Caite Hamilton

If it’s true that good things come in small packages, then it’s no surprise that, at 30, 5′ tall jewelry designer Laurel Smith is already a national success. But, ask the Charlottesville native what it feels like to have her Laurel Denise line in more than 150 stores across the U.S.—including Anthropologie’s flagship store in […]

  Pretty party (left to right): Julia Thomas wears a Molly B. blue and yellow polka dot bikini from Spring Street ($115; ), a Velvet blue maxi dress from E.G. ($142), Bernardo Maverick sandals from Duo ($108), an Elise M. double skinny belt from Lola ($40), bangles from Bittersweet ($3 each), and gold-filled lapis earrings from […]

The phrase “perpetual motion” comes to mind when the name Hyam Hosny pops up. The Clay Fitness owner, nutrition counselor and personal trainer rises at 4:45am, gets to her studio an hour later and doesn’t stop moving until 3pm—only occasionally does she break for lunch. (Don’t worry; she keeps up her energy by munching on […]

Walking from closet to closet in Sherrie Hannah’s sewing studio, you might feel a bit like you’re touring the prop room at HGTV headquarters. Boxes of fabric line the shelves, spools of thread sit in the windowsill, five pairs of spring-loaded scissors lay scattered on tables and desks. In fact, Hannah, a sewing instructor at […]

“Go step into that corner. That’s my favorite corner,” says Downtown homeowner Hank Wells. A favorite corner? “It sounds crazy, but you really can tell a difference between standing here [in the kitchen] and standing here [in the living room].”   It’s not surprising Wells has such an opinion about the 1,000-square-foot condo he shares […]

Attention all foodies! The elusive chef will grace us with his presence next week.

"No nonsense with the best of intentions.” That’s how Sugarleaf Vineyards owner Lauren Maillian Bias says most people would describe her. And, she adds, they’d be right.  It’s those intentions that have earned her so many points of pride. Bias, in her late 20s, is already the youngest female minority self-made winery owner (whew!) in […]

HOW TO: Host a girls’ night in GUEST WORK Consider who of your friends would really love the theme of the party or who deserves a nice night in. Has a pal been working 60-hour weeks? Did you recently meet someone whom you’d like to get to know better? These questions inform the evening’s guest list. […]

Paraguay-born Gloria Rockhold lives in 12-year cycles. Five years into the current one, the Latino liaison for Albemarle County Schools says she feels “perfectly placed.” With a focus on education, she fills her days coordinating programs for underprivileged minorities, like the photography project she arranges with The Bridge/PAI or the after-school program she oversees at […]