Thursday, July 23, 2009 — We almost didn't recognize her. Her face was glowing, she had a new 'do, and she was sporting new clothes that no one in Millsberry had ever seen before. Loretta Rivers, back from London, was working the register at her Wearhouse boutique, and blasting tunes that—you guessed it—we'd never heard before.

Shoppers were ecstatic to see that Loretta had returned, and the store was busier than ever. This reporter had a hard time resisting the urge to buy something, but it was worth the willpower to snag an interview with the very talented and very busy, Loretta.

Gazette: "Welcome back Loretta! How does it feel to be home?"

Loretta: "You mean I'm not still in London? I forgot for a moment! But seriously, London is a truly an amazing city. And I'm really excited to start making my fall line, inspired by my trip. I've even made a few pieces already! I also brought back a bunch of souvenirs, now up for sale at Toys, Tricks and Games."

G: "Tell us about the new items!"

L: "I made a dress and blazer, inspired by the British flag; a changing-of-the-guards costume; and a wild, show-stopping dress. As for the souvenirs, there are teacups...and Stonehenge."

G: "Stonehenge? How did you bring back a prehistoric monument made of towering stones?"

L: "Oh, with a little creativity, anything is possible! And now, any of you can have a replica of one of the most famous sites in the world—right in your own backyard."

G: "Well, I'm beyond impressed. Tell us about some of your other favorite sites."

L: "The first must-see in London is Buckingham Palace, where the royal family resides. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public in July, so I could only see the grounds. I guess the Queen hasn't left for her vacation yet because that's when it's open for visitors. The second must-see is the Changing of the Guards. That's when the new shift of Palace guards comes to replace the old shift—with the new guards marching on the Palace with a rock or pop band in tow. It's quite the popular scene!

G: "Wow. I'm sure all that sightseeing can be exhausting. Did you also find time to relax and get inspiration?"

L: "Yes! Actually, there were three dreamy places I loved. First was the Museum of Tea and Coffee, where you can trace the history and route of the tea trade—and learn how it conquered the world. My next discovery was the Design Museum! From delicious designer shoes to the evolution of Velcro, I could have stayed for hours—it was ace! That's British for 'brilliant'. And I also spent hours in St. James Park."

G: "Is that anything like Peabody Park?"

L: "Haha. Close! But Peabody Park doesn't have a view of Buckingham Palace."

G: "Ha! Unfortunately no."

L: "But I'll tell you one thing—I missed Peabody Park. In fact, I'm going to take a walk there now. Cheerio! That's British for 'goodbye.'"