The BEST Alternative to Sweatpants

Sweatpants are pretty much a staple in college - and that's fine, if you're the type that can pull off a tank top and cute baggy pair of sweats with your high school mascot across the butt. Personally, I've never been able to rock that look - and unfortunately, my Class of 2010 sweatpants are equipped with some extremely ill-placed pockets, which puff out right at my hips and make me look outrageously wide.

So instead of sweatpants, I stick with my favorite lazy-day pants: yoga pants. They're form fitting and usually come in flattering darker colors - my favorites are the classic black and the dark heather gray. Unlike sweatpants, you can throw on a pair of yoga pants with a sweater or a embellished tank, and you won't look like you just rolled out of bed to pick up some milk.

Hunt for a bargain: Old Navy yoga pants go for around $20 on their website, and you may even be able to find them in stores for less. I own a few pairs and they've lasted a really long time, and they have such cute designs on the waistbands! The fit has always been fantastic, and most Old Navy stores that I've been to have an entire sportswear section, so you're almost guaranteed to find these in stores. Another place to find great yoga pants is Victoria's Secret - I've never personally owned any of their yoga pants, but I've never had any issues with clothing that I've bought from them before, and they come in some seriously cute styles. VS yoga pants range from around $25-$30, so they're a little pricier than the Old Navy ones, but

Go for the splurge: If you're looking for something a little more unique, check out the apparel section of your favorite sports team or school. Yoga pants are joining sweatshirts and t-shirts in many college bookstores, and you can also find them emblazoned with your sorority, local sports team, or any other logo you can imagine. Licensed apparel is usually more expensive - my mom got me a pair of yoga pants from my college bookstore for Christmas which were around $45 - but if you're looking to splurge and want to go for something a little more meaningful (and maybe skip buying your ninth sweatshirt when you don't even wear the first eight), the $45 are well worth it.

XOXO, Ally