Kate Young

The fashion phenom gives us her personal A to Z of style. By Christene Barberich

Fashion editor and stylist Kate Young has a knack for getting dressed. And her innate sense of what works and what doesn't has landed her plentiful platforms to show her stuff. She's the fashion editor at large at Interview magazine, and she's often called upon as a stylist by photographers such as Terry Richardson and Diego Uchitel to make magic on various advertising campaigns. Her gift has also piqued the interest of actresses Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, and Rachel Weisz who have all enlisted her help recently in putting themselves together.

But despite the natural predilection, Young admits she has the same issues as most of us. "I have a hard time getting dressed in the morning," she says. "I try to have a few outfits in my mind that always work so that if I get stuck, I can rely on them." She tells us her summer uniform is simple: skinny jeans, vintage flat sandals, and T-shirts from The Row and Yigal Azrouel, sometimes with a Dior Homme jacket or a little vest. "And for fall, I'm really looking forward to wearing leather leggings from Derek Lam and some of the preppy Balenicaga pieces." Here, Young lets us in on her other style commandments. "There the things I can't live without," she says. "I suppose I should put water down, too."

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1. Orlo hair salon.
"My signature white hair. I love Orlando, Jorge, and Andre more than words…"

2. Chanel 2.5 bag.
"It's the perfect design. I have it in two sizes and four different colors. It works with everything. I'm currently really into a tiny silver one with a long chain for evening."

Chanel fall/winter 2007 collection satin bag

3. Super high platform black shoes and boots.
"My favorite things in the world…especially if they make me 5 foot 7 or over. my current favorites in heavy rotation are Prada, Balenciaga, YSL, and Chloé.

Balenciaga fall/winter 2007 collection platforms

4. Striped sweaters and T-shirts.
"I can't stop buying them. From high to low. I love vintage sailor T-shirts from What Comes Around Goes Around. The Proenza Schouler for Target ones were great, too. Tsubi, Armani, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, Sonia Rykiel…I have striped sweaters from all of them."

Sonia Rykiel spring/summer 2007 collection

5. Gossamer cocktail dresses—usually black.
"I have a ton—vintage, Chanel, Derek Lam, Chlo&eacute. I usually wear them over skinny jeans or more recently leather leggings. Without pants they feel too prissy—but I love a fancy dress, especially if there's some special smocking, pleating, or beading."

Chloé fall/winter 2007-2008 collection dress

6. Tiny black jackets.
"Preferably Chanel, but I also love and own some from Chloé, Dior Homme, Marc Jacobs, and Veronique Branquinho."

Chanel Cruise 2007-2008 collection

7. Eres bikinis.
"I can't have enough."

Eres spring/summer 2007 button bikini

8. Rick Owens T-shirts.
"They're so expensive, but if you figure out the price per wear…It's a rare day that I don't have one on. My new obsession in the same vein is Yigal Azrouël experimental T-shirts and The Row super soft perfectly cut long T-shirts and jersey dresses."

Rick Owens T-shirt

9. Tight jeans in gray and black.
"My favorites are Levi's, Tsubi, and Cheap Monday."

Cheap Monday fall/winter 2007

10. Vintage lingerie.
"I love Victorian cotton and lace slips and '30s and '40s slips and bed jackets. I can't stop buying them. My favorite sources for these are Jill Stuart vintage and the dealer on 25th Street across from the Chelsea flea market."

11. Azzedine Alaïa.
"I've been collecting vintage Alaïa for about seven years now. I especially love the knits and super-tight skirt suits. I never wear them as suits—but I always think I will when I'm buying them."