Author Nora Jane Struthers





Dear Friends,

This early 1940’s dress is by far, the most delicate dress in my closet. The fabric is almost like tiissue paper which makes me hesitant to wear it during a performance, as I might tear it while rocking out.

The pattern is an emerald green and pink floral and the sleeves and collar are handmade lace. It has darling mother of pearl buttons down the front of the breast. With no zipper, this dress slips over the head and snaps down the side with one hook right at the waist.

I found it hanging on a wall all alone in an antique mall in Christiansburg, Virginia and knew it was meant to be mine.

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Read More




Dear Friends,

Michigan in July is a very good thing.

The Bootleggers and I had two very nice shows at night and Saturday afternoon we played an in-store at the famous: Elderly Instruments. I wore this sleek late 1940’s early 1950’s blue-bell linen skirt with a white tee-shirt tucked in. This skirt is such a winner because the material is heavy and so it sways beautiful when walking. It also has a lovely thick band at the waist which means no belt is necessary (perfect for warm weather) and this detail is echoed in the slanting pockets.

Visiting Elderly was something I’ve always wanted to do and getting to perform my first time there was pretty neato.

Thanks for reading friends.

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Read More





Dear Friends,

The woman who owns the amazing vintage store, Vintage Ooollee, in Augusta, Georgia, told me that if on my travels I am ever near Cincinnati, I simply MUST stop at her favorite vintage store, Talk of the Town. Well, on our way home for Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, we just happened to be driving right past Cincinnati and I just happened to remember so to Talk of the Town we went!

This store has a vast selection from the 1920’s on up, is organized by size, and labeled by decade. All of the clothes are in very good condition and I would have liked to take home many more tha I did. I took home the lovely yellow 1940’s. It buttons up the front and has really neato little round pockets and a matching detail on the top.

The wool 1950’s number is totally amazing. I probably should have bought it, but one must curb one’s desires occasionally.

Thanks for reading friends.

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Read More



Dear Friends,

The morning we left for our great journey to Telluride, Colorado, I held up this dress and told the video camera, “This is the dress. That’s all I’m going to say.”

It turns out, it was the dress…the dress that I wore on the main stage in the final round of the band competition when we won. 🙂

It’s a beautiful late 1940’s, pink cotton with a side zipper, triangle cuffs, collar, and neckline, and a row of covered buttons going up the front. This dress is a keeper.

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Read More






Dear Friends,

Our final stop on the Vintage Voyage is Hillsboro Village’s finest recycled and vintage store: Clothing Exchange. Here we found three dresses that fit the bill!

1. Blue and white early 50’s gingham
2. Sea-foam green early 50’s button-up
3. Mauve mid-60’s A-line with matching jacket

(The little pink water-color tulip dress is just too good not to put in this post, though it is not in the contest.)

Don’t forget: Semi-finalists must be present at my CD release show on Wednesday night, 8pm, at The Basement, to be entered to be a finalist; the photo shoot for Her Nashville magazine is Thursday!

Thanks for reading friends.

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Read More