Editor's Pick: This week's best of the chain stores (for under $100).

I love to shop. Even buying groceries gets me excited. I am a shameless and relentless consumer.

When being interviewed, a regular but standard question is “What are your hobbies?” and “What do you like to do in your down time?” If I’m asked this, my response is inevitably a lie.

I usually say something about how much I love going to art galleries with my husband (we do this a lot but it’s never ever been my idea, my culture radar is low) or playing a bit of tennis (which was totally my hobby all through high school but I haven’t picked up a racket in 2 years now).

The truth is that in my rare moments of non-busy-ness I shop. I window shop, I online shop, I speciality shop, I sale shop, I shop for gifts, I shop for clothes, I shop for home wares. Anything.

I love to shop. Even buying groceries gets me excited. I am a shameless and relentless consumer.

The result? I am generally very poor. So in an effort to pull back on the buying, while not sacrificing my love of The Fine Art of Consuming Goods In a Market Economy – I thought I’d start sharing what I find and wish I could have bought with you.

So without further ado, here are the chain store bargains I am crushing on this week:

1. Trixy Cocoon Kimono from Cotton On.

I’m pregnant so getting very into things that drape – under the pretence that they will hide my extremely large belly. It doesn’t really work but draped, flowing things are the closest thing to flattering I’ve found.

Kimonos are everywhere at the moment (as my boss Mia Freedman, who owns about a million, can attest), and you can pick up some really gorgeous ones for not much at all. Perfect for over a plain white/black fitted t-shirt and jeans.

RRP: $29.95

2. Thankyou Body Care range.

Thankyou are an awesome company. They produce water, body care products and food products – all of which fund important projects in the developing world. Their body wash range smells delicious, feels really nice on your skin and is far more affordable than the fancy-pants equivalents you’d buy at a department store.

I recommend the botanical mint and spring flowers body wash which will leave you clean and lovely, while also providing life-changing health and hygiene training for communities in need.

RRP: $7.99

3. Samantha Wills ‘Breathe’ ring in rose gold.

Samantha Wills is one of my favourite jewellery designers. She does chunky stuff particularly well but not in such a way that you feel like you’re wearing your husband’s jewellery. This ring is in rose gold (to quote Zoolander, “so hot right now”) and it’s engraved with a word that I need to remember far more regularly than I do. The perfect gift for a stressed or busy friend.

RRP: $69.00

4. Country Road leather cuff.

I don’t wear a lot of metal jewellery because I prefer to use accessories to bring just a teeny-tiny bit of colour to my standard dark toned, black and grey Melbourne uniform. This Country Road Cuff is absolutely stunning, would go with pretty much anything and combines coloured leather and metal accents.

 RRP $79.95

5. Witchery gather halter maxi dress.

Did you see that? SALE ladies, SALE. I bought this dress at full price about twelve weeks ago and barely took it off for the second trimester of my pregnancy. It’s navy blue so casual enough to wear to the beach but can be dressed up with jewellery and heels for a night out. It’s comfortable, with an elastic waist, cool and breezy and super, super flattering.

RRP $99.95 *ON SALE*

6. Seed open shoulder tote in taupe.

Is there anything better than a really, really, really big bag in a neutral colour? I find little clutches maddening. Where does all my STUFF go in a tiny envelope sized thing? I have a lap top, a spare pair of flat shoes, make up, notepads, earphones, an iPod, medication, an umbrella, and 10,000 lost bobby pins to cart around. I need space.

RRP $79.95

7. Typo calico cushion.

I have a cushion problem. I wouldn’t call it an addiction per se but it’s definitely not a healthy obsession. Anything with metallics or spots in particular must be obtained for my home. I’m concentrating very, very hard on not buying this very pretty (and affordable) one.

RRP $34.95

What’s on your wish list from the chain stores this week? Let us know in the comments.