Location: Birmingham, MI
Age: Over 50
Marital Status: Married
Education: Self-educated
Tell me about your degrees.
I have an undergraduate degree in art history, a masters in food and nutrition and a masters in social work.
What did you do before you graduated?
I was in the food business for many years. I started a catering business called that became pretty successful in the ’70s. Then, in the 80s I was running caviar stores across the country and I thought, there must be more to life than caviar. So I went back to school for nutrition.
When I was 50, I developed diabetes and I was approached by a publisher to do a book on type 2 diabetes which lead to a lot of speaking for the American Diabetes Association across the country.
Is the book still in print?
Yeah. It’s called Carol Guber’s Type 2 Diabetes Life Plan.
What made you get your social work degree?
I noticed that you could counsel people on what to eat, but the issue was really something much deeper. The family, the community, the society that people live in contributes to positive outcomes for any chronic illness.
What advice would you give people who want to lose weight?
Don’t be afraid to get assistance. Handling your emotional well being is one of the much needed steps. You have to understand your own feelings about yourself and what causes you to rely on food. I do a lot of work with weight loss and eating disorders in my practice.
How do you define your style?
Age appropriate but downtown modern.
Who influenced you?
My mother has a great sense of style. She designed fabrics for my stepfather’s clothing company. She used to shop at Nan Duskin—a very famous Philly store, where she bought all her dresses for social events. The gentleman who was in charge of couture there knew what all the other ladies were wearing, and he would make sure that they didn’t conflict.
Why do you like Eskandar?
The quality of the fabric is just incredible. He has simple designs that can be adapted easily and that lend themselves to accessories. And I love accessories.
Do you wear any other designers?
I like Dreis van Noten, Ric Ownes and Haider Ackermann whose lines are very simple, but very body conscious.
Do you have any favorite pieces of jewelry?
I love vintage costume jewelry. There is jewelry from a man named Joseff who was a designer in the late ’30s and early ’40s, he designed jewelry for Gone with the Wind and many of the Hollywood movies.
What about a signature perfume?
Silver Mountain Water by Creed. I like it because it’s spicy and kind of unisex. It goes with simple but bold clothes.
What about your skin care routine?
I use the ReVive line. And Kate Somerville has a scrub and a cleanser that I really like.
What about your secret favorite spot in New York?
My bedroom. It’s very eccentric. It looks like the fantasy of a Vermont bedroom. I’ve been collecting cross-stitch samplers from New England for 40 years. They’re all over the walls. I have quilts, a carved wood moose. I have a chaise lounge that was given to me when I was 16. That’s where I read or just sit and think.
How do you rejuvenate?
Cooking for a friend or having people at my home. Cooking simple, fresh food is one of the things I love the most.
Who or what inspires you?
Young people as they attempt to figure out how to make their lives happen inspire me.
What about your passion project?
I do a lot of work with the American Diabetes Association. And going to the theater. I just saw the play Fela a true and inspiring story with music. I loved it. I also like simple dramas and stories where you could say, “Yes, that really is the way life is.” I appreciate the idea that there’s a commonality among people even if the circumstances are different.
Do you exercise?
I walk a half an hour to work everyday and I do the treadmill three times a week. I have a personal trainer who I work out with twice a week. We do cardio, weights and a lot of yoga, Pilates stretches.
What is a favorite book?
Eat, Drink & Be Healthy by Walter C. Willet. It’s very smart, straightforward book on healthy lifestyles.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
Belcourt on 2nd Avenue and 4th street. It’s kind of like bistro food–great atmosphere, great service, very downtown. Everybody knows that if I want to eat out anywhere it’s gonna be at Belcourt. I also am a big fan of The Breslin.
What is the single most important thing you’ve learned in your career?
If you’re in a new situation, tread lightly. You don’t need to make a big splash the minute you get some place.
What about the most important thing you’ve learned about money?
In my 63 years, I’ve learned very little about money except to enjoy spending it and sharing it. I believe in giving money to women in need. My mother always did that.
Just give it out of the goodness of your heart?
Yes, because I think that it’s better to give it where you don’t get a tax write off, or a plaque, or a luncheon