices, and smudging marinades on my trusted friendly apron, leaving my mark of the day. It feels like being a crazy artist in the studio. Aprons are pieces of art, archiving the day.
and features of women business owners, and makers from across the South, linking us all together in the common ground of the southern kitchen. I'm excited to introduce Twin Denim Co in Asheville, North Carolina. We met first through Instagram. We became immediate fans when we saw their imaginative and clever combination of denim, fabrics, stitching, and designs. Not only are these sisters true artisans, but they are infectious and darling, incredible humans. I'm wearing one of their custom selvedge aprons on the cover. And, of course, I have added their brand to my apron collection.
