You’re joking, right? Aprons?
Nope, even the venerable Mitsukoshi department store has an extensive apron department. Aprons with ruffles. Aprons with bows. Little black cocktail aprons.
But why?
It wasn’t until I was invited to a friend’s house for a dinner party that I understood. Japanese entertaining has traditionally been done in restaurants, and it’s only recently that it’s become fashionable to throw Western-style dinner parties in one’s mansion apaato. But a Japanese meal is made up of lots of little dishes that must be served freshly made in order to be guest-worthy, so whoever’s doing the cooking (and let’s count on one finger the times out of a hundred that’s the husband) basically never sits down. After each course is served, the hostess disappears into the kitchen to prepare the next one. It’s pointless for the her to buy a new party dress, because all her guests ever see is her, yes, you guessed it, APRON.
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
Aprons are seriously huge among the 20-somethings here in Portland — especially the retro June Cleaver type. I can definitely see why the harried hostess would want to look her best on her way to and from the kitchen.
Really? Aprons are staging some sort of ironic retro comeback in Portlandia? Who knew!