I love Avalon. The employees are great and the prices are about 30% of retail (I checked). One of my most recent purchases was a awesome green dress which I wore despite the freezing weather. You can bring your pets in the store (which I plan to do when the weather warms up). I've been in the malls and the swanky stores and they just don't have the variety (or the prices) that Avalon does. I don't care what the trends are, I have my own style. I used to shop at the thrift stores but even after months of going almost daily the items I wanted never showed up. At Avalon you have less to look through and a higher chance of finding what you want. Thrift store prices aren't always dirt cheap. For example I purchased an Ann Taylor Blazer from the thrift store for $9 (the original price would have $150-200), in addition I paid 12.50 to dry clean it...that comes to $21.50. In Comparison the Express blazer from Avalon was for $14.50 (retail price approx $100) and I simply steamed it at home.