Right from the beginning, you need to be getting the best possible items from the Mall that you can. This means that you should try to save your money and only get the top of the line designers. This will put you at the highest level of the crowd for your level. Since you are limited by what you can use in a fight according to your level and number of friends you have to make sure you only have the best. If you have extra items that are of a lower caliber they will be used instead of your other, better items.