USA TODAY talks to Lauren CONRAD!

With her immaculately streaked tresses, lightly tanned skin and sense of style, Lauren Conrad has become California's version of Carrie Bradshaw. She showcases her own stylings Tuesday during L.A.'s Fashion Week, just in time to plug MTV's The Hills, which returns March 24 (10 p.m. ET/PT). Conrad chats with USA TODAY about footwear, friends and her fashion pizazz.

Q: What are you up to right now?

A: Eating lunch. I just got back from a hike so I'm supposed to eat.

Q: That sounds so normal! To viewers, you're this impeccably styled fashionista who interned atTeen Vogue. What's the most unfabulous part of your day?

A: We are interns. We work 11-hour days, so there's nothing glamorous about that. The only thing they don't show is us sitting around being boring. We sit and watch DVDs and do nothing.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: California Los Angeles DVDs Q What Marc Jacobs Fashion Week Hills Carrie Bradshaw Teen Vogue Moschino Fashion Institute of Design Kristin Cavallari Merchandising Lauren Conrad Collection Linea Pelle

Q: Do you think of yourself as a style icon?

A: Not really. I like clothes and I like dressing fun and taking chances, but I don't consider myself an icon.

Q: What's your biggest fashion splurge?

A: Shoes.

Q: How many pairs do you have?

A: I have no idea. I counted once awhile ago, and I was around 60. I don't know. My favorites are Marc Jacobs and Moschino. I like having fun with shoes.

Q: Now, to The Hills. Is Laguna Beach baddie Kristin Cavallari going to be on the show in the future?

A: No. Not that I know of.

Q: What can viewers expect?

A: I can't tell you that much. We've been on a break. My first day back filming was today. It was really nice to not have cameras around. But I do miss the crew.

Q: You have a clothing line, Lauren Conrad Collection, and are doing a show at L.A. Fashion Week on Tuesday. Nervous?

A: Um, yeah, I'm really nervous. It's one thing to have your designs displayed in stores. To have them walk down the runway is a really big deal.

Q: And are you still in college at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles?
A: Yes, I'm still in college. The school has been so great working with my schedule. I take two classes at a time. My counselor jokes that I'm on a 10-year plan. I'd love to get a degree in the next year, in product development.

Q: You did a capsule bag line with Linea Pelle. Any plans for more accessories?

A: I don't know if I would do shoes. I like buying them, but that's not something I'd be good at designing. I'm gonna stick to buying shoes.

Q: Has being so famous helped or hurt your design aspirations?

A: It's definitely been double-edged. I would not have my own clothing line if I wasn't on a TV show. OK, maybe eventually I would, but I'd have to work a lot harder. This is what I wanted to do. But I had to work hard to prove it.

Lauren Conrad's clothes are available at revolveclothing.com.