My Favourite Things: Caroline Gault

Caroline Gault is the type of inspiring gal that I instantly want to take for coffee and ask a million questions.  Her Instagram feed is full of covetable finds and she seems to know every stylish person west of Winnipeg.   That ring!  That skin!  Those clothes!

I was so so pleased when Caroline agreed to let me in on a few of her secrets.  She tells us the best moisturizer for the driest winter days, the old school pizza place that will surprise you and how she finally found boots to fit her feet.

For four years, I have been the Alberta Editor for FASHION Magazine – which means I cover fashion and beauty news and events in Edmonton and Calgary for the monthly Alberta pages and at fashionmagazine.com. I also contribute feature stories there from time to time, and freelance for multiple other publications regularly, like Avenue Edmonton.

Full time, I am the Community Manager for Poppy Barley – an e-commerce, made-to-order footwear company, where I manage press and media, collaborations, online content, social media, photo shoots and events. I’ve been with Poppy Barley since it launched in 2012 (I have size 12, very narrow feet so when they made me boots and solved my footwear problems, I was a convert for life).

Getting personal: I come from a big, Irish family and we’re all very close. I have amazing parents, two older sisters, a twin brother and a little brother (and I have the cutest nephew and niece!) I am engaged to Mike, who I’ve been with for 10 years (wedding is July 2016!). We just bought a beautiful 1920’s house in Edmonton last year and it was renovated just before we moved in, so it has character and all the modern appliances (I wish I was handy and could claim all the reno’s myself, but I’m not!). Our home brings me so much happiness every day and even after a living there for a year, I still can’t believe it’s ours!

What’s your daily beauty routine?

Products I am newly trying (and loving) right now are by Pura Botanicals — all natural, made in Edmonton, and Lane (the owner) just opened up the most stunning space on 124^th Street in Edmonton.

Kiehls Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream with Rare “Resurrection Flower”. (The “Resurrection Flower”, Haberlea Rhodopensis, is able to survive up to 31 months of extreme dehydration. When proper moisture conditions are restored, it returns to life within hours.) I apply this immediately after I get out of the shower or wash my face. I have very dry skin and this can even battle the dry Edmonton winters. It’s the best ever!

Do you wear makeup and if so what do you do?

I wear the same makeup every day. I know that sounds boring, but it’s efficient!

First: Mac’s Pro Longwear Paint Pot on my eyelids in “Layin’ Low” Creamy Biege. You’re supposed to put eyeshadow on it, but I am afraid of eyeshadow! (Someone teach me how to eyeshadow.)

Second: Benefit Cosmetic’s “Honey (I’m cute as a bunny!)” Hello Flawless Custom Powder Cover-up. I don’t like wearing concealer – I like my skin to breathe and I find concealer greasy! So I have been dedicated to this foundation for several years now.

Third: DIOR Universal Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil — I don’t have very bold brows and this is a nice light hue. If I’m going out, I might darken/shape them a little more than usual.

Fourth: Amaterasu Liquid Eyeliner in Black – originally a birthday gift from my friend Janis, it almost applies itself, the felt tip is so fine. And I never leave the house without a cat-eye. If I’m going out, it’s a little more dramatic than usual, but it’s always there.

Fifth: DIORshow Mascara in Black — not a ton to say here, I just like this product. It doesn’t clump, removes easily, it’s bold and full.

Sixth: NARS Illuminator in “Orgasm” – it’s got a cheeky name and a peachy pink, glowing hue. I swear I get compliments on my skin because of this product, so I think of it as my secret weapon.

Do you carry anything around in your bag? A million lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms etc. etc. From Mac to Nars to Caryl Baker to Burts Bees—I rarely discriminate. It’s kind of my obsessive collector beauty product. I’m drawn to pinks and reds mostly (my mum is too), sometimes berry hues, and am almost always wearing something on my lips. I just hate those moments where your lips are dry and you can’t find your lip balm, and you’re looking around like, “Can someone just get me some God damn lip chap?”

Any cringe-worthy beauty moments of the past?

The first time I cut off all my hair, I was 22. I had seen a model on America’s Next Top Model (her name was London) who had a complete hair makeover and went from long brown hair to a short, white-blonde. I thought she looked amazing and I don’t know where I got the confidence to do it myself, but the first phase was awful. It was too long in the back, too short in the front (we’ll call it a mull-ette) and a brassy tone — a hair nightmare, really. I have never cried so much over a haircut. I swore that I would not leave the house for three months until it grew out. It took me four tries to even leave my room to show my boyfriend for the first time. I had no idea who I was when I cut off my hair… all my confidence was gone. And yet, cutting it all off was the biggest confidence-building thing I ever did. It made me think about fashion and style differently, not take it so seriously. Having short hair does distinguish you from other people; I liked being different from everyone else. And I eventually got the “London” look to where I wanted it.

What do you do to style and care for your hair? In recent years, I’ve mostly had very stylized cuts that don’t require a lot of daily styling– so the white-blonde short hair, the all-natural brown bob—it is what it is, there’s not much more you can do. I am growing my hair out right now though, so I think it’s time I learn how to style my hair. (And I cannot WAIT to tie my hair up and off my neck, after years of not being able to!)

How do you get a good night’s sleep? I fall asleep pretty fast typically. But my ideal bedtime is fresh out of a bath (our new house has an amazing clawfoot tub that I can actually extend my legs fully into! I’m 6 ft. tall, so this is important!), freshly washed sheets, everything fresh.

Do you have any favourite items of clothing that you return to time and time again? I have a lot of “statement” dresses that I always return to – and a lot of BCBG – and am always drawn to long silhouettes. I have a faux fur coat that was my great grandmother’s that I will always keep and I think I will always wear. I bought a rich, plush, Bordeaux alpaca coat from Cole Haan in San Francisco two years ago, that I also think I will always wear. I love classic pieces, but LOVE having something bold to turn to for a special occasion – like copper sequin pants (BCBG, of course)!

Do you have any favourite jewelry? 

Cheesey to say my engagement ring?! I used to wear lots of costume jewellery, but now this ring just takes centre stage and I feel the custome jewellery doesn’t fit as much. Maybe I’ll grow out of that.

Is there any music you’re really into lately?

Leon Bridges (please come to Edmonton!). I’ve always thought that I should have grown up in the ‘50s or ‘60s, but Leon Bridges makes me happy to be living in 2015.

What Edmonton stores are a must-visit? 

1. Coup Garment Boutique
2. Workhall
3. Bamboo Ballroom
4. Shades of Grey
5. Poppy Barley

What are your favourite restaurants for breakfast and/or brunch and/or lunch and/or dinner?

I love food, but I’m not big on going out for breakfast, so I’ll just choose some lunch/dinner spots:

1. Café Tiramisu – It’s on 124th Street (definitely an upscale area in Edmonton that is also under major developments) and it’s become our new favourite spot for casual Italian food and wine. The Calabrese pizza is to die for.
2. Elm Café – they create the most amazing sandwiches with interesting and unexpected ingredients that make Mike and I stop and stare at each other in wonder. They are usually catering all the best events in the city as well!
3. Tres Carnales – they have, hands down, the most amazing fish tacos. One of the owners is actually from León, Mexico, the same city that Poppy Barley manufactures its shoes!
4. Corso32 – the best Italian food in the city, owned by Chef Daniel Costa. Try the house-made ricotta appetizer, the fried short rib, and any type of pasta.

Any favourite places to head for a drink or go out?

1. Bar Bricco (right beside Corso32, and the same owner) for dark red wine and amazing appetizers.
2. I do love a cold beer at a laid-back pub or patio with my best friends, and I’m not very picky about the location, or the beer. I just need good people!

Do you have any favourite take away places?

Famoso Pizza – or Campus Pizza – it’s a dingy place near the university with the most amazing Ninja turtle pizza and people “in the know” (my family) has been eating there since ’01.

Is there anything about Edmonton that you particularly love?

No question — the greatest thing about Edmonton is the people. And the idea that you can do and be anything here – we have the opportunity to create our own career path, and people generally support you in whatever venture you want to pursue. After I stopped playing basketball, I would have dropped dead if you told me that I’d be writing for a national magazine, working in fashion, working in this strange thing called “social media” every day. It’s awesome. I’m very happy in Edmonton. 

What do you like to make at home to eat?

Regular meals include:

• Zuchetti (zucchini spaghetti) with sundried tomatoes, feta and prawns
• Smoked salmon on bagels with cream cheese, red onion and capers
• This Chicken and Lime Soup
• Bruschetta
• Spinach & artichoke dip (this one is a treat)

What kind of exercise makes you feel best? I played basketball for most of my life and for one year in university, so I do miss that high from competition. In real life, I try to do cardio workout a few times a week—whether its an hour on the stationary bike or going for a walk—but that’s not exactly “fun”. So, I’d say that thoughtless exercise makes me feel the best, like riding my bike and swimming outside in the summer.

Do you have any guilty pleasures? Chips. I’m totally obsessed with chips – Miss Vickie’s Sweet Chili and Sour Cream are my all-time favourite.

What’s the favourite thing about what you do? I wake up almost every day feeling motivated and excited about what I do. I haven’t had a job I didn’t love since I graduated from university. I don’t know if it’s because I’m stubborn or lucky. But I do know that I am extremely lucky to be able to say that.

Where are you happiest? When I’m with Mike, my family and my friends. They make me laugh, and a great sense of humour is so important to me. If we can’t laugh together, we will probably never be friends.

Thanks so much Caroline for answering all my questions!  Your the best!

If you want more from this series:

Can’t get enough? Subscribe and I’ll send you my weekly post roundup right to your inbox!  You can also keep up to date by following me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.