Ever wonder what it’s like to be a professional stylist, a powerful editor or a Hollywood heavyweight? Every Friday Sunday [fashion week exception], Fashionista will ask an inspirational industry professional to fill in the blanks with their own words and photos.

Is there a career more dynamic than Kate Young‘s? From styling Teen Vogue‘s very first cover (a young Jessica Simpson cradled in the arms of then-boyfriend Nick Lachey) to dressing A-listers including Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman, the Brooklyn-based stylist has seen it all.

When I checked in with Kate early last Friday morning, our chat was nearly thwarted by my long distance phone number. “Sorry,” she apologized airily when we finally connected. “I thought you were calling from the Democratic Party to collect money.” Remind me to ditch those DC digits ASAP.

From behind the scenes as Macy’s INC’s Editor at Large to receiving personal tokens from Giambattista Valli himself, Kate filled us in on a typical week spent in her industrial Givenchy boots.

Click through to check out her candids: