Author Nora Jane Struthers

Mystery Vintage found in Lawrence, KS

by Nora Jane Struthers in 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, Vintage Fashion Blog

Dear Friends,

I bought this charming wrap-dress last week at an antique mall on Massachusetts Ave. in Lawrence, Kansas– which happens to be one of my all-time favorite vintage shopping towns! This dress is so soft. Seriously- it’s crazy soft. The top is red with small white polka dots and the skirt is a unique purple color featuring two roomy pockets each trimmed with the red and white polka dot material. The beauty of a wrap dress is that, if it fits at all, it always fits perfectly.

The mystery of this dress is, I cannot figure from what decade it hails! The fabric and the wrap style would point to the 1940’s but hemline may be too short for that era. The fit evokes sixties, but the buttons are reminiscent of the early 50’s. Can you help me solve the mystery?

Addition clues:
-ruffle around collar
-white buttons up the front bodice
-one white button fastening the top if the back
-the fabric is thin, made of natural fibers- cotton, I believe

Alright friends! Let me know your best guess!

Best,
Nora Jane

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NPR Music – Country Music’s Year of the Woman

by Nora Jane Struthers in News

Ann Powers’ includes Nora Jane in this NPR Music feature article discussing the new wave of female country artists!

She writes, “So it makes sense that halfway through 2013, I can easily make a Year’s Best list comprising the following albums: Same Trailer, Different Park; Like A Rose, by Pistol Annies member Ashley Monroe; Annie Up, the second album from that group itself; The Highway, the first independent release from Hank Williams’ granddaughter, Holly Williams; Spitfire, the emotionally unrelenting comeback album by LeeAnn Rimes; American Kid, by Americana veteran Griffin; The Stand-In, by a relative newcomer in the same field, Caitlin Rose; Love and Forgiveness, by Dusty Springfield’s spiritual daughter, Courtney Jaye; Carnival, by the quietly brilliant Nora Jane Struthers — just one of several younger women making major waves in bluegrass; Pioneer, by the ever more rocking The Band Perry; and yes, those two volumes of soundtrack from the series Nashville.”

Nora Jane’s thoughts on this:What an honor to be included in this talented group of women!  Woah!!!

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NPR Music Feature – 5 Musicians Who Make Borrowing Sound Original

by Nora Jane Struthers in News

Ann Powers, for NPR Music, includes Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line in a small group of musicians, spanning several genres, who she identifies as successfully borrowing sound to create something original.  Here’s what she writes about NJS & TPL:

Nora Jane Struthers makes bluegrass music that reminds us of how contemporary that strain of country music was when it emerged in the mid-twentieth century. The Nashville-based Struthers and her band, The Party Line, display an easy camaraderie that leaves room for virtuoso turns without ever letting their songs be consumed by showoff picking. What really makes Struthers special, however, is her songwriting. On her third album , released in March, Struthers — who grew up in New Jersey and has a from NYU — employs the high lonesome bluegrass sound to tell stories of adventure with a subtle feminist twist. Along with Sara Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan and Abigail Washburn, Struthers is an upstart spiritual daughter of Alison Krauss, creating a space within the competitive fraternity of bluegrass for women’s stories and women’s virtuosity.Screen Shot 2013-06-04 at 10.57.45 AM

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