Author Nora Jane Struthers

Brooklyn Vintage: Part I

by Nora Jane Struthers in vintage Shopping, Vintage Voyage


Dear Friends,

My sister, Abby, is having a baby girl! Last weekend PJ and I traveled to New Jersey for her baby shower and, since we were making the big trip anyway, decided to go a few days early to catch up with friends in New York City and visit the Brooklyn vintage stores I used to frequent when I was a New Yorker.
We went into New York on Thursday afternoon and made a brief stop at the David Gage Bass Shop in Soho/Chinatown where PJ and I were awed by some truly magnificent instruments and some very kind service.

Then we headed to Williamsburg, Brooklyn—Vise-Versa on Bedford was our first stop. Unlike many vintage stores in Manhattan, Vise-Versa keeps it’s prices fairly low (dresses stay around the 15-25 dollar range and shirts and skirts are almost always $15 or less.) While I was hunting through the dress racks, one of my old students, Mario, came over and said hello. I’d not forgotten that his parents own the store, but he looked so grown-up that I didn’t recognize him.

I didn’t find any dresses that were perfect for me this time, but in the past, I’ve purchased some real winners that have become go-to performance wear. I did find a non-vintage item with a vintage aesthetic—a blue and white gingham button down made by H&M—that was marked at $7, but Mario insisted that I just take it. Thanks Mario! PJ found a rockin’ black western shirt with white fringe. Oh yeah.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

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Floral Frock for Florida

by Nora Jane Struthers in 1950's by way of 1970's, Vintage Fashion Blog





Dear Friends,

PJ and I just returned home to Nashville from our first ever Duo Tour! We played live on Tampa’s radio station WMNF. We also played four house concerts and one bar show. It was big fun and a big success.

One of our shows was in San Antonio, Florida (I bet you were thinking Texas!) at The Garage Mahal, a lovely house concert series hosted by Rochelle and Norman Morris (pictured above).

Rochelle and I share a love of vintage clothing (as well as shoes, jewelry, belts, and other such trinkets.) For this show I decided to wear a vintage floral skirt that was actually mailed to me by Andrea Martin, a lovely woman in Tulsa, Oklahoma who hosted a house concert for my band back in November. She too has a passion for vintage clothing and asked me, via a very sweet email, if I would mind if she sent me clothes!! Can you believe that? Anyhow, Andrea sent me this cheery skirt and our show at The Garage Mahal was it’s debut on stage.

I paired the skirt with an aqua top and a hot pink cardigan and tied it all together with my trust brown woven belt and ballet flats.

What a colorful outfit! It made me happy just wearing it.

The show was so fun. Thank you Rochelle and Norman!

And thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

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Western Wear with Carolyn Martin

by Nora Jane Struthers in Western Wear


Dear Friends,

If you like Western Wear and Western Swing, Nashville is a good place to be.

Last week I was honored to get up on stage and sing with the amazing swing singer Caroyln Martin at her CD release Party at The Station Inn. Her new album, Cooking with Carolyn, is chalk-full of great songs, amazing players, and is just darn good. I was lucky enough to be involved in the project in two ways: Carolyn and I wrote a song especially for the album–a sexy, bluesy number we titled “Skillet Blues”–and Carolyn asked me to sing a harmony part on a great old song, “Yodel Blues”.

The album is great and the show was amazing! Great job Carolyn!

As you know, as the front woman of “Nora Jane Struthers & Her Band” I perform exclusively in vintage dresses (or the occasional skirt and top combo), but for this special occasion I decided Western Wear was more appropriate. When I arrived and saw Carolyn’s beautifully embroidered jacket I knew I made the right choice.

This shirt was a gift from my mom and dad years ago; they got it on a trip to New Mexico and brought it back to New York City for me. I had never worn it until Carolyn’s show. It has beautiful rainbow embroidery and snaps up the front and at the wrist.

Thanks mom and dad and Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

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Vintage Tampa

by Nora Jane Struthers in Vintage Voyage




Dear Friends,

It’s hard for a girl like me to walk out of a store that has dozens of beautifully preserved vintage dresses empty handed, but it happened yesterday!

La France is a very nice store in Ybor Village, a neighborhood in Tampa, FL. They have a wide selection of apparel from the 1920’s – 1960’s and they even have some brand new dresses modeled after vintage fashions. (This is nice because they are available in different sizes.) They are priced a bit steeper then I like to spring for, so I held myself back. Besides, half the fun is finding the perfect dress at the perfect price.

Hopefully I’ll find a perfect one soon. 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

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Solution for next winter’s Vintage Dress Blog: Vintage Baby Dresses!!!

by Nora Jane Struthers in Uncategorized






Dear Friends,

Winter is tough on a Vintage Dress Wear-er… I’d like to chalk my long absence on the virtual clothes rack up to several things:

#1: It’s been very cold.
#2: There’s been a lot of snow in the places to which I’ve been traveling.
#3: It’s been quiet cold.

But never fear dear Vintage Aficionados! I’ve happened upon a solution.

VINTAGE BABY DRESSES

I don’t have to be cold if I’m blogging about tiny vintage dresses 🙂

My sister is having a baby girl, due June 18th, and when I happened upon this charming home-made vintage blue and white polka dot (you know how much I love polka dots) dress, all I had to hear from the sales woman was “$5” before making it my future niece’s first day-dress.

I especially like the white muslin collar.

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

P.S. I’m heading to Florida on tour this week so hopefully warm weather and dresses are in my future!

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