Today I want to dedicate my post to my lovely friend Lorraine, who as you all know came to visit me from London for a week.  For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you already know that we had a wonderful time, and yesterday I posted the pictures of Lorraine's new summer wardrobe makeover which she asked me to help her with.  And I think we can all agree that she looked fab!

Here are some photos of us during her week visit as we went out for dinners and shopping days, and of course as we celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee......can't wait for the next visit Lorraine!

Last week my dear friend Lorraine came to visit from London.  It was a wonderful week spending time with her and catching up on all our news and celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee together!  Yes, we proudly waved our British flags and got into the spirit of things, but I drew the line at throwing a street party - I wasn't sure it would have gone down too well in the neighborhood!

While Lorraine was here she asked me if I would help her out with getting her summer wardrobe.  She was keen to buy some new looks and was open to trying a different color palette and stepped outside of her comfort zone with some of the things I suggested.  I was happy to oblige and we had a lot of fun putting together some new and different looks.  She primarily wanted casual summer clothing, but wanted some of the outfits to double up for work too.  We bought a few dresses in bright, vibrant colors that were easy to wear and comfortable, as well as some separates with cropped pants and light flowy tops so she could mix and match creating numerous outfits.  We added some great accessories with scarves and jewellry which finished off the looks. Lorraine also asked that we get one dressy outfit as she has a couple more formal events coming up this summer, so we chose a skirt and top in black with velvet cut-outs and beading.

Lorraine was kind enough to take a 'before' picture, which is never a pleasant thing to do, so a big thank you to her for doing that!  She was open to trying some looks that were not what she would normally try, but I gently persuaded her to give it a shot - and guess what?  She loved the results (big relief on my part!).

So take a peek at some of the looks we put together.  I think you'll all agree that she looks fabulous!

As some of you may be aware I have been having a lot of technical problems with my blog - very frustrating!  For some reason I am unable to post pictures or photos, and I have been trying desperately hard to resolve this, but so far to no avail!  Please bear with me while I try to resolve these problems.  In the meantime, I am able to post the text so hopefully that is better than nothing for right now!  Apologies to all!!!

A week or so ago I posted about different personal styles, and today I want to cover my final two styles.  They are the minimalists and the eclectics. 

We all have our own personal style, and once we find a style that suits us we can use this for our signature looks.  Don't feel like you have to stick with just one particular style of dressing however.  You can have a couple of different styles that work for you, and you can use the different looks for different occasions or whenever you feel like changing things up!  There are no rules ladies!

The Minimalists

Sleek, simple shapes in monochrome, toned down palette are what keep this group looking smart and sharp.  Celebs that have this style include Angelina Jolie and Kate Winslet.

• Black is your best friend!  The no-frills hue always works, whether in a skirt, top, pant, or dress.
• Go for a lean line.  Clothes that are cut close to the body but aren't overtly sexy will serve you well.
• Keep it reserved.  No need to be risque or show too much skin.
• Stay away from loud colors, embellishments, and fancy details.  They aren't your thing.

The Eclectics

It's all about having fun with fashion for these playful women.  Bright colors, madcap pairings, and  loud patterns are part of the package.  Women in these category include Gwen Stefani and the lovely Diane Keaton.

• Never say never!  Follow your heart when it comes to picking out your clothes.  Forget what's appropriate or safe, and don't take yourself too seriously.
• Eye-catching hues and look-at-me motifs are par for the course. 
• Mixing and matching makes sense.  Try a tailored jacket over a funky frock, for example.
• Be wary of crossing into the line of tackyville!  Keep one piece pared down or your accessories classic when wearing something wacky.

My apologies for not posting the past week but I had a friend visit and did not have the time to dedicate to writing my posts. Unfortunately I have been having problems downloading photos on my blog and have been unable to post my latest style makeover with Lorraine. The post was fine but pics didn't download. I am currently looking into this and hoping to get it up and running again soon. Thank you for your patience...I will be back soon! :)