I’m going to be honest with you — my first thought after watching that Shopaholic film was ‘so this means if I got a credit card, I could have amazing clothes like that too?’

Definitely not the point, as every person I shared my revelation with was quick to point out. But what’s a shopaholic on a limited budget to do? Figure out how to do it on the cheap!  I’ve rounded up some less expensive alternatives to those pricey stores we all love in hopes that we can look super trendy, without being super broke.

Click on the photo to see the next slide

initiating the gallery...

Any more suggestions?

I stopped in last weekend, and was amazed at both how much cute stuff there was and the great prices. I had to restrain myself from buying everything, but I managed t snap up a few great pieces, including a cute party dress that I plan on wearing to a wedding later this summer. While my new dress wasn’t under $20, there are quite a few choices that are — including all of these!

This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m getting a little tired of this whole “April Showers” thing. Monday was supposed to be 70 (a huge deal for anyone living in New England), but what happened instead? Rain! Again! I’m ready for those sun shiny days, filled with beach cook outs and margaritas.

OK, so, truth be told, I’m not totally ready. I’ve been so scared of whatever is going on under my clothes that I haven’t ventured out for my yearly swimsuit shop-a-thon. I just haven’t been ready to face my thighs under those unforgiving fluorescent dressing room lights. And it turns out, it’s a good thing I waited, because had I nabbed my summer 2011 swimsuits back in February like I normally do, I totally would have missed out on the brand spanking new line of women’s swimwear at Express.

The new line, available only online, is full of the eye catching styles Express is known for – like bold prints (think metallic animal!), bright colors and ruffles – all at wallet friendly prices. And (don’t you just love when there’s an ‘and’?) they come in all sorts of styles: string bikinis, halter bikinis, monokinis and more.

And here’s the best part, ladies. Express is currently giving away 10 $200 gift cards for their swimsuit line! What do you have to do? Just subscribe to Express e-mail and you’re entered! (Get the full sweepstakes rules .) Can you even imagine what you could do with that money? I can. And it looks a little something like this:

There is so much I love about this swimsuit that don’t know where to start. I love mixing styles on tops and bottoms. I love stripes. I love how a swimsuit can be sexy while still offering coverage and support so I don’t have some nip slip action at the family Memorial Day BBQ. I love how this purple will look against my tan skin. LOVE IT.

You’d never catch me in a hot pink ruffly dress, but I’d kill to strut my stuff in this bikini.  What is it about ruffles that just makes a girl feel sexy and feminine? This suit just screams “summer vacay” and that’s exactly where I’ll be sportin’ it.

Animal prints. Who doesn’t love some animal prints? And with this chic look not only will you be stunnin’ on the beach, but you’ll be doing so with no awkward halter tan lines.

The super funky pattern and fun little ruffle makes this the perfect suit to wear to all of those graduation parties you’ll be going to this summer. Hot damn!

Everyone needs a monokini, or at least some kind of one piece. And what’s better than a classic black one? It covers all your problem areas and slims you down at the same time. It’s like god’s gift to college girls. Just imagine stepping out of the pool in slow mo’ action while you crush drools over you. Yeah, I might buy 2.

So what are you waiting for? Start shopping….and sign up for Express e-mail for your chance to win!

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities (like "who the hell are you and why are you so beautiful" Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to.]

There’s no way I could continue to write a fashion column without highlighting Rihanna. This girl is one of the most eclectic celebrities out there. One day, the paparazzi snaps photos of her in suspenders and harem pants; the next, you could easily see her in a body-contouring mini-dress with 6-inch stilettos…going out to lunch.

Rihanna attained her fashionista status by being completely and utterly balls to the walls…how can you not love it?

However, the outfit I’m re-creating today is actually one of Rihanna’s tamer looks, because though you, CollegeCandy reader, are fabulous, you are bound to certain rules of fashion that do not apply to celebrities. Read: you can’t really pull this off for class.  But it’s still hot, not just in its own right, but relative to that tragic gaggle of girls strutting around campus thinking Uggs, leggings, and Northface = high fashion.

Shopping Information: Military Jacket - Walmart, $9; Tweed Jacket – Forever 21, $32.80; Sweater Tunic – Forever 21, $13.80; Jeggings – Forever 21, $8.80; Over-The-Knee Boots – Target, $49.99; Hat – Express, $18.67.

To start things off, I gave you two options here. One is a tailored military jacket, similar to the one Rihanna is wearing, but so much cheaper. The other, the gray tweed, is very structured like Rihanna’s coat but in a completely different material (and we all already know tweed is a wonderful addition to anyone’s wardrobe). They both make wonderful additions to this outfit and still maintain the overall look and feel Rihanna’s got goin’ on.

Underneath the jacket is a super warm and comfortable sweater tunic that would just as hot over colorful tights as it would over your favorite pair of jeans. For this outfit, I chose jeggings because they meld to your legs and make it much it much easier to slip into these amazing thigh high boots. I know, thigh-highs have a skanky connotation, but it is so easy to make them modest, and still super sassy. (And, hello, can we talk about these Target boots? Deal. of. the. century.)

Of course, an ensemble inspired by Rihanna must include some totally unexpected element, and in this one, it’s the bright floral hat. I love that the hat from Express pairs stripes with a huge adorable flower, and it adds a touch of whimsy to this otherwise muted and sophisticated look.

Get more celebrity looks for less here.

Ah green. The color of trees. And money.
And really, really cute clothes.

Everywhere I turn there they are, just staring me in the face. The clothes and accessories come in every shade and every style. From mini-dresses to bags, kelly green to army green to sage green, feminine to boyish – green is everywhere and green is cute. And now, green is cheap!

Green is also a great transitional color that complements your gorgeous summer coloring now and works well into the dreary days of Fall. Who doesn’t love a green lightweight sweater-dress with tan flat sandals now and paired with chestnut boots later? No one with good style, that’s who.

So here are some of my favorite budget friendly green pieces for you!

Top Row, Left to Right: Zipper Dress – Lulus.com, $34; Lock and Key Necklace – Lulus.com, $16; Open Back Dress – Lulus.com, $38; Belted Dress – Forever 21, $16.90; Shoulder Bag – Forever 21, $26.80;
Bottom Row, Left to Right: Purse – Urban Outfitters, $68; Beaded Top – Lulus.com, $29; Skinny Cargo Pants – Express, $59.90; Pocket Dress – Target, $24.99; Boat Neck Sweater Dress – Old Navy, $34.50

The pain I’m feeling you ask? It’s an emotional one, due to the fact that the back-to-school commercials and Nordstrom catalogs flooding my television and mailbox are making it painfully obvious that for the first time in my life I cannot justify an August shopping spree that empties my bank account because I’m not going back to school. Obviously in order to crack open the books and learn you need to have a new pair of leather boots, some go-to jeans and four adorable dresses. But if you’re not going back to school….well, what’s the point?

If you’re thinking this pain is going to cause me to skip the back-to-school sales, however, you’re wrong. Very wrong.

Of course I’ll have to deal with a small side of guilt knowing that I’m now just a struggling college graduate and not an eager student, but I’ve decided to throw self-control to the wind and go at the sales anyway. Shopping smart can take the edge off the guilt, and so I have my eye on pieces that can easily transition from work to play. At least every time I whip out my credit card I’ll be getting two outfits in one.

My first buy? The 2-in-1 Chiffon Vertical-Ruffle Dress from Express. I totally love the skirt and tank combo now and into fall and this dress takes all the guesswork out of planning an outfit by giving you the same look without the hassle of matching separate pieces. It looks as effortless as it actually is with a thin black tank melding into a high-waisted army green chiffon bottom complete with chic, cascading ruffles. For a perfect fall work ensemble I’ll tone it down with black studded flats, tights and a boyfriend blazer.

And by slipping into a pair of heels, and adding a wide black leather belt around the waist and some chunky jewelry I can walk right out the office and straight into happy hour. The flirty shape has the perfect amount of movement, with just enough fabric for a girly swing, without being too overwhelming.

Maybe I’m not a student. And maybe I’m no longer the targeted demographic of back-to-school sales. But that won’t stop me from buying amazing transitional pieces like this dress. Plus when I buy it, I’ll be forced back to Ramen Noodle dinners and it’ll be like I’m back in college all over again.

It’s that time of year again: The season of the skirt. In all honesty, shorts really aren’t my thing. Sometimes they squeeze in all the wrong love handles places and give me some serious wedgie dilemmas. That is why I have a great relationship with all of the skirts out there. They are girly, breathable, comfortable and wedgie-free. What more could a girl ask for?

One of my favorite things about summer is slapping on some sunscreen, shoving a towel and a Nicolas Sparks novel in my beach bag and throwing on a skirt and a tee. Then, come evening, all I have to do is slather some aloe on my arms, exchange the flip flops for some comfy wedges and hit the town for some summer lovin’. Care to join me/rub sunscreen on my back? First, take a lookie at these pretty numbers.  I promise they will not disappoint.

[Click on the skirt to get all the shopping info.]

I love the intricate bohemian detail on this colorful skirt from Target. It is casual and stylish but would look amazing with a sassy pair of wedges and a cute date.

Stripes are a big deal this season and I happen to be obsessed with them.  So lucky for me (and all of the stripes-lovin’ ladies out there) that this skirt exists. It’s cute and casual, and paired with a red or yellow top, is perfectly nautical.

I know American Apparel can get pretty wild at times, but this simple terry cloth miniskirt is great. With an elastic band it would be easy to throw on with your swimsuit and hit the beach, it comes in tons of pastel/earthy colors, and looks super comfy.

What a fabulous find! This beautiful and flowing skirt does not look its price tag at $12.50. Our utmost skirt-prayers have been answered with this day-to-night favorite.

As this skirt is only $9.80 I am completely smitten. It is sweet as candy and the polka dots would make you look youthful and playful. This would look really great with some light brown flats and a simple white tee.

I’m loving all of the denim out there this season. This skirt would look fabulous paired with some cute studded gladiator sandals and any color tank.

I love going out in the summer and sometimes I can’t figure out how to put together a hot summer outfit. This sexy skirt will definitely help. It screams summer-vixen and looks cool and classy. Oh, and it’s only $13.99. Yeehaw!

Last but not least, this versatile skirt from Express will go great with day and night, swimsuit or sexy top, beach or dance floor. I have a feeling this skirt will hug faboosh curves and look sleek on a slim figure. It is just for everybody and perfect for summer.

I’m in one of those (very sad) stages where I don’t actually need anything. I know it’s hard to believe. But with months of winter buying under my belt, I have leggings and cashmere cardigans and sweater dresses everywhere (no seriously, I sleep with at least three articles of clothing every night).

And with spring yet to have shown us a glimmer of hope that it’s on its way, it’s just depressing to purchase anything floral and skimpy, catching a glimpse of it as you trudge out of the house in snow boots and a down filled jacket.

But then that amazing little thing creeps into my agenda pages, the one thing none of us college girls can resist shopping for, and which totally warrants the purchasing of, at minimum, a new bathing suit and a super sexy party dress. Spring Break, baby!

This being the last of my Spring break’s ever (I know, I am most definitely in mourning right now), I am going all out, spending 7 glorious booze-and-sun-filled days in Cancun, the spring break capital of the universe.

Which means I am now in need of something again (whew!).

Of course, I’ve already found the perfect dress. And it’s sitting in the display window of Express. Their Escalating Ruffle Strapless Dress is pure sex. The perfect combo of spicy vixen and flirty girlishness.

This mini-dress screams tropical (I’m talkin’ mojito in hand, waves lapping at the sand), exactly the vibe we’re all dying for after months of frigid cold.

Plus, this mini is the one thing that happens in Cancun that doesn’t have to stay there. I can see myself rockin’ it to a party or a bar while waiting for spring with a pair of boots and a leather jacket. The strawberry color is sweet enough that it can even be toned down for the office with a belted cardigan, tights and flats.

It’s the spring break gift that keeps on giving. And it’s going to look amazing with my sun kissed tan.

Obviously this has me tearing apart my closet, sifting through piles of jeans and tanks and blazers, letting them all duke it out for a place in my tiny suitcase.

After packing my must-have PMS sweats, I moved on to “work attire,” because, sadly, instead of lounging around the house all day eating leftovers, I will actually have to wake up early and go to an internship when I get back to school.

After my pair of black dress pants and a modest sweater dress made the cut, I was extremely bored. Am I really going to go from partying with friends in my leather jacket and sequined mini to a stuffy button up? I felt my fashionista heart breaking into a million pieces.

That is until I stumbled upon Express during a daily web-surfing session and found the High Waist Cotton Pencil Skirt in Geometric. Suddenly a light bulb went off: Just because I have to wake up early and go to an office like an adult doesn’t mean that I have to leave my fashion-forward college self behind.

When it comes to a work wardrobe, it’s about compromise. The fact that this skirt from Express is professional and trendy at the same time makes it the perfect staple for an appropriate work outfit, while saving me from becoming a drone in black pants and flats. The cotton/spandex fabric allows me to move around comfortably, and the knee length keeps the sexy hip-hugging fit toned down enough for the office. And pairing it with a black blazer will ensure that it is work appropriate.

What I love the most is the geometric pattern. It’s totally unexpected, but surprisingly classy. The horizontal block colors are totally modern and ridiculously slimming (and I’ll take any help I can get; Lord knows my love handles aren’t looking their best after stuffing my face for three weeks straight).

What makes this skirt an even better buy? Trade the button-down for a sequined black tank and layered metal necklaces and you’re ready for happy hour with your friends or a dinner date with the sexy guy from last week’s toga party.

At $49.50, even the price tag is tempting for something I will get so much wear out of. What else could you possibly want out of a pencil skirt?

I’m sold.

What do you get the Rachel Zoe in your life?

What does one get for the girl who has everything?

The fashion obsessed chicadee who spends every ounce of her free time pouring over fashion magazines and blogs, scouring the racks at vintage stores and making a look that is all her own? The girl who’s closet won’t close, yet she still comes home with bags and bags of new stuff every time she leaves the house?

Well if I was a betting woman, I would say getting her something she can add to her already kick-ass wardrobe is always a winning choice.

Starbucks giftcards and holiday themed socks hold no soy-scented candle to clothes and accessories for this uber fashionista. Which is why I combed through stores and Internet sites to find the best holiday gift for your fashion loving friend.

The big scarf
The color purple is THE color of the season. And the infinity scarf? Probably the most versatile accessory a girl can own. She can wear it to keep warm en route to class, to add a little somethin’ somethin’ to the basic tee, or even with a cami and some skinny jeans to dinner with the boyf.

Sequined BCBG Belt
Sure, you see BCBG and you think “Uh, I will not be buying that for her if I want to eat this week,” but guess what? Its only $38, comes in 3 colors and is a great add-on to her collection of mini dresses and oversized boyfriend shirts

Sweater dress
Every fashionista knows that a sweater-dress is a must-have for winter. She’ll love you forever when she looks like a gazillion bucks in this adorable (and cheap) frock and  those overpriced booties and designer bag she splurged on.

Metal Mesh Bow Wallet
Marc Jacobs look, Forever 21 price. Amaze.

Metal Trim Shoulder Tote
Balenciaga-inspired look. Once again, Forever 21 Price. Hell, you can get her both!

Doe Wasted Day Raglan
Or any oversized tee, really. She can throw it on with her boyfriend jeans or leather leggings, or with sweats on a Sunday. Even the uber fashionista needs a comfy shirt for hungover Sundays, you know.

Yellow Leather Embroidered Gloves
Everyone needs a little sunshine in the long, cold winter months. And these bright gloves are the next best thing. Plus, they just scream Rihanna.

Alana Embroidered Cuff
Homegirl’s got all the clothes, now she just needs the accessories. This gorgeous cuff will add some oomph to whatever she’s rocking, be it a t-shirt and jeans or an LBD for NYE.

Shawl Collar Cardigan
Wardrobe essential; she can throw it over a sequined dress or an oversized tee for class. A girl can never have too many.

Victoria’s Secret College Apparel
Your fashionista friend isn’t going to wear just any cotton tee with her school’s mascot on it. Love or hate PINK, they do make some adorable college apparel with a fashion twist. Let her show her alma matter love and her stylish ways in something glittery and fab.