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Match Group’s rape problem: A lawsuit alleges that inaction by Tinder and Hinge’s owner allowed abusers to stay on the apps

When Match Group released its latest earnings this week, its CEO Spencer Rascoff boasted that Hinge, one of its flagship dating apps, was “crushing it,” with growth accelerating despite reports that young users are breaking up with dating apps. Revenue was up 25% compared to the same quarter the prior year, and users had flocked to the site. Previously languishing Tinder was also showing signs of a turnaround. Match’s stock popped 12% that day. 

But the day before that earnings call, a Match Group shareholder named Ned Habedus filed a lawsuit against the company’s board of directors, including Rascoff and former CEO Bernard Kim, that raises questions about the company’s leadership and the board’s priorities in the wake of a bombshell investigation published earlier this year. 

That media report, “Dating App Cover-Up: How Tinder, Hinge, and Their Corporate Owner Keep Rape Under Wraps,” by the Pulitzer Center and Calmatters, co-published by The Guardian and The 19th, grew out of 18 months of reporting and is widely excerpted in the new lawsuit, which was filed in a federal court in central California. 

Quoting the reporting, the lawsuit alleges that “‘Match Group has known… which users have been reported for drugging, assaulting, or raping their dates since at least 2016, according to internal company documents. Since 2019, Match Group’s central database has recorded every user reported for rape and assault across its entire suite of apps; by 2022, the system, known as Sentinel, was collecting hundreds of troubling incidents every week, company insiders say.’”

Match did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment on the new lawsuit. Nor did its former CEO Bernhard Kim. When the investigation was published, the company told the media outlets that it “vigorously combats violence,” according to the report. “We will always work to invest in and improve our systems, and search for ways to help our users stay safe, both online and when they connect in real life,” Match Group said in a statement at the time. It also said: “We take every report of misconduct seriously, and vigilantly remove and block accounts that have violated our rules regarding this behavior.”

However, Match Group has not yet produced a promised report that would give all stakeholders, including customers, a clear sense of the risks facing users. And some accused offenders found ways to stay on the site, allowing them to continue trawling the websites for potential targets—sometimes for months or years—even after their crimes had been reported to Match.

The complaint also claims, again citing the investigative report, “In one particularly outrageous example… cardiologist Stephen Matthews retained access to Match’s platforms as late as January 25, 2023, despite a user reporting him for sexual assault on September 28, 2020. Match only removed his profile after he was arrested by law enforcement.” In 2024, Matthews was convicted by a Colorado court of drugging 10 women he met through dating apps Hinge and Tinder, and sexually assaulting eight of them. He was sentenced to serve 158 years in prison.

An attorney for the plaintiff declined to comment and pointed Fortune to the complaint. 

Match Group, a $8.8 billion company, owns more than a dozen apps, including Tinder, Hinge, Match, Meetic, OkCupid, and Plenty Of Fish. The lawsuit seeks damages from the executives and board members named for breaches of fiduciary duty, securities law violations, and unjust enrichment. It also calls for reforms to corporate governance and risk oversight, restitution of executive pay, and other costs incurred by the company. 

It is a derivative lawsuit, in which a shareholder brings claims against leadership on behalf of the company. Any payments ordered by the court go to the company, and shareholders benefit indirectly. (Typically, directors have insurance policies that will cover such payments. If the misconduct is not covered by the policies, however, board members are obliged to cover the costs themselves.) 

The Pulitzer Center report opens with a harrowing and detailed account from one of Matthews’ victims, who says that when she visited Matthews at his home, he drugged and assaulted her. She was able to escape and get into an Uber, and after the effects of the drug had worn off, she reported the incident to Match. At the time of that assault, two other women had already reported Matthews to the site, according to the report. 

In several cases, the lawsuit compares what the company disclosed in securities filings and during analyst calls with what the Pulitzer Center’s report alleged that the company already knew. For example, the legal filing states that the company revealed falling monthly active user figures for Tinder in November 2024 without disclosing what the plaintiff alleges was the real reason the app was losing customers: the long-running safety issues outlined in the exposé published a few months later. 

“Competition or economic considerations did not cause the rapid decline in Tinder’s MAU,” the complaint says. “It faltered because users had grown tired of meeting abusers and predators on the platform.”

“Users also were frustrated by the Company’s failure to curtail this nefarious conduct,”  it continues, “which was known to the Company’s leadership.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

© Luis Alvarez / Getty Images

A lawsuit alleges that Match Group's inaction allowed predators to use its datng apps.
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12 must-have gadgets for college students in 2025

Tech is a necessity for all college students today. You simply need certain things to get your schoolwork done, key among those devices being a solid laptop for college. But there are other gadgets that can help you out, too, both by making your academic life easier and help you unwind at the end of a long week of classes. Before you head to campus, you can pick up a few key devices to keep yourself more organized and help you produce better work for the entire year. We've collected some of the must-have gadgets for college that we've tested here, and we wouldn't be surprised if all of them stuck with you long after your four-year university run is over.

Best tech for college students

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/12-must-have-gadgets-for-college-students-in-2025-120044577.html?src=rss

©

© Engadget

Must-have gadgets for college students
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I backpacked across Europe for the first time, and 10 things surprised me about the 2-week adventure

The author stands with a backpack on in front of a train in Italy
The reporter backpacked through Europe for the first time in 2022.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • I spent two weeks backpacking through Europe in 2022 and was surprised by my experiences.
  • I slept on overnight trains and in budget Airbnbs across four countries.
  • My trip was more exhausting than I expected, but I learned more about myself than I thought I would.

Four shirts, three pairs of pants, and one pair of sneakers for a two-week train trip through four European countries — I didn't think I could manage it, until I did.

In October 2022, I flew to Berlin and traveled by train to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland with nothing but a backpack. It was my first time visiting each country and backpacking in Europe.

Why? I was looking for an exciting adventure. But a lot of surprises along the way made me realize backpacking is about more than that.

From hardships to hidden gems, my trip was full of wonders and realizations.

For one thing, I was surprised that I could pack lighter than I ever had for the longest trip I'd ever taken.
Everything the author packed for her two-week trip to Europe.
Everything the author packed for her two-week trip to Europe.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

To accomplish this, I picked the largest bag I own — a 32-liter backpack — for my two weeks in Europe.

Then I practiced packing as lightly as possible — twice — before I left to ensure I could fit everything.

I started with my work gear, which included a laptop, cameras, lenses, and a notebook. Then I packed other essentials like chargers, toiletries, and snacks.

Next, I stuffed a packing cube with two polos, one T-shirt, one long-sleeve T-shirt, three pairs of pants, a sweater, a blazer, a dress, and two light jackets.

While I longed for more outfit variety on my trip, I was surprised I had everything I needed despite packing lighter than ever.

I didn't consider how exhausting traveling to my destinations would be, especially on overnight train and plane rides.
A composite image of the author taking a selfie in front of a plane and a train
The author felt exhausted after overnight flights and train rides.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When visiting multiple locations in one trip, I found the travel exhausting.

I started my journey with a red-eye flight to Berlin from my home in NYC. Then, I took overnight trains to Vienna and Venice, Italy, in shared sleeper cabins.

I began my trip with a red-eye flight to Berlin and arrived too exhausted to get the most out of my first day in Europe.
A composite image of an economy cabin on a red-eye Norse flight seen from two different angles

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I initially thought overnight transportation would be the best way to travel through Europe to maximize my time exploring during the day.

But for me, sleeping on board flights and trains among strangers was challenging. I didn't consider how little I'd be able to sleep during these overnight rides, and I arrived at my destinations feeling more exhausted than I had hoped.

One sleepless night on a train even left me frantically searching for a last-minute hotel booking in Vienna at 7 a.m.
A street in Vienna with colorful buildings
The street where the author found a hotel in Vienna one morning.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When I arrived in Vienna on an overnight train from Berlin, I planned to spend my morning seeing the sights until I could check in to my hotel at 3 p.m.

But as I stepped off the train, it was apparent that my body needed rest, so I had to figure out where to get it.

I didn't expect to problem-solve as much as I did on my trip, but it improved my split-second decision-making skills.
The author stands in front of a garden in Vienna
The author's trip was full of problem-solving moments.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Before going to Europe, I planned everything, from booking accommodations and train rides to mapping out the locations I wanted to visit to avoid problems.

But plans don't always work out, and I had to make quick decisions, like when I arrived in Vienna. When I got off the train, I started going to random hotels to book a room. By the third hotel, I got one, and I felt relieved.

My trip was full of problems like this, and solving them made me feel more confident in my travel abilities.

I also thought I'd be out exploring all day and night, but I realized that downtime was just as important.
A composite image of the author taking a photo on a cobblestone street in Rome and resting in bed in Germany
The author explores in Italy and rests in Germany.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When visiting a new country for just a couple of days, it's easy to pack exploration into every hour without planning for rest. But without downtime, I found travel wasn't as enjoyable.

During the parts of my trip when I felt well-rested, I could appreciate where I was and take in the unique architecture and bustling atmosphere.

Getting sleep also made me feel more in touch with what my body needed, from staying hydrated to eating enough food.

On travel days, I was surprised to find myself questioning whether a backpack is really more convenient than a carry-on suitcase.
The author boards a train in Italy with her big backpack
The author prepares to board a train in Italy.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Wearing my backpack while walking for extended periods made my muscles feel sore. I wasn't used to its weight and size. In crowded spaces, I kept forgetting that the backpack made me about a third larger than I typically am.

In these moments, I wondered if a carry-on suitcase would have been a better choice. Sure, the luggage is larger, but after lugging around my backpack all day, I felt like it could be easier to roll a suitcase.

I also didn't expect to use my iPad every day, but it surprisingly brought me a lot of comfort.
A composite image of the author usingher iPad in a train station  and in a train sleeper car
The author used her iPad in train stations and sleeper cars.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While on my way to each destination, I read about the sights that awaited me in guidebooks I downloaded onto my iPad. These books helped me decide how to spend time in each location and built up my excitement for my coming adventures.

I also downloaded a few episodes of my favorite TV shows to comfort me, which I usually watched around bedtime.

I thought traveling in October — the end of shoulder season — would help me avoid crowds, but I was wrong.
Crowds swarm the Trevi Fountain in Rome in October 2022.
Crowds swarm the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In the summer of 2022, it felt like everyone I followed on Instagram was in Europe. So, I booked my trip for October to avoid peak tourism season.

But throughout my trip, I stood on my tippy toes to see popular historic sites above rows of heads obscuring my view.

From Rome to Zurich, I trudged through places I didn't expect to be overrun with tourists.

Europe is less crowded with tourists in September and October than in summer. But in the fall of 2022, traveling during shoulder season seemed to be trending.

Luckily, and surprisingly, some of the highlights of my trip came from quiet towns outside cities where I booked Airbnbs to save money.
A composite image of the author's Airbnbs in Switzerland and Germany
The author's Airbnbs in Switzerland and Germany.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

During my visits to Berlin and Zurich, I stayed in small towns about an hour outside the city center by train.

I expected nothing more than a place to sleep in these towns, so I was pleasantly surprised that they felt like hidden gems.

My tiny home hotel in Germany was in a peaceful town with charming cobblestone streets.
A 3D map of Neustrelitz, Germany found in the town square
A 3D map of Neustrelitz, Germany, in the town square.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When I visited Berlin, I stayed in a tiny home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany.

My hotel was a 20-minute walk from the train station, and I enjoyed starting and ending each day with a relaxing walk through town, where I spotted the occasional backpacker among mostly locals.

At the end of my trip, I spent two nights in a village among the rolling hills of Switzerland, where I saw a gorgeous sunset during an unplanned hike. This small village was the best part of my trip.
A sunlit field in Roggwil, Switzerland, in front of homes and hills
A sunlit field in Roggwil, Switzerland.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I liked Roggwil, a small village near Zurich, more than almost any other part of Europe I saw.

I couldn't help but think I would have never seen it if I hadn't booked this specific Airbnb, which was a two-minute walk from the town's train station.

With so many crowds in the cities, I enjoyed experiencing the quiet, slower pace of suburban life while photographing landscapes in less-visited areas of Europe.

I also thought seeing so many new places in a short time would make them blend together in my mind, but each city left me with distinct memories.
The author stands in front of a colorful sculpture Airbnb in Rome
The author enjoys a unique Airbnb in Rome.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I visited six cities and two small towns in just 14 days, so I thought my memories of my European adventure would start to meld together after my trip concluded.

But I'll never forget how alive Berlin felt, with its lush pockets of greenery, dramatic murals, and street performers, or how Vienna's garden mazes and fairy-tale architecture made me feel like royalty.

The canals in Venice made me feel like I was in a storybook, while Zurich had charming streets with jaw-dropping mountain backdrops.

Ultimately, I was surprised by how much I grew during this journey as an individual and travel companion.
A composite image of the author alone in Austria and with her partner in Italy
The author alone in Austria and with her partner in Italy.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent my first week traveling solo, and when a friend joined me for the second week in Italy and Switzerland, I found I had a new appreciation for traveling with someone else.

While on my own, I endured more uncomfortable situations than on any previous trip. I also learned more about myself during my solo travels than I anticipated.

So when my travel companion arrived, having someone to share new experiences with helped me explore and problem-solve in a new way — as a team.

While it wasn't a picture-perfect adventure, backpacking through Europe made me realize that you can't plan out every second, and maybe that's a good thing.
The author takes a selfie in front of a navy blue train
The author exits a train in Venice, Italy.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Next time, I'll let go of my expectations and plan to be surprised.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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I paid $1,000 to sleep in a hotel room facing Niagara Falls for 2 nights. It was totally worth it.

A table, sofa, and chair in a hotel room backed by floor-to-ceiling windows and a Juliette balcony facing Niagara Falls
The reporter went to Niagara Falls, Ontario, and booked two nights at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • I spent two nights at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
  • Upgraded guest rooms with views of the falls come with floor-to-ceiling windows.
  • For $500 a night, I had some of the best views of Niagara Falls of my entire trip — right from bed.

I'll never forget stepping into Canada. In August 2022, I walked over the Rainbow Bridge, stopping briefly in the middle to watch and listen to the roaring Niagara Falls on my left.

Just 10 minutes later, I was standing in front of the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, stoked to see the epic force of nature flow from my bedroom for the next two nights.

For $500 a night, I had prime views of the falls from the moment I woke up to the second I fell asleep. It was definitely worth the price.

The Sheraton Fallsview is a popular hotel that faces Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, making it an exceptional place to stay if you want to enjoy front-row views at every turn.
A view of the Sheraton Fallsview hotel from the middle of the Rainbow Bridge on a cloudy day.
A view of the Sheraton Fallsview hotel from the middle of the Rainbow Bridge.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

According to Tripadvisor, Niagara Falls, Ontario, has more than 200 hotels ranging from one to four stars.

The Sheraton Fallsview, part of the Marriott Bonvoy hotel collection, is a four-star hotel. Rooms range from an interior view starting at $150 to guest rooms and suites with views of the falls, which cost between about $190 and $425, according to a recent search for bookings a month in advance.

My room was more expensive since I visited in the summer during the high tourism season.

I chose the Sheraton Fallsview because of its reputation as the best hotel for prime views of all three falls.
A view of Niagara Falls from the Sheraton Fallsview

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since my entire trip was about seeing Niagara Falls, I decided to upgrade to a premium 258-square-foot Fallsview room with a direct view for my two-night stay.

From my room, I saw the American Falls on the left, Bridal Veil Falls in the middle, and Horseshoe Falls, the U-shaped falls on the right.

The lobby was similar to other hotels I've been in. There was plenty of seating for guests waiting to check in or out.
Lobby Sheraton Fallsview

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Although I didn't get a chance to use them, the hotel had some great amenities, such as a spa, gym, and rooftop pool.

My room came with floor-to-ceiling windows and a door — though there was no actual balcony to go out on. It just offered a better glimpse of Niagara Falls.
Views from the Sheraton Fallsview hotel room window

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When I opened the door, I could hear the water crashing down.

It was relaxing to watch the falls from my comfortable queen-sized bed.
Inside the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

There were nightstands with lamps on either side of the bed. Between the bed and the window was a sitting area with a couch, chair, and coffee table.

Each morning, I hopped out of bed and opened the door to get ready to the sounds of the falls. I thought it was a peaceful way to start the day.

To the left of the main room, the bathroom had a rainfall shower head.
Inside the author's room at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The bathroom also had a lit vanity and a second shower head.

After the sun went down, I enjoyed spectacular views that I didn't expect.
Views from the Sheraton Fallsview hotel room window at night

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

At night, the Niagara Falls Illumination board projected color-changing lights onto the water from the Illumination Tower and the Table Rock Centre rooftop, according to Niagara Parks.

At 10 p.m., the lights were coupled with a fireworks display.
Views from the Sheraton Fallsview hotel room window at night with fireworks

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The fireworks show runs every night at 10 p.m. from late May to early October, according to Niagara Falls Live.

Seeing the fireworks show from my bed was a happy surprise, and I thought it made the nightly $500 price worth it. I would book it again, as long as it's fireworks season. If not, I'd try another hotel with a different view of the falls.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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A couple pulled off their dream wedding with 125 guests for under $25,000. From Costco cake to thrifted decor, here's how they did it.

A bride and groom stand in a room embracing surrounded by windows.
Madeline Sideras and Greg Johnston at their wedding.

Bliss Katherine

  • Madeline Sideras and Greg Johnston got married in Los Angeles in July 2023.
  • They pulled off a 125-guest wedding for $25,000.
  • Thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and skipping some expected wedding moves made it happen.

Anyone who has gotten married or even just been to a wedding recently will tell you it's expensive.

Some couples are trying to cut costs for their weddings wherever they can, eloping or forgoing elaborate bachelorette parties.

When Madeline Sideras and Greg Johnston tied the knot in 2023, they had to be creative to stay within their $25,000 budget.

Madeline Sideras knew she didn't want a long engagement when Greg Johnston proposed in January 2023.
A bride and groom look at each other in front of a bookshelf covered in books.

Bliss Katherine

Sideras, 31, is a model and content creator based in Los Angeles. She set her wedding date to Johnston, a 28-year-old tech recruiter, for July 13, 2023, just six months after he popped the question.

Sideras had always wanted a summer wedding and didn't want to wait a year and a half to get married.

"The engagement process can be very stressful, and I just wanted to do it as quickly as possible," she said. "Six months felt like enough time for me."

The couple had their hearts set on a backyard wedding with a budget of $25,000.
A bride and groom embrace in a room with glass doors.

Bliss Katherine

"I love the movie 'Father of the Bride,'" Sideras told Business Insider of her vision for her "casual and celebratory" wedding. "I think that's such a sweet movie, and I love that aesthetic. I just wanted a backyard wedding."

Sideras and Johnston planned to invite between 125 and 150 people to the wedding, but they wanted to keep their budget at $25,000, to which Sideras' parents contributed.

According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in California is over $39,000, but Sideras didn't want to go into debt paying for their event.

"You have to cut it off somewhere," Sideras said.

Finding an affordable venue was step one for the couple.
A side-by-side of a house and a bride and groom kissing in front a sign for it.

Bliss Katherine

Although she wanted a backyard wedding, Sideras didn't have a backyard in Los Angeles for the event, as she lives in an apartment.

She first searched Vrbo and Airbnb for homes she could rent for the weekend of the wedding, but she couldn't find a rental property that allowed for large events.

Then, she stumbled upon the Bissell House in Pasadena after hours of searching online. The venue has since closed, but it had the spacious backyard Sideras was looking for, as well as a beautiful interior.

"As soon as we got there, I could tell, 'This is it,'" Sideras said. "The Bissell House had so many antiques and beautiful furniture, and the wallpaper and everything inside. It was like the perfect grandma shabby chic house."

Sideras rented the house for $10,000 for three days and two nights, using it as lodging for her and Johnston's families over the weekend. The couple also hosted their rehearsal dinner at the Bissell House, so they didn't have to pay for an additional venue.

Sideras wanted the decor to feel effortless.
A backyard with tables set up for a wedding.

Bliss Katherine

As she focused on the backyard wedding aesthetic, Sideras hopped on Pinterest to make a vision board for her wedding.

"I knew I wanted long tables with dinner party vibes. That was one of the first photos I pinned," she said. "And then I saw mismatched plates and linens. I love anything in life that can be mismatched."

She decided she wanted mismatched dishware, linens, and vases, but she quickly discovered that renting from an event company would be out of her budget when the first vendor she contacted told her it would cost $5,000 for dishware alone.

Sideras decided to thrift mismatching dishware for the wedding instead of renting it.
A table with gingham tablecloths, mismatched plates, and colorful flowers.

Bliss Katherine

Sideras, her mom, and her aunt all love thrifting. They frequently text each other photos of their bargain finds. When she realized thrifted dishware would be the most economical choice for her wedding, Sideras recruited the pair to help.

They scoured thrift stores and buy nothing groups, using a mood board Sideras made as guidance for what to find. They ended up sourcing around 130 dinner, dessert plates, and wine glasses, sticking to a maximum budget of $1 per item.

"It was so fun for my mom, my aunt, and me to constantly be texting each other like, 'I just got these five plates' or 'just got this set of 10 plates from my buy nothing group,'" Sideras said.

Sideras' mom brought many of the plates from her home in Indiana to the wedding, and the others lived at the bride's apartment until the event.

Sideras found cloth napkins on a secondhand website.
Tables with napkins arranged like flowers on them in a backyard.

Bliss Katherine

For her napkins, Sideras turned to Maxsold, which allows users to bid for items online that they can go pick up in person.

She bought pink cloth napkins through the site and found some additional napkins at thrift stores. At the wedding, they were arranged to look like flowers atop mismatched gingham tablecloths, which Sedaris bought from a wholesale site.

Thrift shopping saved Sideras thousands on place settings.

"We spent under $500 for every single place setting that we got," she said. "I ended up keeping 12 plates or so, and I sold some or gave some away."

She also saved money by arranging her own flowers.
Tables with gingham tablecloths and flower bouquets.

Bliss Katherine

"I feel like everyone knows flowers are an insane cost for weddings," Sideras said. "I would have loved to spend thousands of dollars on florals because they're beautiful, but unfortunately, it was just not in the budget."

Sideras said one of her bridesmaids, who was also getting married in 2023, used the Los Angeles Flower Market for her wedding flowers, which inspired Sideras to do the same.

"We just went the day before, and I didn't really have a vision, to be honest," she said. "Since it was a backyard wedding, I felt like it didn't need to be fancy white roses or anything like that."

She got advice from her friends on how many flowers she would need to make floral arrangements for the tables and her bridesmaids' bouquets, as well as guidance on which flowers would best withstand the July heat. She spent around $400.

"Three or four of us went to the flower market to pick them up, and then we brought them back to the apartment and arranged them all," she said. "It probably took an afternoon."

She paid someone to arrange her own bouquet, though.
A bride holds a bouquet of flowers in front of a bookshelf.

Bliss Katherine

Kelly Jean Ross arranged Sideras' $250 bouquet, which featured an array of pink and white flowers.

"I paid someone to make my own bouquet because I knew that would be in a majority of the photos, and she did amazing," Sideras said. "I was so happy that I spent money on that."

She also rented tables and chairs from Facebook Marketplace instead of an event company.
Multiple tables with gingham tablecloths and displays of flowers.

Bliss Katherine

"Table and chair rentals — that's another insanely expensive cost," Sideras said, telling Business Insider that she was quoted a minimum of $5,000 for table and chair rentals from an event company in town.

"I ended up going on Facebook Marketplace," she said.

Sideras rented folding tables and wooden chairs from two small businesses she found on the site. It cost a few dollars per table and $1 per chair, so they didn't add much to the budget.

They got their dance floor from Facebook Marketplace as well.
A bride and groom embrace on a checkered dancefloor at their outdoor wedding.

Bliss Katherine

Sideras found a black-and-white checked dance floor on Facebook Marketplace for the event. She and Johnston didn't invest in a formal DJ, either.

"My husband has a few friends who work in the music industry, so he just had one friend who was manning the speakers," she said. They also used an app that seamlessly transitions from song to song for the dancing portion of the evening.

"It was awesome, and we were able to play Justin Bieber and all the songs that DJs never play," she said.

They also borrowed some decor from friends of friends.
A wide shot of a couple's wedding reception. Guests sit at long tables, chatting.

Bliss Katherine

From helping her source decor to setting up the wedding on the day of the event, Sideras' community was integral in making the wedding come together without breaking the bank.

For instance, Sideras' friend Ashlyn Rudy served as her wedding coordinator. During the rehearsal dinner, Rudy noticed the reception area getting dark as the night went on, and she immediately sprang into action.

"She had a friend who was a lighting person, so she's like, 'I'm going to get some lights,'" Sideras said.

By the wedding day, they had plenty of string lights to keep the reception space bright, and Sideras didn't have to do any extra work.

Sideras and Johnston also saved money by forgoing things, like ceremony decor.
A couple kisses during their wedding ceremony.

Bliss Katherine

The couple didn't add flowers or an archway to the ceremony space, and they reused the same chairs they used for dinner for guests.

They also didn't have much signage for the wedding. They just had a welcome sign made by a friend at the front entrance.

Stationery costs can add up, and keeping it as simple as possible helped the couple save money.

A thrifted wedding dress helped Sideras cut costs, too.
A bride stands in her wedding dress in front of a wall with patterned wallpaper.

Bliss Katherine

Sideras wanted different wedding dresses for her ceremony and reception, setting a budget of $1,000 for both. She pictured herself in a vintage gown with puff sleeves and a tea-length skirt for the ceremony.

"My mom and I went to so many places, and no one really had one," she said.

Eventually, she contacted a now-closed vintage store called The Gorky, asking if they had anything like what she was imagining. By chance, the store had a $400 dress in the back of its stockroom that fit the bill.

"A staffer sent me a photo, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I think this is it,'" Sedaris said. "It didn't have puff sleeves yet, but it had sleeves that could become puff sleeves."

She went with her mom to the store to try it on, and the gown fit perfectly. It was meant to be.

A poofy veil completed the look.
A bride looks at herself in a mirror.

Bliss Katherine

The Gorky recommended a seamstress to Sideras, who created the puffy sleeves of her dreams.

Sideras was also a fan of a voluminous veil she had seen photos of, but she didn't want to spend $600 on the accessory.

She asked her tailor if she could make a similar veil, and she was able to for just $100.

Sideras got her second dress from Anthropologie, allowing her to stick to her budget.

Skipping a traditional caterer helped the couple save money.
A table with multiple pizzas and a salad bowl on it.

Bliss Katherine

Catering is often the most expensive aspect of a wedding, as feeding over 100 people a three-course meal can be costly.

Sideras and Johnston found a workaround, having pizza from La Pizzeria Co. at the nuptials instead of a more formal meal.

"It was between tacos and pizza because we love both of those," Sideras said. "I just emailed a whole bunch of different pizza places that did catering, and I went with the cheapest one."

"They were amazing, and it was just a flat fee for the amount of people," she said of La Pizzeria Co. "There was also salad and other little things included."

They also just served wine and beer from coolers, so they didn't have to pay for a bartender. Not every wedding venue allows that, but it's a great way to save if you have the option.

Sideras' sister-in-law made the couple a small wedding cake for photos.
A small, three-tiered cake with strawberries on it.

Bliss Katherine

Wedding cakes can cost hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars, which was also out of budget for Sideras and Johnston.

"I knew I wanted just a simple strawberry shortcake-style cake for us to cut into," Sideras said, adding that she didn't "want it to look overly professional." Her sister-in-law ended up making the cake for them.

"I think she just made a box cake and decorated it cute, and that was perfect," she said.

They turned to Costco for cake for the rest of their guests.
A table with mismatched plates with pieces of cake on it.

Bliss Katherine

Because she didn't want to pay for an expensive wedding cake, Sideras bought a few sheet cakes from Costco instead.

Her aunt picked them up, decorated them with strawberries, and displayed pieces on some of the thrifted plates Sedaris bought.

"That was really sweet, and no one even knew that it was Costco cake because it was already cut up," she said. "It turns out Costco cake is a hit."

Sideras and Johnston's biggest "splurge" was their photographer.
A bride and groom hold hands in a house.

Bliss Katherine

Sideras tapped photographer Bliss Katherine, whom she had previously worked with as a model.

"I always just kind of knew that I wanted her to be our photographer," Sideras said. "I've worked with so many photographers, so that was really, really important to me."

"The photos are insane, so that was the best use of our money," she added.

Sideras said setting expectations with yourself about the wedding is key to sticking to a budget.
A bride stands in the center of her outdoor wedding ceremony.

Bliss Katherine

"You have to pick one or two things that are important to you, and then the rest you just have to let go," she said. "I would have loved to have a live band, but that would have been very expensive."

Likewise, she thinks it can be helpful to approach the wedding as just an event when searching for rentals, as some retailers can charge a premium for wedding items.

"Don't be afraid to ask for discounts for things, too," she said. "What's the worst they're going to say? No?"

She also recommends using the resources you have in your community, especially if you live in a pricier market like Los Angeles, and trying not to put too much pressure on the event.

"I think I'm a pretty chill person, so I was never really that stressed," she said.

Looking back, Sideras said her wedding day feels like "a dream."
A bride and groom kiss at their wedding reception.

Bliss Katherine

"It felt incredible," Sideras said of her wedding day. "We have so many people tell us to this day, 'Oh my gosh, that was my favorite wedding I've been to.'"

"It was so calm and relaxed and just felt so us," she added. "It was so special, and I will love it forever."

Read the original article on Business Insider

  •  

The best and worst looks Katy Perry has worn this year so far

Katy Perry wears a cream beaded dress and an updo on the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
Katy Perry at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in Beverly Hills on March 2.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

  • Katy Perry has traveled across the country, overseas, and to space this year.
  • She's also been wearing daring fashion for each appearance, from leather corsets to sparkling gowns.
  • So far, four of those outfits have been stunning, and four have missed the mark.

Katy Perry has been everywhere this year — almost literally.

She's traveled across the country to promote her Lifetimes tour, made a few overseas appearances, and, of course, briefly flew to space with Blue Origin.

All the while, she's been sporting her signature daring fashion.

From sparkling gowns to leather costumes, here's a look at the best and worst outfits she's worn in 2025 so far.

On tour, Katy Perry wore a sculptured set that looked like a work of art.
Katy Perry performs at the Mexico stop of her Lifetimes Tour in April.
Katy Perry performs at the Mexico stop of her Lifetimes Tour in April.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

The costume included two statement pieces: pink underwear decorated with maroon metal, and an off-the-shoulder top encrusted with hanging crystals.

Fashion designer Zaldy created the stunning outfit, which also featured a plunging neckline. Perry completed the look with silver thigh-high boots.

She took the complete opposite approach to fashion at Paris Couture Week.
Katy Perry wears a blazer-style dress and silver glasses outside a Balenciaga runway show in France.

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images

She was photographed outside the Balenciaga runway show in July while wearing a long-sleeved, blazer-style minidress. It had an off-the-shoulder neckline, a deep, V-shaped plunge, and a buttoned bodice.

Unfortunately, the simple dress was paired with equally simple accessories — metal-rimmed glasses and black pumps.

Some jewelry, a purse, and a more unique hairstyle could've greatly benefited the outfit.

The singer looked striking in silver at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, but her dress had a few issues.
Katy Perry wears a silver dress with cutouts and a silver head covering on a red carpet.
Katy Perry attends the 2025 Breakthrough Prize ceremony in Santa Monica.

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Gaurav Gupta designed her sequinned number for the April event. It had an asymmetrical bodice, deep chest cutouts, a floor-length skirt, and a head covering.

Though its silver color suited her, the gown's skin-colored mesh was visible beneath its daring chest piece and distracted from the outfit.

Its skirt was also an awkward length — not dramatic enough to create a train, and not short enough to show her shoes.

She wore her best look of the year at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in March.
Katy Perry wears a shimmering pearl-colored, floor-length gown with an updo as she poses in front of an orange background.
Katy Perry at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in Beverly Hills on March 2.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Perry walked the red carpet in a shimmering Miss Sohee gown. The strapless piece was covered in small, square pieces with a pearl finish and even smaller sequins in between.

The gown fit her perfectly and made her one of the night's best-dressed stars. Her updo hairstyle and shimmering body makeup also complemented the gown.

The leather ensemble she wore to the SiriusXM Studios in February didn't make sense.
Katy Perry wears a brown leather jacket and connected short chaps over gray bike shorts as she poses in front of a background promoting her Lifetimes Tour.
Katy Perry at the SiriusXM Studios in Las Vegas on February 27.

Denise Truscello/Getty Images

While promoting her Lifetimes tour, Perry was photographed wearing a brown getup from the London-based brand KNWLS.

It featured a leather corset with a zippered shawl on top, matching sleeves, and leg straps over gray bike shorts. She completed the look with square-toed boots.

Ultimately, Perry's ensemble had too much going on. There were too many pieces to make the look cohesive, and its contrasting colors didn't work together.

The same goes for the black-and-white look she donned at the 2025 Invictus Games.
Katy Perry wears a black-and-white vest with gray shorts, high white boots, and knee pads while performing onstage in front of a purple background.
Katy Perry performs at the Invictus Games in Vancouver on February 8.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

The pop star hit the stage that day in a multi-layered outfit and statement shoes.

She wore a white corset beneath a running vest, gray shorts over suspender tights, and thigh-high white boots with shin and knee pads. She also wore fingerless gloves.

Perry may have been aiming to look athletic for the sporting event, but the high heels of her boots didn't match the outfit's casual aesthetic.

The ensemble also might have looked better without a few layers, like the stockings and gloves.

Perry kept things simple and fun for the FireAid benefit concert in January.
Katy Perry performs in front of a choir wearing a brown skirt with a deep slit, thigh-high boots in brown, and a black T-shirt from a Los Angeles fire department.
Katy Perry performs at the FIREAID Benefit Concert in Inglewood, California, on January 30.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

She hit the stage wearing a brown skirt with a deep slit, thigh-high boots in brown, and a black T-shirt from a Los Angeles fire department. The latter was altered to feature a small corset.

The outfit was casual, meaningful, and still fit for a celebrity with its fun details.

She also rocked a traditional leather look that month.
Katy Perry walks down the street wearing black leather pants and a strapless black leather top with black heeled boots.
Katy Perry outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in Los Angeles on January 29.

Hollywood To You/Star Max/Getty Images

Perry was photographed arriving at the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" studio in January wearing leather pants from Area.

The $1,795 trousers had slits across each leg that were studded with gold pieces, matching Perry's $1,195 strapless top.

The outfit was chic and simple, but still had an edge and looked luxurious.

Read the original article on Business Insider

  •  

7 ways you're making your home look cheap, according to a luxury interior designer

A small living area with a couch, side table, dining table, and cahirs.
Cluttered spaces and matching furniture can cheapen your space.

Maren Winter/Getty Images/iStockphoto

  • It's easy to make mistakes when you're trying to make your home look high-end.
  • Luxury interior designer Bilal Rehman said small furniture and cluttered spaces can look cheap.
  • Rehman also advised against sacrificing aesthetics for comfort when decorating a luxury space.

If I've learned anything from watching Architectural Digest home tours, it's that everyone wants a luxury home.

Figuring out how to create that high-end feel is easier said than done, though, particularly if you're working with a tight budget or small space. Some people inadvertently make their spaces look second-rate when they aim for a luxury look.

Bilal Rehman, a luxury interior designer, told Business Insider about the most common ways he sees people make their homes look cheap — and how to avoid the mistakes in your own home. 

Luxury interior designer Bilal Rehman has gone viral for his decor takes.
A man sits in a chair next to a lamp.
Bilal Rehman is a luxury interior designer.

Bilal Rehman

Rehman owns Bilal Rehman Studio, a luxury design studio based in Houston, Texas.

Rehman designs for people of all incomes, but he got his start in luxury decor, specializing in high-end spaces.

"I have an appreciation for the world of luxury because of the attention to detail and the craftsmanship," he told BI of why he likes to work in luxury homes. 

Rehman turned his expertise into a viral sensation with his TikTok account, where he shares his home decor advice and has amassed millions of views on his videos. 

He spoke to BI about one of the most popular topics on his TikTok, sharing ways people miss opportunities to make their spaces look luxurious in almost every room of their homes.

Buying furniture that's the wrong size for your space quickly makes it look cheap, Rehman said.
A living room and dining room with a couch, table, coffee table, and dresser.

Jacek Kadaj/Getty Images

"I think the No. 1 thing that they do is that they don't use the proper scale of furniture or accessories or rugs in their space," Rehman said when asked how people most often make their homes look cheap.

If you don't have much floor space, it might be your instinct to fill your home with small pieces, but Rehman said that may actually make your space look less put together.

"People think that just because you're in an apartment, you have to buy small-scale furniture, and that's not true," he said. "Go buy the big couch, buy the big rug, buy the coffee table that's oversized because what people don't realize is that scale makes your space feel bigger."

Rehman said your space will look more luxurious if you fill it with a handful of statement pieces rather than too many small pieces.

"There's a fine art of not cramming your space with too much stuff and underdoing it to where all the furniture feels like it's miniature," Rehman said. 

Kitchens can look cheap when they aren't cohesive.
A cabinet full of mismatched glassware.

brebca/Getty Images

Rehman said kitchens often look "cluttered" and cheap when you fill your cabinets with flatware, dinnerware, and glassware that don't match, particularly if you have open cabinetry.

"It doesn't look cohesive or expensive. It starts to look like you went and dug through a bargain bin to find all these pieces, but for the same price, you could buy a really beautiful matching set of mugs or plates or appliances to elevate your space," Rehman said. 

He also advised people to think about aesthetics as well as function for any item that will live on their countertops, pointing to Smeg toasters as an example.

"There are cheaper alternatives, of course, but Smeg is a great player in the game of taking something utilitarian and making it artistic," he added. "I have a chrome Smeg toaster on my countertop and I love it. It's just so pretty to look at, and it's taking something so basic and making it elevated."

A cluttered bathroom can look really low-end.
A bathroom counter with makeup products on it.

Meaghan Skinner Photography/Getty Images

It can be natural to fill your bathroom counters with products, but Rehman told BI that not having more sophisticated storage can make your space feel cheap. 

"Do not have all your products on the countertop," Rehman said. "Especially if you're dealing with a smaller bathroom, that empty visual space is your friend that makes your bathroom feel high-end."

He said to prioritize putting out items you use daily, and find other storage solutions for things you use less often.

"It makes it feel bigger. It makes it feel cleaner. And honestly, when everything is organized, it's so much easier to get ready in the morning and get ready at nighttime when you know where everything is," Rehman said. "When you're dealing with a bathroom, really be intentional on what's out and what's hidden and put away."

And if you don't have much storage space, remember to invest in functional items with aesthetic appeal, like coordinating soap-bottle sets or a nice toothbrush holder.

Rehman also thinks traditional bath mats don't create a luxurious look.
A bathroom with a sink, vanity, and multiple bath mats.

Solidago/Getty Images

Rehman said thinking strategically about your choice of bath mat can make a huge difference in your home, particularly if you have limited space in your bathroom

"Don't buy a whole bunch of different bath mats, like the small bath mats meant to go in front of the toilet or the shower or the sink," Rehman advised. "Instead, try to get a large-scale rug or a large-scale runner that creates this unified piece in your bathroom and makes it feel clean and simple."

If you're hesitant about putting a real rug in your bathroom, Rehman said to remember that there are plenty of water-friendly rugs on the market.

"Just get a cool rug from Ruggable and throw it in your washing machine every couple of weeks," he added. "That looks so much better in the end than all these mismatched mats that are moving all over the place."

Rehman thinks matching bedroom sets can look cheap.
pine wood bedroom set matching

Francois Lariviere/Shutterstock

Matching bedroom sets might seem like the easiest solution to making your room look cohesive, but Rehman said it's rare for the set to look as good in your home as it does in the store.

"It looks so good when you walk into a store, and everything matches because they set it up in a certain way, but the second you take it home and you put it in your bedroom, it literally just looks like you went to a big-box store, picked up that room, and dropped it into your house," Rehman said.

"It has no personality, it doesn't look collected, it doesn't look designer, it doesn't feel high-end at all," he said. "Instead of doing that, the same money that you're spending on that, spend it on mismatched pieces that are cohesive."

Rehman said it's a better idea to find pieces that complement each other, as this will make the space look more intentional.

It's also a big mistake to forget to decorate the exterior of your home, according to Rehman.
A backyard with a table and umbrella.

John Keeble/Getty Images

Rehman advised people to approach decorating the outside of their homes just as they do their interiors.

"Don't be afraid to accessorize your outdoor space," he said, pointing to items like rugs and layered looks. "Put art on your brick on the outside of your house."

"You're going to walk outside, and there's going to be a seamless flow from the inside to the out," Rehman said. "It just makes your space feel so much grander and so much more put together."

He said investing in pieces that complement the natural colors of your environment can help make the space feel even more cohesive and chic.

And most importantly, remember that comfort and aesthetics can go hand in hand.
A living room with two white couches and two matching chairs.

Robert Daly/Getty Images

Of course, the furniture you choose for your home, especially pieces like couches and beds, should be comfortable, but Rehman said it's just as important to prioritize its appearance.

"When people are going to buy furniture, they focus so heavily on the comfort and they don't focus on the style," he said. "They end up buying this big, bubbly couch that has lots of padding, and it has a built-in cupholder and USB chargers. That's great for maybe a movie room, but in your main living room, where you're entertaining, you want to feel sexy, and you want to have people over, and you want to create different moods."

Rehman said there are so many affordable, comfortable pieces with aesthetic appeal that he doesn't understand why people wouldn't pick prettier pieces whenever possible.

"In today's market, there's been so much innovation with the world of design and furniture that finding things that are stylish and comfortable is so much easier than it was five years ago," he said. "Just take that little extra step and go find things that are the best of both worlds."

Read the original article on Business Insider

  •  

The ultra-wealthy expect hotel-level amenities for their homes—and developers are racing to keep up

  • Luxury apartment complexes across the U.S. are elevating their amenities to attract affluent residents who expect five-star hotel-style living, complete with services such as daily housekeeping, spa treatments, curated social spaces, and pet-friendly experiences. Developers emphasize that today’s affluent residents demand both exceptional amenities and meticulously detailed service, as basic offerings are no longer enough to stand out in the competitive luxury market.

While amenities like a gym and a pool are considered attractive features by most apartment seekers, the nation’s wealthiest renters see these as basic expectations—and look for much more in a residence.

In recent years, luxury apartment complexes and other high-end housing communities have begun rolling out increasingly specialized services to attract affluent residents. For example, some now offer med-spa amenities such as Botox treatments and IV hydration drips, letting residents access them without leaving home. These types of perks—along with a growing list of exclusive offerings—are emblematic of the ongoing “amenities arms race,” as developers compete to entice and retain the country’s wealthiest tenants with ever more unique and indulgent experiences

Luxury living today is defined by features such as plunge pools, recovery stations, infrared therapy, salt rooms, libraries, cinemas, lounges, co-working spaces, dedicated rooms for children and teens, and expansive outdoor areas, according to Michael Fazio, chief creative officer at LIVunLtd, a company specializing in residential amenity centers. On average, renting a luxury apartment in the U.S. costs about $400 to $500 more per month than a standard apartment, according to RentCafe.

“They expect a high level of design, furnished, and appointed with high-end furnishings. They want the spaces to be something they enjoy and can show off to friends,” Fazio told Fortune. “The amenities are a statement. They’re an extension of the resident’s home, so they have to match the same look and quality.”

And different generations crave these amenities and services—all for different reasons. People under 30 want help getting settled and want “to push a button and have everything done,” Fazio said. Meanwhile, the over-30 crowd tends to gravitate toward the social and networking aspect of being among peers who share similar levels of education and socio-economic status, he added.

Photo courtesy LIVunLtd

“Amenities for the sake of having amenities no longer resonate with savvy residents,” Alex Kuby, associate principal at design, branding, and procurement studio DyeLot Interiors who specializes in multi-family luxury properties, told Fortune. “Deep due diligence pays off. Simply having the amenity on-property isn’t enough, it needs to be delivered with next-level detail and care.”

The luxury rental market is currently strong, with high demand, elevated prices, and growing inventory. Some of the wealthy are turning to luxury rentals as mortgage rates and home prices remain high. And higher demand means luxury complexes have to compete for the wealthiest renters (or buyers, in the case of condos) to come out ahead. That’s where the so-called amenities arms race comes into play. Paying a premium means wealthy residents expect the best of the best, and amenities other complexes don’t offer.  

Residents expect five-star hotel living

Considering renters and homeowners shell out much more on their apartment or condo than the average American, it’s no surprise they expect to be treated like they live in a five-star hotel.

One upcoming example of a high-end residential development embracing the demands of today’s luxury residents is Salato Pompano Beach, a 40-residence ultra-luxury oceanfront condo project that’s scheduled to be completed in early 2026. The Pompano Beach, Fla. development partnered with Stay Hospitality, which also manages other high-end condo properties and five-star hotels. 

Prices for these condos developed by U.S. Development range from $2 million to $5.4 million, and 60% of the condos at the development have already sold. They’re each 2,106 to 3,354 square feet, and residents also have access to an 80-foot ocean-view pool and spa, an owner’s lounge equipped with coffee, indoor open-air beach showers, and a club room. But that’s just the baseline.

Living at the Salto also includes daily housekeeping with turndown and linen service, grocery pick-up and stocking, spa and beauty services, wellness programming and personal training, an on-demand house car with a private chauffeur, 24/7 valet services, live music, learning workshops, beach service with chair and umbrella setup, as well as boat charters and watersport rentals.

“Discerning buyers look for world-class amenities that you would expect when staying in a five-star luxury resort,” John Farina, president and CEO of U.S. Development, told Fortune. “They expect the service to also go hand-in-hand. If you are not pre-planning and executing a vision meeting these expectations, you will walk short on what the market demands.”

Why luxury amenities matter

Even the ultra-wealthy watch what they’re spending on. Housing—whether renting or buying—has become increasingly expensive during the past few years, so every offering and every detail matters when it comes to luxury residences. 

Some developers have taken the approach of an “amenity overload,” or essentially just having a variety of amenities and features to fill a checklist they think will appeal to residents, Kuby said. But without due diligence and understanding what luxury residents really want will make certain developments fall flat. 

Photo courtesy LIVunLtd

“While there are core amenities that matter to most residents, the seismic shift in the housing market is driving a different way of looking at amenities,” Kuby said. “People are renting for longer [and] amenities need to be geared to support their evolving lifestyles.”

This looks like taking traditional amenities to the next level. While co-working spaces have become somewhat of an expected amenity, luxury residents expect more functionality than just a desk or private space to take calls and meetings. They want the same comfort a luxury office space would provide. 

And, of course, pets are something luxury developers are keeping their eyes on.

“People see their pets as family, so making them welcome in lounges and coworking spaces is key for owners who want to bring them along,” Kuby said. “Turning pet amenities into an experience—rather than just having a dog wash—[and] creating a work space that is pet-friendly is more impactful to residents on a day-to-day basis.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

© Photo courtesy Salato Pompano Beach

Rendering of the upcoming Salato Pompano Beach, a 40-residence ultra-luxury oceanfront condo project in Florida.
  •  

The best USB-C hub for 2025

It’s impressive what tablets and ultraportable laptops can do. But to get the most functionality out of them, you may want a few more ports at your disposal, which is where a USB-C hub comes into play. By connecting to just one port, these handy devices give you extra USB connections, HDMI slots, SD card readers and Ethernet jacks. Plus most offer pass-through charging so you can keep your tablet powered while you work with all your peripherals hooked up. We tested more than a dozen models to come up with a few great picks for different situations and users. Here are the best USB-C hubs based on our testing.

Table of contents

Best USB-C hubs for 2025

What to look for in a USB-C hub

Hub vs docking station

The first thing to decide is whether you need a USB-C hub or a USB-C docking station. There’s no set standard for what differentiates the two, but docking stations tend to have more ports, offer a separate DC power adapter and cost more, with some reaching upwards of $400. We have a separate guide to the best docking stations to check out if you’re looking for something bigger than what we’re discussing here. USB-C hubs, in contrast, have between four and 10 ports, can support pass-through charging and typically cost between $30 and $150.

Hubs, sometimes also called dongles or even multiport adapters, make more sense for smaller setups with just a few peripherals, such as a monitor, a wired keyboard and mouse, and the occasional external drive. They’re also more portable, since they’re small and require no dedicated power. That could be useful if you change work locations but want to bring your accessories with you, or if you want to replace your laptop with a more powerful tablet. A docking station or Thunderbolt dock makes more sense for someone who needs a robust setup for their laptop, including multiple external monitors, webcams, stream decks, microphones and so on.

Both docks and hubs make it easy to grab your laptop off your desk for a meeting or other brief relocation and when you get back, you only need to plug in one cable to get all your accessories reconnected. Of course, if you just need to plug in one peripheral, you may not need a hub or a dock, a simple USB-C adapter, like HDMI to USB-C or USB-A to USB-C, may do the trick.

Ports

For a USB-C hub to work, it needs to connect to a port on your laptop or tablet that supports video, data and power — all of which is covered by anything listed as USB 3.0 or better, including USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. The port, of course, needs to be Type-C as well. The sea of laptops out there is vast, so it’s hard to make generalizations, but modern laptops, including Windows and Apple models, should have at least one USB-C port that will suffice, and indeed, every one of our top picks for the best laptops do — including our top pick, the M4 MacBook Air.

Next, it’s a matter of finding a good USB-C hub that has the right connections for your needs. Most hubs offer some combo of HDMI, USB, SD card reader, Ethernet and 3.5 mm ports. If you have a 4K monitor and would like at least a 60Hz refresh rate, you’ll need a hub with an HDMI 2.0 port — HDMI 1.4 only goes up to 30Hz. HDMI 2.1 will handle 4K at up to 120Hz, but hubs that have adopted that standard aren’t as common just yet. Keep in mind that a low refresh rate can cause your screen to feel laggy, making your mouse appear glitchy and your webcam movements to look delayed.

Additional USB ports on these accessories are usually USB Type-A or USB Type-C. They can support data with different transfer rates, typically 5Gbps or 10Gbps. Some ports only handle passthrough power and no data, and some can do data, power and video, so it’s best to check the spec list to make sure you’re getting the support you need. Keep in mind that a hub may bill itself as a 7-in-1, but one of those ports may not be usable for anything other than charging.

Standard SD and microSD cards are useful for transferring data from cameras and the like or for offloading files from your hard drive, and many hubs have those slots. Ethernet ports may deliver faster internet speeds than your Wi-Fi and a hub with a 3.5mm jack can bring back the wired headphone connection that some laptops have ditched.

Power delivery

Nearly all of the USB-C hubs I tested support passthrough charging. That means if your laptop or tablet only charges via USB, you don’t have to take up another port on your laptop to keep everything topped up. Unlike a docking station, powering a hub is optional. The one exception is if you want to close the lid on your laptop while you work on an external monitor. Most computers will go into sleep mode if the lid is closed without power, so either the laptop or the hub will need to be plugged into the wall to prevent that from happening.

Many of the newer hubs include a 100W USB-C power delivery (PD) port, with a healthy 80 to 85 watts going to your Mac, PC, iPad or Android tablet (the hubs take a little of the juice for themselves, hence the 15-watt or so difference). In my tests, a powered USB hub ran hotter than when it wasn't passing the charge through, so I prefer to power the computer directly using its own charger. But for tablets or other devices with no extra ports, that PD option is important.

Some PD ports are also data ports — which is both good and bad. On one hand, it feels wasteful to use a perfectly good data port just for boring old electricity. But on the other hand, USB-C connections that only carry a charge are less versatile, and it makes it seem like it has more accessory hookups than it actually does.

Design

There’s surprisingly little design variation among hubs. Most look like a flat slab, a little smaller than a smartphone, and have an attached Type-C host cable. The hues range from a silvery black to a silvery gray. Some are thinner than others, some have all ports on one edge and some have ports on both sides. All of this is just to say that aesthetics probably won’t make or break your buying decision.

One variation that could tip the scales is the length of the cable. A longer one will give you more freedom as you arrange the hub on your desk, potentially even letting you hide it behind your laptop. Or you may prefer a shorter one to keep the hub neatly set beside your laptop.

How we test USB-C hubs

Before we test anything, we take a look at what’s available and how they’ve been received by shoppers, forum-goers and other publications. I became familiar with a few reputable brands when I was testing docking stations, so I looked into hubs from those companies as well. I focused on items that would help with an average day of productivity — not high-end setups or demanding gaming situations. Once I settled on a dozen or so that would make good candidates, I had them shipped to my humble office in the desert and started testing them out over the course of a few weeks.

I used an M1 MacBook Pro running MacOS Sonoma as the host computer and plugged in accessories that include a 4K Dell monitor, a ZSA USB-C ergo keyboard, a Logitech USB-A gaming mouse, an Elgato USB-C 4K webcam, a Logitech streaming light, a USB-A 3.0 Sandisk thumb drive, a USB-C Samsung T7 Shield external drive and a pair of wired headphones I got for free on an airplane (I should probably invest in some wired headphones, but the cord dangling on my chest drives me nutty so all my earbuds are wireless). I used high-end HDMI and USB-C cables to ensure that any data or connectivity issues weren’t related to my equipment.

Then I put each USB-C hub through a gamut of basic tests. I looked at what could be plugged in at once, the resolution on the monitor, data transfer speeds, the overall build quality of the hub and general usability factors, like the placement of the ports and the length of the cords. And, finally, the price-to-value ratio helped determine the best ones for a few different use cases.

Other hubs we tested

HyperDrive Next 10 Port USB-C Hub

There’s a lot to like about HyperDrive’s Next 10 Port USB-C Hub. The tethered cable is a lavish 13 inches long, the HDMI 2.0 port outputs clear and crisp 4K visuals at 60Hz and the high-speed data transfers are great. It has the coveted two USB-C data ports plus a PD port, and there’s even a headphone jack. The only thing that holds back a full-throated endorsement is the way our unit handled a streaming light. Having it on at full brightness made the webcam flicker every time. The issue went away at 75 percent brightness, but the same problem didn’t happen on any other hub I tested.

Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1)

There’s nothing wrong with the Anker 341 USB-C hub. In fact it’s a current recommendation in our iPad accessories guide and it comes at a great $35 price. It gives you two USB-A ports as well as SD slots. But at this point, a 1.4 HDMI connection, which only supports 4K resolution at 30Hz feels a little retro. There’s also just a single USB-C downstream port and the data transfer tests proved to be a touch slower than the other hubs. But if you’ve got a lower resolution monitor and don’t need more than one USB-C, you won’t be disappointed with it.

Anker 555 8-in-1

It was a tough call between the UGreen Revodoc Pro 109 and the Anker 555 8-in-1 for our top recommendation. Both have a similar port array with an HDMI, Ethernet, two USB Type A, a PD USB-C and a USB-C 3.2 on the 555. And the Anker USB-C hub is $15 cheaper. We went with the UGreen hub for its more premium build, extra USB-A port and longer cord that gives you two extra inches to work with. But if you want to save a few bucks this hub is a worthwhile pick. 

Startech 4-Port USB-C Hub (data only)

I only became aware of Startech when I started researching for this guide. The quality is decent and the yellow accents are a welcome bit of color in the otherwise very gray world of hubs. The performance is solid, with no hiccups that I encountered. The brand’s 4-Port USB-C Hub has a long cord that wraps around the hub itself, which is unique. It doesn’t bother with power delivery, which isn’t an issue if you can power your computer directly. But the four USB ports (three Type-A and one Type-C) max out at 5Gbps and there’s no HDMI connector. It goes for $46, and unfortunately for it, there are cheaper ways to get a few more USB ports for your setup.

Recent updates

August 2025: Updated to ensure our top picks are still current and accurate.

April 2025: Added our experience with the Anker 555 8-in-1 hub to the Other hubs we tested section.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-usb-c-hub-120051833.html?src=rss

©

© Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

The best USB-C hub
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Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise

A crowd of cruisers on the top deck of a ship
Business Insider's reporter took a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • I took my first cruise ever in 2022 — a seven-day voyage on a mega cruise ship in the Caribbean.
  • I found the reality of cruising didn't match my expectations from social media and promotional ads.
  • I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and sitting on hot tour buses.

In April 2022, I sunbathed in a loud, crowded pool area when I was lucky enough to find a chair. I spent more time waiting in lines than I had anticipated, and I saw much of the Caribbean from behind other people's heads.

I was on my first-ever cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. The seven-day Caribbean voyage on a mega-ship took me round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to port stops in Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I was hoping for a week of breathtaking views between relaxing afternoons by the pool and exciting port excursions.

But my experience didn't quite meet my expectations.

The disappointment started before I was even on the cruise.
The author in a budget hotel room

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My trip began with a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the night before my cruise, and a stay at a budget hotel near my departure port.

When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up.
Hotel airport shuttle at night

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

This was the first of many crowded bus rides during my trip. Looking back, I wish I had called a cab — especially since the next morning, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests as I headed to the port.

There was a long line to get inside the cruise terminal, and I should have known by this point that I'd stand in many more lines during my cruise.
Long line to get into the cruise terminal

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Inside the cruise terminal, there was another long line to get through security. While I waited, I chuckled to myself as I read signs that said, "Adventure begins here."

Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand.
Crowded area on the top deck of a cruise ship

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My obstructed view of the ship leaving Fort Lauderdale was as frustrating as standing behind tall patrons at a concert.

The ship was so large that I got lost several times during my stay.
A composite image of a map of the ship and a long hallway

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

But I found the maps on each floor to be helpful.

As I explored the ship, I was surprised that even one as large as the Wonder of the Seas could feel overcrowded.
A crowded pool deck on a colorful cruise ship

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While people seemed to enjoy themselves, many communal decks looked and felt like crowded malls.

The outdoor decks had three large pools and several plunge and whirlpools. These spaces were crowded throughout the day. And even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful.

A Royal Caribbean representative told Business Insider that crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these, using their best judgment.

There were crowds and lines virtually everywhere I went.
Waterslide line on a cruise ship

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

From the cruise ship buffet to activities like water slides and mini-golf, I felt like I spent more time waiting in line than enjoying the ship. For example, I waited in line for three hours to play a round of laser tag that was less than 20 minutes long.

At port stops, I waited in lines to go through security every time I left and returned to the ship. This wait time was less annoying than the other lines because it made me feel safer.

The lines continued at each port, crowded with others excited to begin their tours.
Crowds at a port

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions.

It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus.
inside tour bus

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The Royal Caribbean rep told BI that the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air conditioning standards varied.

And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too.
People on a suspended bridge surrounded by trees

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I hoped to capture an empty image of this majestic jungle bridge, but it wasn't possible without losing my tour crew.

According to a crew member I overheard, roughly 5,000 other people were aboard the ship, so I understand why the cruise felt so crowded.
Deck 15 on the world's largest cruise ship

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The most enjoyable parts of my cruise were early morning walks on the top deck before other cruisers swarmed in. I think that if I were to book a less crowded cruise next time, I might like it more.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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The best reading order if you want to dive into Sarah J. Maas' 16 books, from 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' to 'The Assassin's Blade'

A side-by-side of Sarah J. Maas and the "Crescent City" books.
Sarah J. Maas has written 16 books and is working on the next "A Court of Thorns and Roses" book.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tory Burch/Samantha Pettyjohn/Business Insider

  • Romantasy fans can't get enough of Sarah J. Maas' books.
  • She's written 16 novels and has the next "A Court of Thorns and Roses" book on the way.
  • Here's the reading order I'd recommend as an avid fan of Maas' books. 

We're closer than ever to a new Sarah J. Maas book.

On July 11, Maas announced she had finished the first draft of the sixth book in the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series.

In the ever-growing romantasy landscape, Maas, who has published 16 books across three series so far, is beloved for her novels about faeries. For readers like me who grew up on "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight," her books provide much-needed, adult fantasy stories told from a female perspective (and it doesn't hurt that she writes, ahem, more mature romance, either). 

The New York Times bestselling author has sold millions of copies of her books. With the January 2024 release of "House of Flame and Shadow," Maas created an interconnected literary universe with her separate series, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Because her literary work is so expansive, it can be unclear where to begin if you want to enter Maas' fictional world, especially now that the works are interconnected. To help aspiring Maas readers, I created a definitive reading order for her books to ensure her fans are prepared for the release of "ACOTAR" six.

Start with 'A Court of Thorns and Roses'

"A Court of Thorns and Roses" stars Feyre Archeron, a human huntress who gets pulled into the faerie world after killing a fae, finding conflict and romance on the other side of the wall that separates the mortal and fae worlds.

In the following books, Feyre dives deeper into the magical world of Prythian, discovering unexpected power as Maas flexes her world-building skills.

I love all of Maas' books, but I think "A Court of Thorns and Roses" offers the best introduction to her work for those who haven't read any of her writing before, even though she published "Throne of Glass" first. The otherworldly elements of the series are built out slowly, the books offer a comprehensive view of Maas' writing style, and the romance in them is steamy and compelling. 

A collage of the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" books.
"A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas.

Bloomsbury

The books should be read in the order they were released: 

  • "A Court of Thorns and Roses"
  • "A Court of Mist and Fury"
  • "A Court of Wings and Ruin"
  • "A Court of Frost and Starlight"
  • "A Court of Silver Flames"

However, once book six is released, it shouldn't be read immediately after "Silver Flames." More on that in a bit.

The 'Throne of Glass' series was released first, but I think it works best as the second Maas series

When readers enter the expansive and epic world of "Throne of Glass," they meet Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin imprisoned in Adarlan, a kingdom where magic disappeared years ago.

The crown prince of Adarlan offers Celaena a chance at freedom, proposing she compete as his contestant to become the king's champion by defeating 23 other criminals.

Celaena was raised to fight, but as the other competitors start dying mysteriously around her, she will have to confront the pain of her past to face the battles ahead. 

The world of "Throne of Glass" becomes massive as the books progress, and the rich, developed fantasy world is so complex that it's easier to read once you're already familiar with Maas' style.

A collage in the books of the "Throne of Glass" series.
"Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas.

Bloomsbury

However, I don't think reading the "Throne of Glass" books in the order they were published offers the best narrative experience.

Mass originally wrote one of the novels in the series, "The Assassin's Blade," as four novellas published as e-books between January and July 2012. Bloomsbury released "Throne of Glass" in August 2012, and the publisher later published the novellas with one additional story as "The Assassin's Blade" in March 2013.

Chronologically, the events of "The Assassin's Blade" take place before the rest of the series, but reading it first reveals details Maas intentionally leaves out of "Throne of Glass," "Crown of Midnight," and "Heir of Fire" that quickly become relevant in "Queen of Shadows." If I had known background information from "The Assassin's Blade" when reading the first three books of the series, I don't know if I would have been as captivated as I was when I binged "Throne of Glass." 

In addition, the events of "Empire of Storms" and "Tower of Dawn" take place at the same time in different parts of the "Throne of Glass" world, so there's debate among the fandom on how they should be read. They were released in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and although "Empire of Storms" was released first, it leaves off on a cliffhanger, while "Tower of Dawn" does not.

Some people tandem read the books since they take place at the same time, and you may see people suggesting you skip "Tower of Dawn" altogether because it doesn't center on the protagonist. That's a huge mistake, in my opinion, not just because "Tower of Dawn" has information critical to fully understanding "Kingdom of Ash" but because it's a gorgeous novel in its own right.

To maintain the series' suspense without revealing spoilers, I think the best "Throne of Glass" reading order is: 

  • "Throne of Glass"
  • "Crown of Midnight"
  • "Heir of Fire"
  • "The Assassin's Blade"
  • "Queen of Shadows"
  • "Empire of Storms"
  • "Tower of Dawn"
  • "Kingdom of Ash"

Maas recommends reading "The Assassin's Blade" as the third book in the series on her website, but I think "Heir of Fire" is more captivating if you read it before the collection of novellas.

After her two longer series, Maas readers will be ready for the 'Crescent City' books

Half-fae Bryce Quinlan is at a crossroads when the "Crescent City" series begins, grieving the murders of her best friends by a demon.

She believes the killer was apprehended, but when similar murders start taking place in Crescent City, Bryce agrees to investigate the deaths with Hunt Athalar, a Fallen Angel who has been enslaved for hundreds of years by the all-powerful Archangels after an attempted coup.

The stubborn, beautiful half-fae is Hunt's ticket to freedom, but neither he nor Bryce is prepared for what they find as they look into the murders — or the connection that forms between them. 

The series has three installments to date, and the most recent book, "House of Flame and Shadow," was published in January 2024.

A side-by-side of the "Crescent City" books.
"Crescent City" by Sarah J. Maas.

Bloomsbury

I would absolutely leave "Crescent City" as your third Maas series for a few reasons. 

The fantasy in "Crescent City" is less intuitive than it is in "A Court of Thorns and Roses" or "Throne of Glass" because it combines technology and magic and includes a wide variety of fantastical creatures, like werewolves and mermaids. Elements from the other series are also key to understanding the climax of the second installment in "Crescent City," with Maas herself recommending people read "ACOTAR" before starting "Crescent City."

Likewise, "House of Earth and Blood" and "House of Sky and Breath" are arguably two of Maas' sexiest books — they're tied with "A Court of Silver Flames," in my opinion — and I found it fun to watch Maas' romance chops mature as I made my way through her books.

Plus, the events of "House of Flame and Shadow" will definitely impact the next "ACOTAR" book, so it just makes sense to take on "Crescent City" last.

You can read the series as it was released:

  • "House of Earth and Blood"
  • "House of Sky and Breath"
  • "House of Flame and Shadow"

Once book six in the "ACOTAR" series is published, it should be read after "HOFAS," as it's the latest installment in the Maasiverse. I'd also recommend reviewing "A Court of Silver Flames" before diving into "House of Flame and Shadow" because the plot contains details relevant to Bryce Quinlan's journey in the third "Crescent City" book.

Happy reading! 

Read the original article on Business Insider
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We tried Meghan Markle's new As Ever rosé in a blind taste test. It wasn't what we expected, but we'd buy it again.

Tasting Meghan Markle's new wine.
We taste-tested Meghan Markle's As Ever rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

  • Meghan Markle's As Ever brand released its first wine, a rosé from Napa Valley.
  • A group of Business Insider reporters tasted it in a blind test, comparing it to three other rosés.
  • As Ever's flavor was unexpected, but we'd definitely buy the rosé again.

"Rosé all day" is more than a phrase. It's a mantra, a lifestyle, and — some might even say — a call to action.

Meghan Markle answered that call when her lifestyle brand As Ever released a rosé on July 1.

The wine space is getting more crowded by the day, particularly as more celebrities join the fray, and I, for one, couldn't wait to see how Meghan made her rosé stand out.

Meghan Markle is in her wine-making era.
As Ever wine.
Meghan Markle's As Ever brand released a rosé in July 2025.

Courtesy of As Ever

The Duchess of Sussex launched her As Ever brand in the spring, selling items like fruit spreads, high-end honey, and flower petal sprinkles.

As Ever's first two product drops sold out within an hour, and in June, the company announced it was debuting its first-ever wine, a 2023 Napa Valley Rosé curated by Meghan.

As Ever said its rosé is supposed to taste "crisp" and has notes of "stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish," much like Provençal rosés from France.

The rosé retails for $30 on As Ever's website, and it sold out almost immediately after going on sale on July 1. The bottles are only available in packs of three, six, or twelve, so it costs consumers at least $90 to taste Meghan's rosé. As Ever has not yet announced if or when it'll restock the rosé.

Because royals and rosé are two of my greatest passions, I knew I had to try As Ever's wine.
Reporter blind tests rose wines.
I was curious about the As Ever rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

I've been writing about the royal family and Meghan for years. I've also been closely following As Ever over the past few months as Meghan further expands into the lifestyle space.

Plus, I'm a big rosé fan when I'm off the clock, so I knew I had to try Meghan's wine when it was released.

I decided the best way to experience As Ever's rosé would be in a blind taste test, comparing it to a few other popular rosés on the market.

I got a few of my colleagues to participate in the taste test with me.
Bind wine testing
A group of Business Insider reporters tried the wines.

Nico Schinco for BI

I didn't think it would be fair to assess the wines by myself, especially because I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to rosé. Give me a glass of pink, cold wine, and I'll be a happy camper.

Three of my colleagues graciously volunteered to spend a Tuesday afternoon drinking with me. (They are such givers, I know.)

Here's a quick rundown of why you can trust us. Spoiler alert: The main qualification is that we like drinking wine.

Callie Ahlgrim, senior pop culture writer: I did work at a wine bar for like a year, but that was a long, long time ago. And since then, I drink wine recreationally and copiously.

Samantha Rollins, deputy editor of entertainment and real estate: I'm a wine enthusiast who has been to France, the rosé capital of the world, in my opinion. So that's my only qualification.

Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief, Life: I'm a new wine lover. I did not drink wine that much in my 20s. I love Rieslings and rosés, and I just got into red. So I think I would be quite picky because I'm sort of new to the whole thing.

Samantha Pettyjohn, senior lifestyle reporter (me): I love rosé, especially in the summer. I'm also well-versed in Meghan Markle and went to California wine country on my honeymoon.

We sampled four rosés total, including another celebrity brand.
Different kinds of rose wine bottles.
We tried four rosés.

Nico Schinco for BI

For the taste test, I selected three wines in addition to As Ever, choosing rosés that were pretty similar in price point to Meghan's.

It seemed only fitting to include another celebrity brand, so I chose Côtes de Provence Rosé from Château Miraval, Brad Pitt's wine company. Pitt's Provençal-style rosé cost $23.88.

Next, I selected the $22.49 Summer Water Rosé, which is made on the California coast and offers a slightly different experience with a screw cap.

Finally, I included Whispering Angel, one of the most popular rosés on the market. It's a personal favorite of mine and is made in the Provençal-style like As Ever. It was $22.96.

As Ever ended up being the most expensive wine of the bunch, which wasn't surprising considering it isn't widely available like the others.

We kept the test completely blind.
Blind rose wine testing.
We didn't know which wines we were drinking.

Nico Schinco for BI

For the test, I put a piece of tape on the bottom of each wine glass with "A," "B," "C," or "D" written on it, which corresponded to one of the wines. The code was:

  • A: Summer Water
  • B: As Ever
  • C: Whispering Angel
  • D: Château Miraval

The wine was poured out of sight and given to us in a random order, so we didn't know which rosé we were tasting.

Brad Pitt's rosé wasn't a hit with our group.
Brad Pitt's wine.
Château Miraval's Côtes de Provence rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

First, we tried Miraval's rosé, aka Brad Pitt's wine, aka "wine D" during the test. The flavor was a bit intense for some of us.

McKenzie: It's good to me.

Ahlgrim: It has kind of a sharp aftertaste.

Rollins: It's honestly kind of bitter. I usually like bitter things, but it's a little too bitter.

Pettyjohn: I like it. It's sharp, and I wish I had some cheese to eat with it. It has a champagne-y flavor.

McKenzie: And that, to me, resonates.

Rollins: There's something about it that I don't really like.

Pettyjohn: If a bottle were offered to me, I would certainly have a glass, if not two.

McKenzie: It'd be perfect for hot weather.

Ahlgrim: I think it's more of a dinner wine than a relaxing by the pool kind of wine.

Summer Water tasted the most like a classic rosé to us.
Summer Water wine.
Summer Water rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

Next, we tried Summer Water, known to us as "wine A." We immediately noticed that it had a pinker hue and a distinct aroma. As we took our first sip, it was easy to see why.

Pettyjohn: Oh, that is way more berry-forward.

Rollins: It's a little more effervescent.

Pettyjohn: This is definitely more pool vibes to me.

McKenzie: This is a better wine.

Ahlgrim: Lighter.

McKenzie: I didn't notice the aftertaste being that sharp on D, but now, this has no aftertaste, and I'm like, "This is better."

Ahlgrim: I like a funkier, tangier wine, but I think most people expect rosé to be a bit sweeter and smoother. So I think this fits what people reach for when they reach for a rosé, more so than the first one.

McKenzie: As a sweet enthusiast, it has my vote.

Ahlgrim: I don't know if I would spend $30 on it because it feels like such easy drinking.

Rollins: To me, this is giving rosé all day. There ain't nothing wrong with it.

As Ever took us by surprise.
Blind tasting rose wine.
We didn't expect As Ever to have such an elevated flavor.

Nico Schinco fir BI

As Ever was the third wine we tried, under the alias "wine B." It had the most unexpected flavor profile of the bunch.

Ahlgrim: Oh, I like the smell. This smells more expensive.

Pettyjohn: This tastes expensive. But it doesn't taste like rosé to me. It's good, but it is not what I would expect.

Rollins: This is like a very dry white, maybe.

McKenzie: It has a very bold flavor.

Ahlgrim: I actually like that I don't think it tastes like a rosé. It's much bolder than I expected. I feel like it's aged.

Rollins: There's something oaky about it.

Pettyjohn: It's fancy.

Ahlgrim: It's earthy, almost.

McKenzie: It tastes like a chardonnay. It is giving oak chardonnay.

Whispering Angel had the group split.
Whispering Angel
Whispering Angel rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

The final wine of the test was Whispering Angel, which we labeled "wine C." It was a hit or miss vibe for the testers.

Pettyjohn: I do like this one. This is what I would consider easy rosé drinking.

Ahlgrim: Oh, this is bland.

McKenzie: It's very harsh on my tongue. I don't prefer this at all.

Rollins: Really? This one seems like an easier drinking version of B and D.

McKenzie: This one? I don't like it at all. I just taste more of the alcoholic taste, which I don't love.

Ahlgrim: Yes, I think there's very little flavor, and it's more alcohol-forward. This is my least favorite of the four.

Rollins: I feel like this one splits the difference between all of them. It's got a bit of the berry of the other ones, but it's still dry, and it's got the rosé.

Ahlgrim: If somebody gave me a glass of this by the pool, I would drink it, but I would not opt for this if I had the other options.

We revisited all four wines before the reveal.
Wine glasses filled with rose.
We compared all the rosés again before the reveal.

Nico Schinco for BI

While we still didn't know which wine was which, we compared them to each other, referring to them by their letter code.

Overall, our takeaway was that Summer Water was the best for casual rosé drinking, thanks to its light and berry flavor, but the taste of As Ever's wine stood out for being unexpected and refreshing.

Miraval sat in the middle of the pack, while Whispering Angel was too alcohol-forward for McKenzie and Ahlgrim.

After the big reveal, we loved that As Ever wasn't what we expected from Meghan.
As Ever wine bottle wrapped.
As Ever was a surprise hit.

Nico Schinco for BI

When we finally found out which wine was which, we were all surprised that "wine B" was As Ever.

Ahlgrim: Oh, that's the one that doesn't taste like rosé! It's weird, and I like that.

McKenzie: It was my number two favorite!

Ahlgrim: As Ever was my top in terms of what I like in a wine. I like a weirder flavor, but I think Summer Water is more rosé-y. But if I saw As Ever at the store, I would buy it again.

Pettyjohn: Me too. I would buy this again, and I think it would be nice if you paired it with fruit or cheese — that vibe. If you brought this to a party, your friends would be like, "Oh, the rosé you brought is so good. Where did you get it?"

Rollins: I would be curious to drink it in a cup, like in one of the "Love Is Blind" cups, where you can't see what color it is, and just be like, "What does that taste like to you?"

Ahlgrim: I admire that Meghan didn't take the easiest route. So many celebrities have an alcohol brand, so I think it was bold of her to do something that does not taste like every other rosé on the market.

Pettyjohn: If I put my Meghan Scholar hat on, I also feel this reflects her as a flavor. You think you're going to get one thing, but then she surprises you, and it's a really lovely flavor, even if it's not necessarily what you were expecting.

McKenzie: It's something that I would order again.

Pettyjohn: Me too.

McKenzie: Her rosé beats Brad Pitt's.

Ahlgrim: 100%.

We took a closer look at the As Ever bottle after the taste test.
Rose wine bottles
As Ever had the highest alcohol content.

Nico Schinco for BI

Once we knew which wine it was, we checked out the As Ever bottle. Its 14.5% alcohol content — the highest of the four — surprised us, particularly because it didn't taste too alcohol-forward. We also liked that the wine seemed versatile.

Ahlgrim: It is the best bang for your buck if you're looking for the highest alcohol content.

McKenzie: 14.5% is pretty high.

Ahlgrim: That surprises me because because of how alcohol-forward I felt like the Whispering Angel was. I expected that to be the highest.

Pettyjohn: I like to make a rosé sangria, and I think As Ever would be good with that.

Ahlgrim: Ooh, with a bit of prosecco or seltzer in it? Yeah, because the flavor is so strong, it would lend itself well to a mix.

Pettyjohn: Yes, exactly.

Ahlgrim: It's not a poolside rosé. It's like a charcuterie rosé.

Pettyjohn: I can see Meghan on her patio, talking to one of her friends, and drinking it.

Three out of the four of us could see ourselves buying As Ever.
Tasting rose wines.
The group liked the As Ever rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

Ahlgrim, McKenzie, and I said we would buy As Ever down the line, though we want people to know they shouldn't expect a classic rosé flavor. Rollins had reservations, especially because the bottles are only available in three, six, or 12 packs.

Rollins: As Ever was interesting, but I definitely wouldn't order three bottles because of the price and strong flavor. You really have to love the flavor.

Pettyjohn: I would buy it! When I went to Sonoma, one winery had a rosé you could try, and it was very similar to this. It didn't taste how you expected a rosé to taste, but it was good.

McKenzie: It's a good wine. I would order it again. It was my top two. It tastes like a chardonnay, and I don't mind that.

Ahlgrim: The Summer Water would be what I would drink on a Saturday during the day in the summer. Then I would switch to Meghan's at night.

Pettyjohn: I couldn't have said it better myself.

I tried As Ever's rosé at home and loved it even more.
As Ever rose wine
As Ever rosé.

Nico Schinco for BI

A few days after the official taste test, I revisited As Ever rosé, pouring a glass for myself and my husband.

I gave it a sniff, inhaling that full-bodied, almost orange wine-like scent that surprised me during the test. It was inviting and bright, and as I took a sip, I was delighted that As Ever tasted even more refreshing and crisp than I remembered. My husband was a fan, too, and I had to remind myself not to drink it too quickly over dinner.

Meghan's rosé is a hit in my book, and I'm intrigued to see how her foray into the wine industry continues. Cheers!

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  •  

6 purses to buy if you don't want to carry the same luxury bag everyone else has

Candela Novembre carries a Schiaparelli nose purse at Paris Fashion Week in 2023.
Schiaparelli's nose designs are just one standout purse option this year.

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

  • Designer purses from Miu Miu, Dior, and The Row have been everywhere this year.
  • If you want to stand out, though, brands like Alaïa and Ralph Lauren have alternative options.
  • You might also want to consider Chloé and Schiaparelli, which make statement pieces.

Like clockwork, a new batch of designer purses rises to the top of the fashion world every year.

In 2025, "it bag" contenders include rectangle designs from Miu Miu, shopping totes from The Row, and, of course, new variations of Dior's famed saddle bag.

It's understandable, though, that some people want their purses to stand out from the rest. If you're one of them, here are some options that are equally luxe but slightly more distinct.

Everyone is into raffia this year, but other textures are just as stunning.
The Le Click bag from Alaïa.

Alaïa

Raffia, a natural fiber made from the leaves of raffia palm trees, looks great on summer bags. That's why woven totes from Loewe, Sézane, and other designers are everywhere this season.

Other materials, though, translate better all year round.

The braided Le Click bag from Alaïa is just one example. It's crafted with black leather, embellished with gold hardware, and costs $6,250.

Market totes don't have to be sheer.
The Denim Market Tote from 3.1 Phillip Lim.
The Denim Market Tote from 3.1 Phillip Lim.

3.1 Phillip Lim

Everyone seems to love The Row's $1,350 Barn tote, which is basically a luxury version of a classic mesh shopping bag.

But if you want to carry something a little more unique — and spend a few hundred dollars less — there are other standout options.

The Denim Market Tote from 3.1 Phillip Lim is one of them. It retails for $795, is embellished with leather flower appliqués, and comes with a detachable pouch.

Embellishments are in. Consider a bag with a statement decoration.
The Mini Nose bag from Schiaparelli.
The Mini Nose bag from Schiaparelli.

Schiaparelli

While encrusted bags from Cult Gaia and Khaite might be trendy, no brand does embellishments quite like Schiaparelli.

Designs like its Mini Nose bag — which retails for 4,100 euros, or about $4,800 — are optimal for luxe, quiet-luxury looks that are contemporary, but not overly flashy.

The bag is made from black calfskin and has a pink leather interior.

If you're looking for an everyday bag that carries it all, look no further than Aspinal of London.
The Hudson bag from Aspinal of London.
The Hudson bag from Aspinal of London.

Aspinal of London

Jil Sander, Jacquemus, and Fendi have made medicine bags mainstream, especially as work bags. The purses are usually medium in size, full of storage space, and neutral in color.

If you're shopping for one, you might want to consider the $940 Hudson design from Aspinal of London.

The bag is sold in classic colors like tan and black, but it's also available in more fun shades like wine and forest green. It's also crafted from pebbled leather, which automatically gives the bag a worn look without any effort from the carrier.

Ralph Lauren makes a stunning alternative to the Dior saddle bag.
The Polo ID bag from Ralph Lauren.
The Polo ID bag from Ralph Lauren.

Ralph Lauren

Dior's saddle bag might have been introduced in 1999, but it's arguably more popular than ever now.

That might be good news for fans who have struggled to get their hands on the original designs. If you want something fresher, though, Ralph Lauren has one option.

The Polo ID bag, which retails for $498, has a symmetrical, crescent shape and is similar in size to the Dior purse. It's also made with suede, one of the most popular fabrics of 2025.

Metallic fashion has held strong this year. A shiny bag is an easy way into the trend.
The Chain Horse bag from Chloé.
The Chain Horse bag from Chloé.

Chloé

Carrying the Chain Horse bag from Chloé is also one of the easiest ways to stand out.

The bag is almost entirely golden, with a horsebit chain and golden beads across its suede leather. It even features a horse head and tail at each end.

It will cost you, though, as it retails for $9,600.

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  •  

I went on my first cruise — here are 15 things that surprised me about this type of travel

The author on the largest cruise ship in the world
The reporter's first cruise was on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • I took my first cruise on one of the largest ships, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.
  • My seven-night trip was full of surprises, from the size of my room to the quality of the food.
  • The port stops were shorter than I expected, and I found myself getting lost on the giant ship.

Before April 2022, I had never seen a cruise ship in real life.

Prior to becoming a travel reporter, most of my trips were limited to visiting family in faraway places and budget road trips across the US, where I stayed in campsites, parking lots, and cheap Airbnbs.

I'd traveled by car, bus, train, and plane, but the only boat I'd ever been on was a ferry.

That changed three years ago, when I took my first cruise on one of the world's largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

During my seven-night Caribbean voyage, the ship sailed round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas

While I'd seen cruise ships on TV and in movies, I couldn't understand how big these vessels were until I saw one myself. On board, I felt like I was in a small town in the middle of the ocean.

Since this was a new form of transportation, my voyage was full of surprises. I learned that cruising is a lifestyle in itself, and while it's not necessarily for me, I can see what draws people to this type of vacation time and again.

For $2,000, I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom on deck 8. The cruise was on sale, as it was originally priced at $3,000.
The author in her stateroom on the world's largest cruise ship
The author in her stateroom.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The ship has 18 decks and 2,867 staterooms, according to Royal Caribbean

I booked a mid-tier room — a step above interior staterooms with no windows, a step below staterooms with a balcony, and two steps below a suite.

My 179-square-foot cabin had a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and an ocean view.

I was surprised by how big the sale was with such a big discount. To me, $1,000 feels like a huge difference in price for the same vacation.

I thought I'd feel cramped since the room was only 179 square feet. But when I stepped inside, the cabin felt surprisingly spacious.
Inside a stateroom on the world's largest cruise ship
The author's stateroom.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the stateroom made great use of a small space with plenty of storage for my clothes and other belongings. There were two closets for hanging space and more drawers than I used. 

An attendant serviced my room twice a day — more than I've experienced at hotels or in Airbnbs.
Things left by room service on world's largest cruise ship
Surprises from my stateroom attendant.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After leaving to start my day each morning, a stateroom attendant cleaned my room. And after I left for dinner each night, they came back to clean up again. Every evening, they brought me fresh towels — sometimes creatively folded — and a flyer featuring the next day's schedule on the ship with the weather, dress code, and any other important information, such as a time change. 

This surprised me because I am used to having my room serviced once daily, if at all, during my hotel stays, and never in Airbnbs.

I assumed I'd have a small porthole window like I've seen on ships in TV shows and movies. But my rectangular window was much bigger than I expected.
two images of a window on cruise ship
The window in the author's stateroom.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

An electronic shade over the window could be brought down during the day to reveal some grand views. I loved waking up after a night at sea to a front-row view of the place I'd be visiting that day. 

While windowless rooms are cheaper, I couldn't imagine staying in a room without one. My oceanview stateroom cost about $300 more than an entry-level room.

I didn't realize booking a room at the front of the ship would result in a bumpier ride.
left: window shows the front of the ship Right: the author reacts to the bumpy ride in her room
The author had a bumpy ride in her stateroom.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I booked a stateroom at the front of deck eight and felt constant motion in my room.

Some nights were rockier than others. On the roughest nights, I heard and felt a similar sensation to thunder beneath me every few minutes. Loud thumps and heavy vibrations in my room sounded like large pieces of furniture falling. The first night this happened, I feared the worst, but over time, I realized that this was a normal aspect of cruising — but one I would likely never get used to. 

After talking to seasoned cruisers on the ship, several told me that the front of the ship is one of the worst places to be for feeling motion. Higher decks in the middle of the ship feel calmer and more stable, they said. 

Next time, I'd choose a room in the middle of the ship. 

All cruises mandate a training session for guests on what to do in an emergency. But I was surprised that mine was available to watch on-demand in my cabin.
Emergency safety training on board the Wonder of the Seas
A safety training video on the TV in the author's stateroom and emergency instructions on the door.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

All I had to do for safety training was watch a couple of videos — either on my room TV or on the Royal Caribbean app — and then check into my assembly station, the area that I was assigned to go to in case of an emergency. At the assembly station, an attendant checked via the Royal Caribbean app that I had completed the mandatory training.

I was expecting to attend a large safety training session once I got on the ship, so this alternative was a breeze. 

The ship has 24 elevators, but taking the stairs was often faster.
Elevators (L) and stairs (R) on the world's largest cruise ship
The elevators (L) and the stairs (R).

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since there were so many elevators on the ship, I expected them to be a pretty efficient way to get around. But they were often so crowded and slow that I took the stairs instead. By the middle of my trip, unless I was going all the way up to the pool decks, I always opted for the stairs to save time. 

The ship was harder to navigate than expected, and I often got lost on my way to specific venues.
A hallway on the cruise ship (L) map of the ship (R)
A long hallway on the ship (L) and a map of the ship next to the elevators.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The ship has 16 guest decks; each deck is divided into three sections — forward, middle, and aft. 

It took me a few days to get used to the sections, and I often found myself heading to the right deck but the wrong section of the ship. Luckily, there were maps on every floor, which I used until the morning I left. 

In the communal indoor spaces, I was surprised that I didn't even feel like I was on a ship.
Deck five of the wonder of the seas cruise ship
Deck five on the largest cruise ship in the world.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

If I woke up on deck five of Wonder of the Seas with no memory of my cruise, I'd think I was in a shopping mall. 

Aside from the slight movement of the ship, the indoor decks were so big that, as a cruise newbie, it was hard to believe that I was on a gigantic boat in the middle of the ocean. Everywhere I looked, I saw shops, stands, restaurants, large sculptures, and a unique ceiling structure that reminded me of the malls I've visited. 

Throughout the trip, I heard more live music than I thought I would, often in the background of the ship's activities.
Live music on the world largest cruise ship wonder of the seas
Bands play on outdoor decks 15 (L) and eight (R) on board the Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Aside from music festivals, I've never heard more live music on a trip than on this cruise. On the communal decks, musicians played for hours while people relaxed and played around them. I was also surprised by the eclectic mix of genres I heard, from rock to jazz to classical. 

In addition to the music hall, where concerts were regularly held, live bands performed on indoor and outdoor communal decks. Some people watched, while others listened while swimming, relaxing, or walking around. 

I thought formal nights would be enforced more.
A formal night onboard Wonder of the seas cruise ship
The dining room at Wonderland on a formal night (L). The author's formal outfit (R).

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I like to be comfy, so I was dreading formal nights going into this cruise. 

I brought one fancy dress with me to wear whenever I needed. But on the first formal night, I realized that the dress code wasn't strictly enforced. People wore a range of outfits, from evening gowns to T-shirts. 

For the rest of the trip, I also relaxed my interpretation of the dress code. 

Some of the best meals I had were included in the rate.
a three course meal from the main dining roon onboard wonder of the seas
A three-course meal in the main dining room, a restaurant that's free for guests.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

One of the unique things about cruising is that most meals, snacks, and drinks are included in the cruise rate.

However, on large ships like Wonder of the Seas, more than a dozen restaurants with specialty offerings like sushi are not included, and incur additional charges, either as a one-time fee or by the dish.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of the most delicious and satisfying meals I had were in the restaurants included for guests.

There were a handful of buffets with all different types of food, and the main dining room served a three-course meal with varying menu items each night. These complimentary options satisfied every single one of my cravings. One of my best meals was in the main dining room, where I was seated alone. 

 

I found that reservations for restaurants and shows on the ship fill up fast, so it's important to plan ahead to do exactly what you want.
reservations at a Royal Caribbean show
The author attended a show in the Aquatheater.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The cruise ship was full of activities and restaurants that I could go to any time, but some restaurants, like the specialty ones, and all the shows on board, required reservations that I made through the Royal Caribbean app.

However, getting reservations for the show and meal times I wanted on the day of was often hard. So, I started making reservations days before each event, depending on its popularity.

For example, the circus-like acrobatic water show in the Aquatheater seemed to be the most popular and hardest reservation to get. I tried to get one on the day of the event, but couldn't find any availability until a show two nights later.

But even with extensive preparations, planning anything on a cruise ship was subject to change.
hot air balloon at perfect day cococay
A view of the hot air balloon on the ground.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The excursion I was most thrilled about —  a hot air balloon ride over the Bahamas — was canceled the day of because the winds were too high.

It was on the last day of my trip, and with only one day in port, it could not be rescheduled. It was the experience I was looking forward to most, so I was disappointed. On a cruise ship, I learned that all plans are subject to change based on things outside the crew's control, like the weather. 

I thought the port stops would be longer.
Roatan, Honduras, is seen from the world's largest cruise ship
The Wonder of the Seas docked in Roatan, Honduras.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since we traveled such a long way to each port, I wrongfully assumed we'd spend more time in them. The ship usually docked in the morning, around 8 a.m., and left in the early afternoon. 

I thought I'd have time to explore the port for a while after each excursion, but some of my excursions took the entire day, getting me back to the boat just in time for departure. I also hoped to see what these places looked like at night, but we never departed after sundown. 

Although I got a taste of the Caribbean, I didn't have enough time to get a sense of each place, which made me realize that I would probably prefer to vacation in just one place and have time to truly explore it. 

I'm so glad I finally know what it's like to cruise on a giant ship, but I'll probably take a plane next time.
The author on deck 16 of the world's largest cruise ship
The author on deck 16 of Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Overall, my trip left me in awe. I learned there's nothing like looking out from the top deck and seeing only the ocean surrounding you.

But next time I want to visit the Caribbean, I'll take a plane to one place and explore it deeply. 

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  •  

The most daring looks Miley Cyrus has ever worn, from see-through dresses to latex leotards

Miley Cyrus waves at fans in New York City.
Miley Cyrus in New York City on June 6, 2025.

XNY/Star Max/Getty Images

  • In addition to being a musician and actor, Miley Cyrus is also a style icon.
  • Many of her looks are extremely daring and involve everything from cutouts to plunging necklines.
  • Cyrus also often wears see-through outfits, quirky leotards, and bold accessories.

No one embraces daring fashion quite like Miley Cyrus.

The 32-year-old superstar has been wearing bold outfits since the start of her entertainment career. She's performed in latex leotards, attended awards shows in sheer gowns, and more.

Here's a look at those outfits and some of the other daring ensembles she's sported so far.

Miley Cyrus wore a blazer as a dress to the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.
miley cyrus 2012 BMAs
Miley Cyrus at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 20, 2012.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Her white, double-breasted blazer with a plunging neckline was designed by Jean Paul Gaultier. With this daring look, Cyrus proved she was way ahead of the "no-pants trend," which was most popular between 2016 and 2018. 

Equally bold were her accessories and hair, which included layered necklaces, black-and-white heels, and a short, volumized lob.

About seven months later, Cyrus attended a "VH1 Divas" event wearing a long-sleeved dress covered in cutouts.
miley cyrus black dress with cutouts
Miley Cyrus at a "VH1 Divas" event in Los Angeles, California, on December 16, 2012.

Jerod Harris/Getty Images

The form-fitting dress had a high neckline, long sleeves, and a straight, calf-length skirt. The garment was especially unique thanks to diamond-shaped cutouts on each side that extended from her chest to her legs.

Cyrus completed the look with black pumps, matching nail polish, and short, spiked hair.

At the 2013 Met Gala, the musician paired an optical-illusion dress with one of her boldest hairstyles to date.
miley cyrus met gala 2013
Miley Cyrus at the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Though her Marc Jacobs dress appeared to be see-through at first glance, it actually had a long-sleeved, fishnet overlay atop a nude, sleeveless piece. The outer fabric was also coated with sparkles.

To keep the emphasis on her standout dress, Cyrus opted for a classic beauty look that included black eyeliner, red lipstick, and neutral face products. Her hair, on the other hand, was styled in wispy blonde spikes that showed her brown roots.

Cyrus even found a way to wear sweatpants on the red carpet that year.
miley cyrus june 2013
Miley Cyrus at a Myspace event in Los Angeles, California, on June 12, 2013.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

She attended a Myspace event in a black bralette-style top, leather jacket, and white pumps. Cyrus also accessorized with a black handbag, layered necklaces, vibrant lipstick, and short blonde hair that was shaved on each side. 

It was her pants, however, that stole the show. The left leg of her pants was made from denim, and the right was made from gray sweatpants. 

She then wore numerous wild outfits during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
miley cyrus vmas 2013
Miley Cyrus at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on August 25, 2013.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MTV

First, she wore a strapless, fuzzy leotard designed to look like a gray mouse. Underneath was a nude, two-piece set made from latex, which she wore for her infamous performance with Robin Thicke.

She also wore white Creeper shoes from TUK Footwear, a choker necklace, and tiny space buns atop her head.

Toward the end of 2013, Cyrus wore cat-print swimwear and matching platform heels for an awards show.
miley cyrus amas 2013
Miley Cyrus at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on November 24, 2013.

Michael Buckner/AMA2013/Getty Images

The bathing suit — which had a sleeveless crop top and high-cut bottoms — was designed by Markus Lupfer

Though she performed in just the two-piece set, heels, and clear accessories, Cyrus later added a white jacket backstage.

She wore dozens of unique looks during her 2014 Bangerz Tour — including this leotard made from fake money.
miley cyrus may 2014
Miley Cyrus performs in Montpellier, France, on May 23, 2014.

Erick James/Getty Images

The suit — which had long sleeves, a deep, V-shaped neckline, and a high-cut bottom — was covered in fake bills with Cyrus' face on them.

In addition to her outfit, the musician also wore oversize gold chains, a cannabis-leaf charm, and a green choker.

She also took her daring style offstage and wore skin-baring outfits for red carpets.
miley cyrus 2014
Miley Cyrus at the amfAR LA Inspiration Gala in Hollywood on October 29, 2014.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

One such look was a black Tom Ford design that showed almost her entire torso. It had see-through long sleeves made from mesh and thick black straps that strategically crisscrossed over her chest.

Cyrus completed the look with a sleek blonde bob and dark eye makeup.

The following year, Cyrus put a daring twist on red-carpet elegance for the 2015 Met Gala.
miley cyrus 2014 met gala
Miley Cyrus attends the Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015, in New York City.

Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Her black dress, designed by Alexander Wang, had a high neckline, long sleeves, and a floor-length skirt.

It was also covered in gold studs from top to bottom and had four cutouts — two teardrop-shaped ones near the neckline, and larger, half-moon-shaped cutouts across her waist.

She then paired a strapless Moschino gown with red gloves and black boots.
miley cyrus 2015
Miley Cyrus at the amfAR Inspiration Gala in New York City on June 16, 2015.

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

In true Moschino style, the quirky dress had a sweetheart neckline and a giant bow that extended into a train. The red, satin gown was also covered in black-and-red hearts made from sequins.

Cyrus also wore black Doc Martens boots decorated with the same heart pattern.

Months later, Cyrus hit the red carpet in a sparkling suit and white boots.
miley cyrus pink suit
Miley Cyrus at a World AIDS Day event in New York City on December 1, 2015.

Greg Allen/Invision/AP

Her sparkling pink outfit included a long-sleeved jacket cropped at the waist, straight-legged pants, and a matching belt with a silver buckle.

Cyrus' boots, on the other hand, were white, though the stars on them were a metallic pink shade.

While campaigning for Hillary Clinton in 2016, Cyrus wore a giant bow in place of a shirt.
miley cyrus 2016
Miley Cyrus campaigns at a college dorm in Virginia on October 22, 2016.

Molly Riley/AP

The blue bow, which she wore as a bralette, had a red heart directly in the middle. She also showed her patriotic side in a red-and-white striped skirt, silver heels, and a pink feather headpiece.

And though she wasn't photographed wearing it, Cyrus also carried a sparkling red, white, and blue top hat.

Cyrus once again showed her love for see-through clothes and heart prints in 2017.
miley cyrus 2017
Miley Cyrus at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on September 23, 2017.

Sam Wasson/Stringer/Getty Images

On the red carpet, she wore a heart-print crop top underneath a sheer, calf-length jacket covered in the same print. She also wore matching lace tights that were entirely see-through over a red pair of underwear.

To complete the look, the musician wore red satin sandals, matching lipstick, and heart-shaped earrings.

In 2018, the "Midnight Sky" musician put a modern twist on old Hollywood glamour.
miley cyrus 2018
Miley Cyrus at an event held by Elton John in West Hollywood, California, on March 4, 2018.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images

She attended an event held by Elton John in an asymmetrical gown partially covered in sparkles and partially made from satin. The latter side was bright pink and resembled Marilyn Monroe's famous gown.

The other side, however, was silver and textured. The long-sleeved gown was also unique thanks to its cutout underneath the neckline and its zig-zag pattern that split the two fabrics.

At the Met Gala that year, Cyrus looked sophisticated in a black gown with a plunging neckline.
Miley Cyrus at the Met Gala 2018
Miley Cyrus at the Met Gala 2018

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The halter-style Stella McCartney design also had a mermaid-style skirt and an open back that showed off her tattoos. Cyrus paired the garment with gold necklaces and a short blonde hairstyle.

Cyrus let her shoes do the talking at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Miley Cyrus Grammys
Miley Cyrus attends the 2019 Grammys in California on February 10, 2019.

Jordan Strauss/AP

She arrived on the red carpet in a black Mugler pantsuit, which included pants that flared at the ankles, and an oversize jacket worn without a shirt underneath.

But it was her shoes that really stood out. Cyrus wore vegan heels designed by Bradley Kenneth Eyewear and made by Mink Shoes. They were black sandals with gold-chain straps and two heels in the shapes of her initials: "M" and "C."

She continued to wear wild accessories later that year.
miley cyrus tom ford
Miley Cyrus attends New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2019.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

For a Tom Ford fashion show, Cyrus wore black satin pants, a black top with a plunging neckline, and a long velvet jacket.

The rest of her look was even bolder. She donned platform boots with sparkling heels, oversize sunglasses, and a big, fuzzy hat.

At the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, Cyrus wore a see-through dress covered in tiny mirrors.
miley 2020 vmas
Miley Cyrus at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2020.

Vijat Mohindra/MTV VMAs 2020/Getty Images

Her strapless gown, designed by Mugler, was worn over two black undergarments.

Cyrus also wore sheer gloves covered in black beads, strappy sandals, red lipstick, and her new signature mullet.

She wore platforms again in October 2020, but this time with a larger-than-life hat.
miley cyrus fashion
Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus leave a New York City hotel in October 2020.

Raymond Hall/Getty Images

While leaving a New York City hotel with her mom, Cyrus was photographed in a red calf-length coat, a white scoop-neck shirt, and wide-legged leather pants with silver zippers across each shin.

Of course, a face mask was part of her ensemble, as were oversize sunglasses, layers of necklaces, and a towering top hat with a wide brim. Cyrus also wore black, alligator-print platform boots and carried a handbag with what appears to be a cat-shaped handle.

Cyrus walked around New York City in 2021 while wearing a rock-inspired outfit.
miley snl
Miley Cyrus walks around SoHo on May 6, 2021.

Raymond Hall/Getty Images

Her DIY-looking T-shirt read "Let It Rock," and she tucked it into a plaid miniskirt. To complete the look, Cyrus also wore velvet heels with gray bows, fishnet tights, a white garter, and messy buns.

In July 2021, Cyrus performed in Las Vegas for Independence Day while wearing a flag-themed outfit.
Miley Cyrus performs in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 4, 2021.
Miley Cyrus performs in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 4, 2021.

Denise Truscello/Getty Images

Her sleeveless top was made from black leather with silver sequin stars embroidered on it, while her miniskirt was covered in red-and-white sequined stripes from top to bottom.

Cyrus also wore silver jewelry, black knee-high boots with the same star pattern, and a spiked mullet.

She hit the stage again two months later in a daring blouse.
Miley Cyrus performs in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 19, 2021.
Miley Cyrus performs in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 19, 2021.

Paras Griffin/Stringer/Getty Images

While performing in Atlanta for the Music Midtown festival, Cyrus was photographed onstage wearing a halter shirt with a black collar and two shining hoops of fabric that draped across her chest.

She didn't wear anything else under the shirt, which showed many of her tattoos.

Cyrus wore a sparkling fringe dress to a Gucci fashion show in November 2021.
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando at the Gucci Love Parade on November 2, 2021.
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando at the Gucci Love Parade on November 2, 2021.

Donato Sardella/Getty Images

Her burgundy Gucci dress was covered in a sparkling blue fringe from top to bottom. It also had a thigh-high slit up its skirt, and a yellow feather belt across her hips.

Cyrus also carried a gold purse and wore metallic sandal heels.

The musician also wore her boldest pantsuit to date that month.
Miley Cyrus attends the LACMA Art + Film Gallery in California, on November 6, 2021.
Miley Cyrus attends the LACMA Art + Film Gallery in California on November 6, 2021.

Presley Ann/Stringer/Getty Images

Designed by Gucci and Balenciaga, her cream-colored suit was covered in a vibrant, floral print and the Balenciaga logo.

Cyrus wore it with a high-neck blouse underneath, a matching purse, and an oversize emerald ring.

To kick off 2022, Cyrus hosted a New Year's Eve party with Pete Davidson and wore a colorful, three-piece set.
Miley Cyrus in Florida for her 2021 New Year's Eve party.
Miley Cyrus in Florida for her New Year's Eve party on December 31, 2021.

NBC/Getty Images

The outfit included a sparkling blue bralette worn underneath a short coat crafted from rainbow-colored feathers. 

She also wore bedazzled platform sandals and a miniskirt made from pink lace, purple beads, and silver sequins.

She later changed into a silver set and experienced a major wardrobe malfunction.
Miley Cyrus in Florida for her 2021 New Year's Eve party.
Miley Cyrus in Florida for her New Year's Eve party on December 31, 2021.

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The two-piece set had a backless halter top with rips in the front and a matching miniskirt with asymmetrical pleats.

She was performing "Party in the USA" when the top part of her outfit broke, forcing her to hold it up and quickly make her way backstage. Cyrus then threw on a red blazer and seamlessly carried out the rest of her performance.

"Everybody's definitely looking at me now," she then jokingly sang before adding: "I'm still in the most clothes I've ever worn onstage."

Early in 2022, Cyrus performed in Colombia while wearing a cutout catsuit.
Miley Cyrus performs in Bogota, Colombia, on March 21, 2022.
Miley Cyrus performs in Bogotá, Colombia, on March 21, 2022.

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Her long-sleeved outfit was black and covered in tiny cutouts. The small circular ones extended from the garment's neckline to its pant legs, and a giant cutout with crisscross straps sat across its bodice.

In 2023, she was photographed wearing a body-hugging corset dress.
Miley Cyrus attends the Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards on April 23, 2023.
Miley Cyrus attends the Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards on April 23, 2023.

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Her Versace dress was strapless with a sharp, plunging neckline, cone top, and leather skirt.

Cyrus wore the bold garment with pointed pumps, black leather gloves, and her hair styled in loose waves.

Cyrus couldn't get enough of daring fashion at the 2024 Grammys.
Miley Cyrus attends the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Miley Cyrus attends the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.

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She first hit the red carpet in a custom ensemble designed by Maison Margiela. The golden chain-link dress was entirely see-through and intricately designed with different patterns from top to bottom.

The metallic piece also showed off her many tattoos and paired perfectly with her blown-out hairstyle.

Later that night, she changed into a brown dress with a slit that reached her waist.
Miley Cyrus attends the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Miley Cyrus attends the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The custom Gucci gown had a thin bodice with a single strap, which barely covered her chest across one side of her body.

The revealing top design mirrored the gown's showstopping skirt, which was slit down the side starting at her waist.

Cyrus wore the dress with pointed pumps, a feather shawl, and a leather purse.

This year, Cyrus stepped out in mesh while promoting her latest album.
Miley Cyrus signs autographs while wearing a see-through mesh gown.
Miley Cyrus in New York City on June 4, 2025.

Patricia Schlein/Star Max/Getty Images

She was visiting New York City when she was photographed wearing a black, sleeveless gown that was see-through.

Designed by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, the dress had a mermaid-style skirt, a plunging neckline, and a piece of fabric tied across the collarbone.

She then took fringe to another level.
Miley Cyrus waves at fans in New York City.
Miley Cyrus in New York City on June 6, 2025.

XNY/Star Max/Getty Images

Also in New York City, Cyrus wore a Schiaparelli couture design. It included a sleeveless, fishnet dress embellished with crystals and a fringe skirt, as well as a massive, fringe-covered coat.

She also carried a Schiaparelli purse with the brand's signature gold anatomy charms.

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