Sure we all dream about designer fashion and high-priced jeans and living in a world where a $120 white tee seems reasonable. But in real life, we’re all well aware that (for most of us), those are just dreams. So while we might bookmark our favorite fashion blogs and make up shopping wish lists at high-end NYC boutiques, we always end up going straight to the mall.

That’s totally okay. Every girl has her favorite store at mall. It’s your go-to store and where you get 99.9% of all your clothes. And like your favorite movie, your favorite store says a lot about the inner workings of your mind.

Here’s a guide to what your favorite store says about you…

initiating the gallery...

[America has more name brands than Law and Order reruns and while you may want to go unload your entire check at GAP or Abercrombie, you don’t want to buy something that you thought was cute and unique and later have buyer’s remorse when you see something identical for less.

I’m not encouraging you to start buying knock off Jimmy Choos from Payless and wanna-be BCBG dresses at Walmart (although, just throwing it out there, you may find some very GOOD knock offs). All I’m saying is you should know that EVERY store is competing with another store and when you shop competitively, you save money. Money that you can use to stimulate the economy…or your wardrobe.

So I thought I’d help you sift through the proverbial mall and figure out which stores are best for your budget. Each week I’ll be comparing apples to apples (or undies to undies) to give you the real deal and arm you with the knowledge you need to make the wisest wardrobe choices. Ready. Set. SHOP.]

New York & Co. and Express both sell clothes that most would consider “Business Casual/Professional Wear” and “Evening Wear.” And while you may not by your ridiculously sexy homecoming dress there, if you want to look sophisticated, sexy and like a grown up, these two stores are contending for your money.  Going to an interview? Don’t know what to wear to your job’s “Grab Bag/Potluck” Soirée? Still haven’t quite decided what you’re packing for thanksgiving dinner? Read on and win.

First up, Express.

Express
* Colorful, bright and super emaculate, Express gives you a chance to be sexy while still maintaining your adulthood. In 1980, the parent company of “The Limited” created Express to call out to a younger crowd. Then, in 2003, they created Express Men (a great place to find guy-gifts) and finally, in 2007, they became their own brand, after being sold by “The Limited”.

* The store was first launched in Chicago and has since grown to be a favorite amongst young women everywhere, with more than 550 stores across the country. Selling everything from sweaters, to handbags, to denim, this store has everything and is what they call the “must-have sexy, sophisticated fashion brand for work, the weekend, or going out.”

Let’s look at the numbers:
Dresses: $38.00 – $128.00
Lip Gloss: $7.00 (or 2 for $12)
Going Out Tops: $29.50 – $49.50
Everyday Tops: $29.50 (BOGO on some)
Cardigans: $39.00-$69.50
Sweaters: $29.50-$69.50
Denim: $29.00-$88.00
Pants: $41.60- $79.50
Undies/Bras: $7.50-$15.00
Other Accessories: $15.00-$40.00

Ok, so I never said they were cheap.

And now for the competition…

NEW YORK & COMPANY
* New York & Co. (which I’ll call NYC) was founded 1918 to  dress the more sophisticated young women. Selling everything from sweaters to slacks with warm colors, a modern feel, and boisterous patterns, NYC is (as they say of themselves) “rapidly becoming synonymous with modern, sexy style.” And it’s true; NYC brings looks straight off the runway and makes them available for everyday America. And since they’ve been around for more than 90 years, they have managed to become a trendsetter in women’s fashion.

* NYC is simply fashion.Walk in here and you are guaranteed to find fashions “ripped from the runway” that will not rip your wallet.

Here are the numbers:
Dresses: $13.97-$56.00
Make-Up/Fragrance: $12.50
Going Out Tops: $6.00-$45.00
Everyday Tops: $5.97-$39.95
Cardigans: $12.00- $60.00
Sweaters: $12.00- $60.00
Denim: $29.00-$69.00
Pants: $8.97-$49.95
Underwear/PJ’s: $15.00-$25.00
Other Accessories: $45 ( at the most)

And one last thing: NYC sells their clothing in Petite and Tall, which may speak to some of you who have issues when it comes to fitting those extra long (or not so much) legs.

You be the Judge
When polled, this is what you said:

78.6% of you prefer New York & Co. over Express
92.9% of you mostly buy sweaters at either New York & Co. or Express
50% of you guys said you spend $25-$75 a month in either New York & Co. or Express
50% said that you buy whatever is on sale when you shop at New York & Co. or Express (me too!)

When Asked what you hated or loved about NYC or Express this is what you said:

“I love that NYC has a wide range of sizes and that I can have a complete outfit to rock at work!”
“Love Both. I just prefer NYC for business attire.”
“Sometimes I hate NYC prices, they can be a bit steep.
“Express is a little on the pricey side for me and the sizes are a little sketchy”

In conclusion, both stores basically sell the same stuff, so if I were you, looking for holiday attire and possibly even gift buying, I would first create a budget for the outfit and then figure out which store meets the requirements. And don’t be afraid to mix and match! Both stores are offering holiday promotions and there’s nothing wrong with wearing an express camisole under a New York & Co. cardigan. Try it!

I think diffusion lines might be the best thing to ever happen to us college girls, after happy hour and delivery food, of course. We can only do so much drooling as we click through the Bloomingdale’s website until we need something tangible to hang in our closets. It is this online window shopping and my empty wallet that had me anxiously awaiting Jimmy Choo’s new line for H&M.

What could be better? The red carpet looks I have been ogling on my favorite celebs at a price that even I can afford. So I raced down there to see it, the entire time trying to contain the excitement that I may leave the store with a brand new outfit for Friday night’s party that will have everyone asking, “where’d you get that dress?” To which I could reply with five words I never thought I would be able to say, “Oh, it’s by Jimmy Choo.”

Apparently everyone else had this same idea because the crowd was ridiculous. I could barely make it past the doorway before hitting the traffic jam of women accosting the Jimmy Choo display. Eventually I fought my through and got my hands on the dress I’d been eying since this collection was leaked online. I was ecstatic, elated and ready to slip it right on and work the mall like a runway when I spotted the price tag. I felt my heart sink into my stomach. The dress cost over $200.  I started sifting through the rest of the collection (and fighting to keep those other crazy girls from tearing it all right out of my hands) and it was the same story.

As much as I tried to justify the items to myself, the sad truth is: the line is still way too expensive to fit comfortably in my budget between Ramen and Starbucks Lattes. So I left, a giant scrape up my arm and my head held low.

But while this line was more expensive than, say, any of the GO! International lines at Target, the pieces are beautiful and high quality, meaning they are worth the price. I couldn’t afford them, but if you can, there are definitely some pieces you should invest in. If you haven’t seen them yet (because you weren’t willing to battle the bitches for a slice of Jimmy heaven), here are a few of my favorite items from Jimmy Choo’s line for H&M.

And if you’re feeling generous, I love the shoes the best. Feel free to overnight them to me.

[Photos courtesy of FabSugar.com]

Here are my favorite shopping tips to don’t just save the environment, but they can also save you money.

Read on, my fellow “Frugalista” (thank you, Target.)

Shop in stores.  Preferably ones you can walk or carpool to.  Retailers get their shipments in bulk, which decreases the amount of packaging material used to deliver the products.  When you shop online, shipping costs (and all that wasted paper and cardboard) can add up quickly, so spare yourself and hit the local mall (with your reusable tote!). Be sure to try on before you buy so you can avoid the extra gas needed to return something to the store.

Look for local labels.  Try to buy from companies that are based in the your state to cut down on energy needed for transportation.  If that’s not possible, look for brands that produce their products within the United States.  American Apparel, C&C Cailfornia, Splendid, J.Crew, Lucky Jeans, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion, Juicy Couture, 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, and Rock and Republic (just to name a few) all manufacture their clothing in the U.S.

Shop smart online.  If you’re going to shop online, be sure you do it in an ecologically responsible manner by using the following tips.

Buy in bulk. Wait until you have a large order before ordering online or combine with friends to save on the environmental and financial costs of shipping.

Ditch the rush order stress. Plan ahead so you don’t have to choose expedited shipping over standard shipping rates.  This also gives the Postal Service a chance to fill up their trucks with packages before shipping them out.  More packages = fewer cross-country trips = a happy planet.

Choose your delivery address wisely. Be sure to have your packages delivered to a convenient address.  If you have them delivered to your apartment, for example, be sure that your roommates will be around to pick it up for you.  If they aren’t available, leave a note on the door telling the postman that he can just leave the package on the doorstep without a signature.  This avoids the annoying and fuel-guzzling trips back and forth to the Post Office.

Switch to Paperless Statements. Once all your earth-friendly shopping is done, you’re going to have to pay that credit card bill. But make Mother Earth proud and do it all online. No more 5-page bills coming to you in the mail. No more wasted paper (and money!) on mailing that check back to the company. It’s the greenest way to pay.

I don’t know about you gals, but there’s something about shopping that always puts me in a better mood when I’m down in the dumps.  This is especially true when I’m PMSing–buying myself new, pretty and sparkly things makes me feel so much better about myself (even if trying things on over my bloated ass does not).  Now there’s proof that there may actually be a biological reason for why shopping makes us so happy.

A new study says that women are more likely to go on a shopping spree about 10 days before their period, on which they actually tend to spend more than usual and are more inclined towards making impulse purchases. (Editor’s Note: that explains the Snuggie….) GREAT — as if we needed yet another way PMS ruins our lives.

The psychologists who conducted the survey had two theories as to why this is the case.  First, they believe that women shop right before getting their periods in order to counteract the negative emotions they feel during that time (like feeling stressed out or depressed). Um, duh!

The other theory is that since this is time in a woman’s cycle that she’s ovulating, women buy things to make themselves more attractive, such as makeup or high heels. Tru dat.

While it may be tempting to use the “But I had PMS!” excuse when explaining the credit card bills to mom and dad, resist the urge. The study also revealed that most purchases made during this time were followed by serious buyer’s remorse. Your best bet is to wait out the PMS in bed with a bucket of cookie dough instead of at the mall; an empty bank account (and a freaking Snuggie) is no way to beat those pre-menstrual blues.

Yes, you are seeing a man cup a woman’s va-jay on a shopping bag. WTF?

Is this a brilliant scheme to get men to the malls, or the idea of a drunken frat boy that somehow caught on?

1) Stay away from shopping centers – Unless you specifically wish to be run down in the parking lot of your local Target or mall, stay away from every shopping location with more than 50 parking spaces until at least the third week of January. Why? Pre-Christmas Sales, Last Minute Shopping Runs, Post-Christmas Sales, and It’s-January-There’s-No-Reason-For-Sales Sales. You have better chances of surviving a brisk swim through Bull shark infested waters than making it from your car (parked in the next zip code) to the very first pair of sliding glass doors of some venerable shopping institution.

If by chance you do make it into the store, the crush of people going in every possible direction is certain to disorient you, resulting in an unintentional detour to the Hardware section when you really just wanted to pick up a card.

2) Don’t OD on Christmas music – With the commercials looping constantly, a certain famous Mariah Carey song on thirteen stations at a time, and your little sister playing her Disney Christmas CD around the clock at a level just loud enough to be audible in your room, but not loud enough to get her in trouble, you are bound to go crazy. Decompress from the assault of seasonal media by either moving to Northern Greenland, or simply playing normal CDs instead of listening to the radio. Leave the room temporarily when that irritating holiday car dealership commercial comes on, or if driven to extremes, pitch the television out of your living room window.

3) Don’t be caught in your little brother’s rush to the Christmas tree – The one place in the world that nobody wants to be is between little kids and Christmas trees. Should you be blocking that rush to the wrapped Wii beneath the tree, you’ll find yourself knocked accidentally into the next county as your eyeballs hang in place in the air, like Wile E. Coyote from Looney Tunes. Instead, wait out the stampede; it’ll only take about three seconds.

4) Know which relatives to avoid – They lay in wait like something off the National Geographic channel, some of them stealthier than others as they seek out captive audiences for their “funny” jokes, “quick” stories about the fun effects of Mexican food on their digestive systems, or rants about what’s wrong with “you young kids today.” While much of your relatives will give you harmless advice about life, this special group of family members are almost calculating in their ability to sap your energy and tempt you to drive to the closest bar down the road.

5) Like you do with your pets, watch what you eat – While the feasting and gift-exchanging is going on, take care not to overindulge at the dinner table. While (mostly) everyone loves Christmas dinner, it’s no fun to forget what happened the rest of the day because you fell under the influence of the turkey and collapsed on the couch to sleep until 2 AM (I speak from past experience: a five hour nap at Thanksgiving when I was thirteen).

For more holiday tips and advice, join the College Candy Facebook group!

So, where to look for the best finds, as well as the best prices? Check out these stores and, if they’re not near you, pop on their websites!

Target – This is the mini-mall of a college girl’s dream. Here you’ll not only find the best bedspreads and towels, snacks and sodas, but you can now also peruse the clothing section, which seems to be coming out with new high-end-like lines every other day. With prices ranging from $9.99 and up, you’re sure to find some cute basics and exotic prints at this fine, serious leap from Wal-Mart.

Marshalls/TJ Maxx - Get ready to dig, dig, dig, but dig with the best of them because if you do, ladies, you can find the best Seven Jeans, Joe’s Jeans and Theory shirts all for a quarter of the price than on the racks at Nordstroms and Bloomies. Who said we can’t have designer trends in college, despite our almost empty pockets? (Why, I was just in Marshalls today on my lunch break – productive, I know – and I snagged a pair of Joe’s Jeans for just $69.99, a quarter the price than the $200 plus pairs at Bloomies!)

Salvation Army - I’m not kidding here, kids. My girlfriend scored a vintage fur coat at a salvation army in Brooklyn for $10 bucks and rocked her campus hard in the winter. Go for it.

Thrift. Thrift. Thrift. If you don’t have a Salvation Army in your town, head over to your local thrift and/or consignment shop for the best digs. I spent about two hours in Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn one Saturday and wound up with some of the cutest tops for day and night that were unique and cheap. These stores also happen to be heavenly for accessories and bags.

Sample Sales. Dig up your local newspaper and see if there are any clothing sample sales in your area (yes ladies, they do exist!) and hit ‘em up. Designer duds for less? Sign me up!

Of course, malls and outlets are great places to stock up on clothes, (Editor’s Note: Have you seen those new JC Penney commercials? Their stuff is lookin’ gooooood!) basics and all your other necessities, but if you’re looking to spice up your life, eh hem, I mean wardrobe…try these places out!

(Photo courtesy of monsoontrust.com)

So, you’re at the newly refurbished mall with your friends. Some out-of-town architects have tried to give your childhood mall major face lift. It kinda worked, but you still remember when you hung out there and it looked more like a scene from Mall Rats – not exactly the most glamorous image, right?

Anyways, you and your buddies have decided to cruise the new boutiques, while also trying to avoid all the people you hated in high school (thankfully, you were smart and went OUT OF STATE for your college degree). Regardless of how maxed out your credit cards are, or the fact that your bank account is close to being in the negative, you find yourself tempted, enticed, and nearly seduced by the merchandise. That’s when you realize that those architects didn’t do such a bad job after all.

You’re eyeing the new display cases, admiring the artificial, yet calming ambiance, wanting to give into temptation, and, well, just buy a bunch of really nice “stuff.” But resist that temptation, girl! It’s fine to admire things. Hell, go ahead and drool if you like, but spending your money, say, at a place like Nordstrom or Macy’s is just foolish.

These days, you can head to a nearby outlet store or a place like Marshall’s and actually find similar, if not the very same items you found at the nicer stores in the mall. Not only that, it’s going to be a hell of a lot cheaper! Sure, discount stores like Marshall’s can make you feel a little icky (do take a shower afterwards). They don’t after all have gleaming marble floors or overwhelmingly helpful employees, but those types of places are where you find awesome deals and some fabulous, one-of-a-kind pieces.

I was inspired to write this piece because I recently bought the most beautiful mint green jacket. It’s an Oscar de La Renta, and instead of shelling out $800 (yes, darlings, that was its original price) for it, I only paid $90! It’s classic, and is gonna look great with the white dress that I recently purchased on-line – now, I can’t wait for summer! My hunt, of course, isn’t over just yet. I still have to find some hot summer shoes.

Easy on the eyeliner, LC.

Reality TV has even gotten to the smart people — the world has hit it’s ultimate demise (minus all the Globla Warming brew-ha-ha.)

Yale Law School is attempting to set a world record for the most people gathered in one spot dressed as Lauren Conrad.

Uh, do we really need another one?

Maybe YALE doesn’t have legging/headband, layered-necklace wearing chicks, but if you walk into any mall in America you’ll find LC lookalikes rummaging through Forever 21 and Claires like rioters after a flood.

I’d prefer they stay and hibernate there. We don’t need any more people immitating “faux celebrities.”

…However, the invite does mention something about free eyeliner. Hm. Maybe those genius kids at Yale are onto something.

If you truly desire the ability to dress like LC, check out this eHow.com article.