It's too cliche now, especially living in a town like asheville. But the problem with more modern folk singers is that they dress like everyone else.
Folks singers is folks.
Folks wear clothes. Just dress up as yourself, no paraphanelia required. Two years ago, when she was three years old, my daughter went out on Holloween as Shawn Colvin. She wore a black turtle neck and black leggings because that was what Shawn wore the one time my daughter saw her. I'm sure that doesn't help any, but I felt like adding some input.