One word: cheap. Wait, another word: trendy. Oh, one more word: small. Forever 21’s dress selection is pretty vast and very inexpensive, which makes for guiltless and affordable shopping. Since Forever 21’s target audience is the young’uns, they tend to run a bit small around the bust and hips, so trying on (or buying a size up) is a must. I prefer their spring and summer styles better, since that typically means they’re made out of cotton rather than polyester. Still, you get what you pay for, so what you’re getting in cute won’t be got in quality. A word of caution: because they’re cheap, that often means see-through. So beware.

If you’re itching for the trendiest of designer brands and don’t mind paying an arm and a leg, go to Native Sun for your fix. They carry a big list of top names known only to you, Ms. Fashionista, which will make you very excited. You’ll leave with something fabulous that no one else has. Or can afford.

If I could move into this store I would. Their dress selection is out of this world – stylish without being overly trendy, and incredibly feminine with a bit of a retro edge. The prices are moderate, maybe a bit on the high side for the quality of some of the dresses, but you’re bound to fall in love with something that you won’t see anywhere else and so you’ll happily shell it out.

I have been obsessed with the dresses lately at J.Crew. They can be a little bit pricey, but they’ll last for a few seasons due to their classic lines and (for the most part) great quality. And when they go on sale, prepare to strike – the discounts are huge and they go fast.

You simply can’t go wrong at Old Navy. They carry great basic dresses year-round and get especially fun with their spring and summer styles. These dresses are cute and inexpensive (without looking cheap), and you’ll feel good because they run a bit big. So everyone wins.

Trendy and cutting edge, H&M’s dresses are a great value. Surprisingly well-made and inexpensive, you’ll find all of the latest styles and lots of goodies from high-end guest designers. Sizes definitely run small, so suck it up and get a size bigger.

Have a true boutique shopping experience and feel like a real girl when you set inside this charming little shop. Pricey but not extravagant, and carrying some well-known brands, French Lessons has a limited but well-selected variety of dresses to choose from every season. And catch their sales for some serious bargains.

For the edgier chick, Urban’s offers cool, hip dresses that still make you look cutting edge without sacrificing the pretty. Typically cotton and casual, they’re also now carrying higher-end lines (Charlotte Ronson, for example) and higher price tags.

Are you a total wreck worrying about the environment? Well, you still need to look nice. Visit Envi for dresses made from sustainable materials at a reasonable range of prices. And if you think “green” means “blah”, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how cute they are.

Oh, don’t be such a snob. Target has some cute, cheap clothes and you know it. It helps that they, too, are on the guest designer bandwagon which means limited-edition collections that are bound to be cool. Target carries dresses that seem to run the gamut between slutty teenager and dowdy, but some are suprisingly retro-inspired and cute. They also seem to have a great selection of basic black dresses – something that every girl needs.

So let’s assume you might want to splurge on something special yet not outrageously so. When that time comes, get your pretty self over to BCBG for a fantastic selection of beautiful, special dresses at prices that won’t cause you to faint.

If you have an hour to kill, I highly recommend stopping into Marshalls to browse through their dress rack. Because see that big designer I mentioned above? Well I have found many of HIS dresses at this very place at a fraction of the cost. So it’s well worth the time. You may need to make weekly visits to keep up on the new stock, because you just never know what they’ll get in – so be ready to pounce!

Bare legs typically mean strappy shoes, so get your pedicure on at this Best of Boston winner. For either 50 or 80 minutes, your feet will be loved and made happy and worthy of slipping into those peep toes.

Go here for the creepy-yet-effective spray tan: either via an airbrush or the Mystic Tan booth. The staff is knowlegeable and the place is clean, and you’ll instantly have dress-ready legs.