Serious cooks love this apron and it’s a great gift for my mom

If there’s one kitchen gift that everyone could use (besides a good knife), it’s an apron. Yes, they are indeed practical! Professional cooks use them to keep their clothes clean during the chaos of restaurant service, and they’re useful for home cooks dealing with a bubbling pot of red sauce on Spaghetti Wednesdays. Plus, most people don’t have an apron, so this is the perfect gift. My favorite apron to gift is this beauty from Hedley & Bennett that I tested and named the winner in my review.

Why it’s a great gift

I’ll start with an anecdote: I was gifted this airy smocked apron to my mother with the pattern of poppy fields, and not only did her eyes light up as if it was the grandchild she dreamed of, but she also immediately threw it over her head and beamed. She looked adorable, if I do say so myself. She makes a point to tell me, months later, that it’s been a game-changer when she cooks, keeping her clothes spotless and also allowing her to keep her phone in a front pocket to set cooking timers (and text me).

I have a Hedley & Bennett smocked apron myself and named it the winner in my testing for several reasons. Firstly, it is spacious and fits all kinds of bodies. It drapes easily over your clothes and the crossover straps keep it in place without being too tight. It’s also a good length, covering from the top of my chest to my knees on my five-foot-four frame, and keeps splashes of tomato sauce and soup from the hand blender from staining my clothes. Finally, as I mentioned, the two spacious front pockets are ideal for holding a phone, thermometer, sauce spoon, or any other kitchen gadget you want to have on hand. It also comes in a ton of colors and patterns (harissa red is gorgeous) so you can choose the perfect apron for your gift recipient.

Why we are the experts

• Grace Kelly is an editor at Serious Eats.
• She tested 19 aprons and named Hedley & Bennett’s smocked apron as the winner.
• She wears her apron daily.