Overdressed

Dear Friends,

I am at the 77th Annual Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Galax, Virginia camping with my dad and PJ and many of my best friends. While visiting with dear friends Johnny & Mary, Mary told me she had brought one of her mother's dresses from the 50's with her to show me. So tried it on and my oh my, what a beautiful garment! She told me I need to take it home with me. Thank you so much Mary!

I did feel a little overdressed next to the mallard camper....

Thanks for reading friends!
Nora Jane

New Red Sequin Top + 50's Black Pleated Skirt = Perfect Stage Attire

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

Zip Me Up!

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

Mooka Laka HeHe...Come on You Wanna... 1950's Hawiian Print Skirt!

Dear Friends,

I had been coveting this skirt since my Vintage Voyage extravaganza before I released my solo album in June 2010. It hung on the rack at Fanny's House of Music for an entire year and I finally decided, the day before my band Bearfoot played at the world famous Station Inn, that I'd waited long enough and it was destined to be mine.

I am so happy I finally broke down and got it! Circa 1950, the print is just amazing. It looks like watercolors and features hula girls, canoes, palm trees, swimmers on a beach and so much more! They just don't make prints like this anymore.


Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Red is Best

Dear friends,

You may recognize this red late-50's number from my first music video for the song "One Notch Tighter"...if you don't recognize it from that you can find the video on youtube here: One Notch Tighter :)

Anyway, I made that video over a year ago and I don't think I'd worn the dress since...that is...until Bearfoot's show in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I recently decided that for performing on a stage, red is absolutely the best color, so I have started both searching for beautiful red dresses on my vintage shopping excursions and utilizing the red dresses I already own.

The fabric of this dress is a neat texture; it sort of reminds me of a muslin Indian scarf. There is a broach-like fabric design on the chest and the best part?...there is a muff-like pocket in the front--it's like a pouch. (you can sort of see it in the third photo.) I feel rather kangaroo-ish when wearing it. :)

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Photo Shoot with The Bootleggers

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to present some of the photos from our recent photo-shoot with Scott Simontacchi in Goodlettesville, TN. I am wearing a 1950's red paisley number with a beautiful full-skirt and open neck-line. I think The Bootleggers are looking awfully classy.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Red Holiday Stunner

Dear Friends,

This beautiful 50's, full skirt, red Holiday number is so charming that I wish I could wear in every season, but it seems to have maximum impact in the autumn and winter months. Here I pair it with a white sparkly-beaded sweater of the same vintage and a brand new pair of Beautifeel shoes (more on the shoes to follow).

The dress is made of a heavy paisley printed red fabric and features a dramatic semi-circle neckline and full skirt.

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

A 1950's Audience

Dear Friends,

At our show in Tulsa, OK, the audience took it upon themselves to dress the part donning 1950's cocktail dresses, fedoras, skinny ties and vests. What a good looking crowd!

I wore a dress that I received in the mail...yes that's right, I am now acquiring vintage via USPS. After playing in Tulsa last year, the hostess of this house concert series, Andrea, sent me a package containing a Hawaiian Print Skirt, 50's beaded sweater, earrings, a necklace, and this gorgeous 50's cocktail dress...all of which fit perfectly! I love the deep V neckline, sexy red floral print, and bell-shaped skirt.

Should anyone out there have a vintage piece that they would like to donate to the Nora Jane Performance Closet, my P.O. Box is #68159, Nashville, TN 37206. :)

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Blueberry Sweetheart

Dear Friends,

I picked up this sweet 50's dress at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV. A dear woman named Rochelle has a fantastic vintage clothing booth named "The Garage Mahal" and this was one of two dresses I took off her hands.

This dress has a full skirt, collar-bone friendly neckline, and the cotton fabric is the sweetest pale blue and white. I added a dark blue leather belt and matching shoes.

Thanks for reading friends!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Cheap Thrills in Fayetteville, AR

Dear Friends,

If you're ever in Fayetteville, AR...check out Cheap Thrills, a fine vintage and thrift store. This 5o's fancy gown was just beautiful, but sadly, I left it in Arkansas. Purple lace top, beautiful full skirt, great condition; I just didn't see myself wearing it on stage.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Nora Jane

Down Home in the early 50's

Dear Friends,

This 1950's is one of my all time favorites. The details are amazing: large white buttons, green cotton fabric with woven white criss-cross stripes, two huge circle pockets, and a rounded collar. Someone had their thinking-cap on when they designed this dress. I bought this one in Leesburg, VA...but I'm not telling you where. It's my little secret!

Thanks for reading friends.

Sincerely,
Nora Jane