Women pictured in aprons in the 1940s-50s were often portrayed as a domestic goddess - synonymous with home, family, hospitality and generosity. Often times these aprons had feminine detailing.
At about this same time, special masculine aprons appeared for the man of the house, the master of the grill.
Today, aprons have become increasingly a branding tool. It is popular to add embroidery or screen printing of company logos onto the aprons or by having staff wear aprons that reflect and complement the environment of the business, whether it be a cafe, restaurant, florist, beauty salon, hairdresser, the list goes on.