Ultimate guide to wearing leggings without grossing people out There is an epidemic sweeping this campus, a terrifying disease threatening to destroy life as we know it, and itâÄôs been happening for years. No, it isnâÄôt mononucleosis and it isnâÄôt meningitisâÄîitâÄôs all you lovely ladies wearing leggings as pants. Wait, wait, wait, IâÄôm not about to completely pooh-pooh the trend, because IâÄôm guilty of it too. IâÄôd rather schlep to class (when I ever schlep, which is rare) in a pair of skinny black leggings than baggy grey sweatpants. Plus, it was blaring on the cover of the âÄúCosmopolitanâÄù I was leafing through a few days ago: 8 THINGS IN YOUR CLOSET THAT MAKE YOU LOOK CHUNKY! (Number 6: Sweatpants.) Their suggestion? Swap the sweats for leggings. Makes you look thinner. They have a valid point. But thereâÄôs an art to wearing your dance pants as actual pants. And the number one rule is, my dears, that they must, must, must be black. No gray, no brown, and absolutely NO white. Black. Not a washed-out black eitherâÄîa fresh, crisp, dark black. This is very important. Everyone in the world knows the âÄúblack is slimmingâÄù rule, and I have several times recoiled in horror when confronted with a chick in grey leggings. Just like when you pair them with denim minis and Ugg boots in September, leggings in any color other than black donâÄôt do your body any favors. Keep it basic black. Here are a couple more pointers: Things not to wear leggings with: -Uggs -denim miniskirts -flip-flops -round-toe ballerina flats -U of M sweatshirts -legwarmers -shorts -pencil skirts Try pairing them with these instead: -long cardigans with thin belts -menâÄôs shirts (especially plaid, paired with a jacket) -blazers -knee boots – moccasin boots -white American Apparel deep v-neck T-shirts -pajamas, to bed Finally, the internet can make you pretty. Introducing: Chictopia One of my favorite things to do when I canâÄôt seem to find anything suitable to wear in my filled-to-brimming closet (IâÄôm going to clean it one day, I swear, and IâÄôll probably let you guys in on the fun) is pull my Mac out of its Betsey Johnson carrying case (totally tacky but awesome nonetheless) and hop over to Chictopia.com, a website completely devoted to personal style. So what is Chictopia, and why should you check it out? All these stylish folks formed the collective to showcase their personal style, from vintage Chanel bags to thrifted boots, and users can vote on their favorite looks. IâÄôm particularly taken with Jane M. from our fair city of Minneapolis, who looks like a mannequin of George HarrisonâÄôs ex-wife Pattie Boyd and wears a ton of awesome vintage with her Louboutin boots. (http://www.chictopia.com/janemagnitude) She looks like a âÄò60s throwback, but her accessories keep her outfits current; IâÄôm obsessed with her Louboutin studded booties. Another favorite of mine is Connie, who hails from Eden Prairie and now works for Chictopia in California. SheâÄôs adorable and even has a âÄúTeen VogueâÄù blog âÄî what a homegrown fashion superstar! I check out her Tumblr all the time too just to see what fashionable fabulousness sheâÄôs up to. (HTTP://WWW.CHICTOPIA.COM/CONNIE) Chictopia is so helpful theyâÄôve even got a âÄúself-helpâÄù website called Everybody is Ugly, with star contributors posting tips on how to dress for anything from homecoming dances to rock concerts. There are areas for users to set up inspiration corners, usually shrines to the always fashionably-adventurous Olsens, and hundreds upon hundreds of outfit photos from around the world. Chictopia is a lot cooler than its close relative, Lookbook.Nu, which is a wee bit too pretentious for my taste. (One Lookbook user gets serious accolades for dressing like Bob Dylan; what originality, dude.) Designers have started showing their Fall 2009 ready-to-wear, so IâÄôm off to lurk around Style.com. IâÄôm loving all the sharp black and white at Alexander Wang, and looking forward to piecing together my own interpretation with stuff from Everyday People!