Profile: Carol Young

Carol Young is just back from a month in Europe, a perfect reminder for the Auckland retailer of the travel wardrobe needs of the sorts of customers whom she advises on packing.

"The biggest thing I take, the heaviest, is my skincare", she bemoans. She admits also to carrying a pair of heels on her trip last month that she never wore. But Young has the rest of her suitcase sorted, mostly with staples from her own store, Verranda Young in Birkenhead Point.

She opts for layers of natural fibres: organic cotton singlets and T-shirts, silk tunics and dresses, and wool knits. "Your body is not going to sweat in them and they look classy."

A little light leather jacket can be thrown over the shoulders and she's a big fan of scarves.

Those heading somewhere warm are, she says, invariably "Looking for a floaty colourful top or dress they can wear over togs that they can go and sit in for a glass of wine."

And, "all women want to take a bit of bling for the evening".

Young recommends seeking out fabrics that can survive rolling or scrunching, for an edgy, fashionable look that doesn't require ironing. She shows off a black A La Robe skirt with a deep elastic waist band, with the cotton fabric flaring out from the hips to knee-length, where the hem has a tulle trim.

It's an example, she says, of "a skirt that shows you've made a bit of effort, but have not tried too hard." A bit street, but "you could wear it to an upmarket resort in Fiji or Tahiti".

Customers want clothes that work hard for their money. Young is a fan of "thrashing" a few well-chosen garments, rather than having endless separate outfits. She recommends customers seek advice by telling a trusted retailer what their needs are.

"Clothes are an investment, you can't afford to be making mistakes."

"I like them to come in and say 'Hey, I've got a holiday coming up,' and give me a bit of a brief. I tell them to pull out a few pieces that really appeal, then I suggest things.

"If they're receptive I can help." But exploratory try-ons need time.

For warmer weather, Young recommends cargo pants that can roll into shorts, and also harem pants, saying the right cut will flatter even hippy women because they usually have a waist the style will accentuate.

She says a holiday in the heat is a real tonic, and even if a woman feels out of shape and reluctant to bare flesh, if she chooses her garments well, she will realise she can pull her look together and expose a little of her body in a way that will leave her feeling confident and recharged.

For cooler climates Young swears by Cheap Monday skinny jeans. She says even chunkier-legged women can wear them, if they cover the bad bits. The jeans have a little stretch and a waistband that doesn't cut in too low, plus they're narrow enough to tuck into the flat boots which are ideal on city pavements.

For more relaxed destinations she recommends sandshoes and says ballet flats or a loafer are an essential anywhere. Repettos are her choice, with tan the new neutral for leather.

Of her own trip, which was a visit to a daughter in London with side trips to the Continent checking out new labels, Young said she was reminded that Aucklanders have an international style of dressing not as evident elsewhere in New Zealand. The climate helps, allowing people to wear the same basics year round with judicious layering, unlike further south where people dress more seasonally.

"You just need a raincoat, a hat and a big jersey to get through winter here."

Trends she picked up on were plenty of harem pants and lots of skinny trousers. Shoulders still high, but not wide, and garments at all price points were embellished. "There were lots of ripped garments, but those that were [often had] sequins around the edges of the rip to keep some femininity."