'Apron' The apron hung down the front of the dress, here worn for decoration by a fashionable lady circa 1580-1600. Made of Linen it would be hand made and hand sown. This finely worked cutwork apron is probably unfinished. It would have had an edging of needle or bobbin lace, and more embroidery in coloured silks may have been intended.
White was common for respectable ladies of the town, but around the house or for working women, coloured cloth was more usual. An apron (or a Napron as it should be more correctly called) was used for all sorts of work; drying hands and dishes, carrying hot or dirty pans, wiping surfaces and utensils etc. For the less well off it might be unbleached and made of wool.
