Inside Novembre 18: Story of Aprons by Stephanie LaCava & Luisa Opalesky

Photography Luisa Opalesky
Creative direction Jeanne-Salomé Rochat
Fashion Zoey Radford Scott
Words Stephanie LaCava
Talent Alissa Bennett, Alyssa Reeder, Ari Mamnoon, Cathleen Smith Bresciani, Clement Keats, Kembra Pfahler, Lauren Servideo, Lynne Tillman, Manaure Peñalver, Mac Sharkey, Michel Auder, Ethel Sheffer, Nico Márquez
Fashion assistant Romy Safiyah
Production Hen’s Tooth Productions
Special thanks to Stephanie LaCava, Bacaro Italian Tavern

A cast of downtown artists wear aprons from Stephanie LaCava's personal collection.
All clothing and accessories talents own unless stated.

"I don't remember when I got my first apron.

It was probably when I was very young, part of some costume. I didn't like dolls or playing kitchen, but I loved to dress up and collect things. Over the years, people started to give aprons to me as gifts, like the green check with Give Us this Day cross-stitched at the hem. I also like to buy them from traditional shops such as Spitzenhaus De Giacomi in Zurich. There is no grand statement. I don't really think too much about it. Perhaps I collect them, because I largely failed at being a good domestic example of anything. Lately I have been trying to cook for my athlete sons who eat everything. The bar is low.

It bears mention that punk legend Nina Hagen is one of my favorite apron wearers.

A few years before I was born, she sat down with music journalist Toby Goldstein for a Creem story titled Nina Hagen's Guide to Fascinating Womanhood. The interview was on the occasion of a sold out New York show, and contained her usual, cryptic theatrics.

The German Hagen was known to respond with the English refrain I don't think, when asked inane questions. Whether or not she meant this literally or something was lost in translation doesn't really matter. It was a solid defense to any unwelcome probe. After that night's legendary performance, it was revealed Hagen was pregnant. A nurse's apron was part of the costume that hid her stomach on stage."