Dear Friends,
This beautiful hand-made 1940’s house dress belonged to a woman named Nora, the great-grandmother of a good friend of mine, Ms. Macon Gurley. Nora lived in north-eastern Virginia and she was a darn good seamstress with impeccable taste in fabric. This is a wrap dress featuring a side tie, collar, and pocket. Primary colored flowers pop out on a teal and white stripe backdrop.
Thanks Nora! And thanks for reading friends.
Best, Nora Jane
Dear Friends,
Sequins! Sequins! Sequins! I can’t believe it took me this long to put them on stage. They shine in the lights; they make a girl feel like a star! This top was a Christmas gift and man oh man have I been getting good use out of it. I pair it with this black cotton 1950’s pleated skirt that I hemmed myself (more on that in a later post). Add black high-healed mary janes and we’re in showbiz baby.
Thanks for reading friends!
All my best,
Nora Jane
Dear Friends,
This dress is one of my most unique. It is handmade (no tags) and the material appears to be fabric from a sugar sack…well a sack of some kind– I just guessed sugar as the print is all scenes from and names of islands in the Caribbean. It has elbow length sleeves a knee length hem. I definitely would guess this was made and worn somewhere in the south during the great depression.
It is a small piece of history. I’d love to know it’s full story.
Thanks for reading friends!
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
Dear Friends,
Now I know what you’re thinking…I’ve lost it. But hey, hear me out! This skirt may be from the 70’s but I am wearing it to fit my 1950’s aesthetic. I also love the print. Paired with my pin-up wedges and a lacy top, it evokes fifties right?
I bought it at one of my favorite vintage stores: Talk of the Town just outside of Cincinnati.
Thanks for reading friends!
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
Dear Friends,
This darling, zip up the front, 1950’s number is one I have had for a while. {I wore it in my music video for my song Willie.} The fabric is almost like a thin canvas, or a thick linen and the dress features two large pockets with strawberry appliques as well as a front tie at the waist. I bought it for $25 at a vintage store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn when I was living in NYC and teaching at a high school in the neighborhood.
I think of it as a summer staple, but last month, my band-mate Todd Grebe, was playing Music City Roots with his Honky-Tonk band and I needed something to wear. So, I gave it a little fall flare by pairing it with pearls and riding boots. It was a surprisingly cool night and threatening rain so I tucked a little blue and white polka-dotted hanky in my pocket and grabbed my trench coat and headed out to the show…(Which was fantastic!)
Click here to check out Todd’s Music
Click here to check out Music City Roots
(My band Bearfoot is playing here on Nov. 2nd!)
Thanks for reading friends!
Sincerely,
Nora Jane
