I don't care about brands, what I care about is how the clothes look and if they seem worth their price.
Style-wise, I like darker colors. Black is a go-to. I also pay attention to how clothes look on my body, I don't want anything that makes me look fat, but at the same time I don't like loose clothing.
I shop at places like Ross and T.J. Maxx a lot because they're cheap and have a decent amount to choose form. If I'm at the mall, I'd go to Hot Topic, Aeropostale (stuff without the self-advertisement name of course), and Forever 21. They're also generally cheap.
Price is important, I hate the idea of spending over $50 for an article of clothing. Under $20 is ideal for shirts, under $30 for shoes (although I do go higher sometimes), under $40 for dresses, jackets, and pants. I haven't had a problem with clothes breaking or wearing away too quickly.