Charlie Heck | Editor-in-Chief/Designer
Charlie recently traded in her cowboy boots for concrete jungles and metro rides. A native Texas gal, she recently returned to her writing roots after a few years in the corporate public relations sector. Raised by the "hippy" mom, she learned to appreciate local, organic food, sustainably harvested materials and small businesses and found those hard to coexist in the corporate sector. She lives in Columbia Heights with her two pups.
Roy Moody | Director of Photography
Roy lives in DC but is still a proud Texan. Photography, art and music are his passions but until those pay the bills, he has a 9 to 5. He is not good at writing bios but is great at taking pictures and designing things. Check out his stuff.
Julie Smolinski | Production Coordinator
Originally raised in Connecticut, Julie came to Washington, DC in 2005 for her undergraduate degree and has since found a happy niche working for Ginger Root Design, a local tailoring studio and boutique. When not serving as a jane-of-all-trades for "the gingers" or following DC's burgeoning fashion scene, she can be found perusing fashion blogs and feminist nonfiction, making crafts at home, or tackling whatever writing assignments may come her way. Whether it be politics, local events, or the next dress she's going to buy, Julie does her best to approach everything with a critical-but-not-too cynical perspective.
Beth Barrett | Fashion Editor/Stylist
Beth is a Senior Consumer Insights and Research Analyst at GED Testing Service and has been for the past two years. Her career in market research is fulfilling and challenging, however her life would not be complete if she wasn’t able to express herself in a more artistic way. Beth's contributes a weekly post over on Elemental Life and also provides personal styling and closet consultations to clients in the DC metro area. For more info on that, you can contact her at barrett.elizabethann@gmail.com.
Chris McLaurin | Food Editor
A native North Carolinian, Chris came to DC for undergrad - stayed for culinary school - and has been cooking for friends, family, and restaurant patrons ever since. To Chris, food is the best conduit for conversation after a long day in the grind. Whether a quick snack or a formal dinner for ten, Chris always thinks local, fresh, and flavorful. And remember breakfast/lunch/brunch/happyhour/dinner/midnightsnack - all equally important parts of the day.
Mandy Pellegrin | DIY Editor
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Mandy spends her days as a Washington bureaucrat. At night and on the weekends, she dedicates much of her time to creating handsome crafts and dapper DIYs for all your lifestyle needs – home, fashion, parties, etc. and all from a tiny DC-area condo that she shares with her husband Michael and her cat Pete.
To see even more amazing DIYs, visit her blog, Fabric Paper Glue.
Citlalli Sanchez | DIY Contributor
Citlalli is the heart and hands behind Sew Beastly - they believe handmade accessories can be eco-friendly, functional, and fun, too! Her days are filled with sewing and coffee drinking while she works on her handmade dream. One of her passions is figuring out ways to help and preserve Mother Earth and sharing it with the world. Check out Citlalli's monthly projects in our See & Do.
Alice Kuaban (aka Kilse) | Vert et Vogue Columnist
Alice Kuaban, better known as Kilse, is originally from Cameroon, West Africa, but now reside in Virginia. A scientist by profession, but a self-taught fashion designer by desire, she owns her own line, KILSE. With a passion for unique and fashionable pieces, if she couldn't find it, she found ways to get it made. On Vert et Vogue, she shares her love for green, unique mode.
Amber Paranick | Smart Girl Contributor
Amber joined Luri & Wilma's staff in January 2013. She is a reference librarian at the Library of Congress by day and an Anthropologie shopgirl on the weekends. She co-owns the online clothing store, Drew & Olive Petites, along with her twin sister, Megan Paranick, and you can find her fashion and music writings on the blogs: FashionArchives.net & Polychronic.us. She's a budding fashion designer and devoted Bikram yogini.
Necole Peralta | Fashion Contributor
Necole is a native San Franciscan with a serious passion for fashion and all things beauty, her blog, vintage and designer closet, makeup kit and Pinterest boards are definite testaments to that. She got her start in the beauty industry as a MAC makeup artist and it was there her infatuation with beauty completely spiraled into the fun, funky, creative girlie girl she is today. Now stay home mommy by day to two happy toddlers, beauty, fashion and lifetsyle blogger, freelance writer, and makeup artist by night, Necole has discovered her many talents and passions all wrapped up in her bloggin' life and loving every minute of it!
Emily Hilliard | Baker Extraordinaire
Emily is a writer, folklorist, and home baker currently residing in Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared on American Food Roots, The Hairpin, NPR, and PBS Food. She plays old-time fiddle and writes the pie blog Nothing-in-the-House.
Bruna Siloto | Design Intern
Originally from Brazil, Bruna came to the US a few years ago to improve her English before finishing her degree as a teacher, but she ended up staying for good. She found her passion in arts and communication and today she is back in school for a communication design degree. She lives in Alexandria, and loves to spend time exploring the artistic scene in D.C, but at least once a year she travels back home to visit her family and friends.
Michelle Goldchain | Editorial Intern
A lover of learning, Michelle’s interests lie in researching and writing about people, their lives and why they matter. She has always lived in suburban Northern Virginia, but is currently a student at the heart of the state at Longwood University. She spends most of her time saying yes to opportunities and enjoys seeing where that takes her.
Fallon Keplinger | DIY Contributor
Fallon is a high school English Teacher, at a special education high school in northern Virginia. A D.C. metropolitan native, however spent a year and a half teaching in South Korea. She became interested in DIY projects after her parents left a vintage dry sink for the trash man to pick up. A few coats of paint later, Fallon had a beautiful purple and gold dry sink complete with new pulls. Since then she has enjoyed making old objects new again. When she is not working on a project, Fallon enjoys 70's grind house movies, hanging out with her dog Lovie, and drinking sweet tea in the sun.
Beth Eller | Accounts Intern
A native of Alabama, Beth has also lived in Wyoming, Colorado, and now Virginia. Her educational and professional backgrounds are in Elementary Education. After seven years in the classroom, however, the pull toward the fashion industry became too great. She traded in teaching for learning, and landed in Virginia pursuing a degree in Fashion Marketing. While she is not attending classes she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, running, and of course spreading the word about the fabulousness that is Luri & Wilma!
