The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase

• MM.LaFleur is a cult-favorite women's workwear company that makes luxurious but functional clothes for busy women. 
• 70% of their clients are repeat customers. 
• The Foster Pant is their highest-earning style, and we got a chance to try them out. Not only are they extremely comfortable, but they have a concealed button that adjusts the hem, so you can wear them with heels or flats within seconds.

Women’s workwear is in a heyday of evolution.

One landmark company in the emerging movement is MM. LaFleur—  a cult-favorite using functional and luxurious materials and delivering on the sort of understated elegance that head designer (and Zac Posen veteran) Miyako Nakamura is so adept at producing.

Recently, they sent us their Foster Pant to test. They’re machine-washable and made from a thick Italian-cotton blend that’s designed to strike a balance between stretch and structure. It’s a cigarette leg that feels fitted without crossing the line into too tight for the office. And, it’s got an inventive perk: a concealed button in the hem that allows you to adjust the length from high to low. The button is unobtrusive, and it’s a game-changer for petite women or those who want to switch from heels to flats without switching pants. You can read our thoughts below, but overall, we loved them for their comfort, versatility, and their flattering yet professional design. 

The Foster Pant is their first pant style, and for the second year in a row, it's also been the highest earning style in the company — earning millions from a notoriously difficult demographic to please. Women's workwear is plagued by a phenomenon of fast fashion and trends that, understandably, see a high turnover rate. Instead of spending the amount of money projected as necessary to make more luxurious and better-fitting clothes for women overall, most retailers are happy to continue doing business as usual.

But what new workwear companies like MM. LaFleur and Citizen's Mark are betting on is that women do not want fast fashion for work. They do not want trends. They want comfort, elegance, and professionalism to coincide, and they want their workwear to actually make their lives easier. They want the same aura of credibility as a really great suit creates, and they likely want to spend less time in a dressing room to find it.

This contrarian take has turned out pretty well. Over 70% of MM. LaFleur's customers are returning clients, and that's a percentage that deserves a second look: not only is it 70% taken from a notoriously hard-to-please (read: hard-to-fit) demographic, but the clothes themselves must first pass an in-person test thanks to the company's preferred Bento Box experience. 

Instead of forcing busy, working women to come to their stores in order to realize how great their clothes are, MM. LaFleur offers a comprehensive questionnaire to learn about you, assigns a stylist to your case who picks out 4-6 wardrobe staples they think you'll love, and then sends you a box of those items to try on in the comfort of your home. Then you can pack up what you don't want and schedule a UPS pick up to grab it. They'll only charge you for what you keep, and it's not a subscription service. Not only are they addressing a lapse in the market (comfortable, machine-washable, elegant workwear), but they're doing it with notable fanfare.

You can read our individual thoughts on the pants below, or shop them directly here.

The Foster Pant, MM. LaFleur, $195 comes in six colors: black, chocolate, dark navy, dark olive, russet, and viridian, and a variety of inclusive sizes.

SEE ALSO: An up-and-coming frozen food startup solved virtually all of my healthy eating obstacles

Malarie Gokey, Guides editor

I used to avoid dress pants because I disliked ironing the easily wrinkled fabric and I was annoyed that I always had to hem them up. Then I tried MM. La Fleur's Foster Pant, which magically solved both of my problems.

These pants don't wrinkle easily because they stretch to fit your curves perfectly. Plus, the concealed button hem makes it absurdly easy to shorten the pants to the perfect length for my 5'2 frame. I wish every pair of pants had that ingenious hem!

I love the fit and look of the Foster pants so much I bought a special pair of heels to wear them with.

The Foster Pant, MM. LaFleur, $195

Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Work pants are always a struggle to shop for because I want them to balance comfort and professionalism. Since I spend most of the day sitting down or walking around the office, comfort is what I yearn for the most, but is often the factor I end up having to compromise. The Foster Pant somehow manages to knock both comfort and structure out of the park.

I’m a big fan of stretch, which you wouldn’t ordinarily associate with work pants, but the Foster Pant fits at all the right places while remaining crisp and sharp. The Monsoon gray [currently out of stock] is a stylish, versatile color that goes with anything, yet another reason these are now one of my go-to work pants.

The Foster Pant, MM. LaFleur, $195

Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

I'm a pretty low maintenance person, but I have a long checklist for what I look for in workwear. I spend the majority of my life in it, so if I'm going to spend the money I want to feel comfortable, look tailored and professional, and find that the materials are elastic enough to maintain their shape even after repeated wears. If they're machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant, then they earn a place of honor.

MM. LaFleur makes a lot of my favorite workwear because they understand how to combine comfort and elegance so remarkably well. The Foster Pants hit all my must-haves. 

The cigarette pant shape is fitted but appropriate. The thick Italian-cotton blend is comfortable and has a lot of give, but also provides structure. And they're machine-washable.

I'm 5'7, so the concealed button wasn't a major draw for me, but I appreciate the pension for innovation (which also shows up in the unique seam design in the back of the pants, an understated but nonetheless flattering addition).

My advice would be if you're not sure about sizing to try a size down. I'm a pretty solid 4 (though recently things have been feeling looser in general), and I'm comfortable in my pair of 4 Fosters, but would probably have wanted to try the 2 to gauge. 

The Foster Pant, MM. LaFleur, $195

US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis visited Indonesia on Tuesday to repair ties with the country's special forces, which committed gross human-rights violations under former Indonesian President Muhammad Suharto. 

Mattis was expecting to watch the Indonesian special forces, known as Kopassus, perform a hostage rescue drill — but instead saw them walk on fire, drink snake blood, roll in glass, and more.

Mattis seemed to enjoy the demonstration. 

“The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them? The way they were whipping them around – a snake gets tired very quickly,” Mattis later told reporters, according to Reuters. 

Here's what the Indonesian special forces do:

SEE ALSO: Indonesia's special forces drank snake blood and broke bricks with their heads in a rare display for Jim Mattis

DON'T MISS: US stealth bombers in Guam appear to be readying for a tactical nuclear strike on North Korea

Mattis visited Indonesia to repair ties with the country's military, and expected to just observe a hostage rescue demonstration. But he soon found out that that wasn't the only thing they had in store for him.

Source: Business Insider

The Indonesian special forces, or Kopassus, unsacked snakes and begin whipping them around to tire them out.

The soldiers bit them in half and drank their blood.

"Destiny 2" may have just launched a few months ago, but considering the dire state of that game, many players (and others) are looking ahead to the 2019 release of "Anthem," a new game from Bioware that bears many similarities to Bungie's sci-fi shooter franchise.

Take a look:

SEE ALSO: One of the best parts of 'Destiny' is now a punishing experience in 'Destiny 2'

"Destiny" is all about killing aliens in beautiful, otherworldly environments with your friends (or random people you meet online). "Anthem" seems to have a similar gist.

In "Anthem," your character is what's known as a "Freelancer." Bioware calls them "the heroes that leave the safety of the walls of Fort Tarsus, to explore the unknown and protect humanity."

This sounds similar to "Destiny": In that game, your character is known as a Guardian — a chosen warrior tasked with protecting the last city on Earth.

In "Anthem," players get an array of exosuits called Javelins, which provide superhuman abilities. They're also heavily customizable, so you can look and play how you want.

Similarly, in "Destiny," a big aspect of the game is customizing the armor and weaponry of your character, which you collect from completing missions and various activities.

Often, a state's largest city is considered its best place to live.

But there's something to be said for rural towns too.

We rounded up the least-populated town in every state, based on the US Census Bureau's 2016 annual estimate of the resident population.

This data was collected using administrative records (births, deaths, records of moves), all of which were then weighed against the 2010 census. This list includes only incorporated towns.

While the majority of the towns that made the list have single-digit populations, there are a few states whose smallest towns are much larger. This is because these towns are located in densely populated states, and different states have different requirements for formally incorporating a town.

Keep scrolling to see the tiniest towns across the country.

Andy Kiersz contributed reporting to this article.

ALABAMA: McMullen Town

Population: 9

ALASKA: Bettles City

Population: 12

ARIZONA: Winkelman Town

Population: 346

• Technological and social innovations mean things are changing quickly around the world.
• The United States is slipping behind other countries in key measures of progress.
• The US trails other nations in areas such as press freedom, passport strength, internet speed, and cost of education.

American politicians often boast that their country is the greatest in the world.

But in a lot of ways, the United States is slipping in the world rankings. From the price Americans pay for education to the strength of their passports, there are plenty of ways people from other countries have it better.

Read on to see 13 areas where America has some catching up to do:

SEE ALSO: This map shows the US really has 11 separate 'nations' with entirely different cultures

DON'T MISS: After traveling to 24 countries, I found people all around the world have the same 5 mistaken ideas about Americans

Healthcare

While every country does healthcare a little differently, the fact remains that the United States is the only wealthy country in the world without universal healthcare coverage.

The US spends about three times more per capita on healthcare expenditures than other countries with comparable incomes, yet Americans have a lower life expectancy than people in those countries, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The US also leads wealthy countries in preventable deaths — in 2013, 112 out of every 100,000 Americans under 75 died from complications or conditions that could have been avoided with better healthcare, the Times reported.

Social progress

The not-for-profit Social Progress Imperative ranked social progress in 128 countries in 2017 based on three criteria: basic human needs like food, water, and shelter; foundations of well-being such as access to information and environmental quality; and opportunity, including personal rights and freedoms and access to education.

The US came in 18th on the list, while Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland took the first five spots.

Free higher education

The price of college tuition is becoming harder and harder for Americans to afford. Collectively, Americans hold more than $1.3 trillion in college loan debt.

The daunting prospect of affording college is inspiring some Americans to study in countries with free higher education.

Countries such as Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia all offer free or virtually free college education.

Any new relationship is full of challenges. You're getting to know someone, and there's no telling when something will happen to burst the bubble of your new romance. 

In general, it's fun learning all there is to know about someone who used to be a stranger. But sometimes, this new person will show signs that you shouldn't take things further. 

Everyone has their own quirks and opinions, and someone being a bit different isn't a reason to run for the hills. But if you find yourself compromising on yourself or feeling uncomfortable, these are major red flags.

Business Insider asked eight relationship experts, many who specialise in helping people who have been in abusive relationships, what the one major red flag to look out for is. 

Here's what they said:

SEE ALSO: Empaths and narcissists make a 'toxic' partnership — here's why they're attracted to each other

1. You justify their bad behaviour.

"If you find yourself justifying away what he does or says, even though these feel wrong in your gut, then that's a surefire red flag. The mind is the most skilled Photoshopper — it can rationalise anything and paint any picture of anyone, depending on our initial perspective. There is a psychological phenomenon known as the 'confirmation bias,' where we are inclined to discard all evidence that does not align with our views, and only keep those that do. And with a potentially toxic person, they have worked to create a false positive impression to worm their way into your heart.

"So even if they do something bad or say something that's off, you may think: 'He's only this way because he went through X.' This is when ticking boxes of: 'Is he rude to the waiter?,' 'Is he nice to his family members?' doesn't work. He could be all that — the sleekest toxic people are. But underlying it, if he says things like: 'So they'll treat us better the next time,' or he has a mean mouth towards some people, and if you find yourself justifying his transactional mindset or meanness, then it's time to pause and step back. Our brains work overtime to convince us of someone who's not good for us, even when our guts know it."

— Perpetua Neo, psychologist, expert in toxic relationships, and creator of Detox Your Heart

2. They don't talk through issues.

"I'd say the one major red flag in a person's behavior that may indicate that the relationship won't work is the unwillingness to talk through issues, big or small. All couples have disagreements. That's perfectly normal and healthy. But, it's how you handle those disagreements that can really make or break things. Does your partner walk away? Shut down? Place all the blame on you? Throw a tantrum? These are all red flags. In a good relationship, a couple can, and will, talk through issues, listening to the other person's point of view and expressing his or her own. No one needs to win or lose. It's about expressing how something makes you feel and being heard. Communication is key."

— Erika Ettin, dating coach and founder of dating site "A Little Nudge"

3. They're constantly testing your boundaries.

"Run from anyone who attempts to cross a boundary that you have set. Examples: you have said you do not want to go further sexually and they insist, you say you are not available on Sunday but they push you to see them, you are not ready to have them meet your family members or friends but they push you, they push you to date exclusively before you are ready, they want to move in or get married or set up a bank account before you want, they try to change the way you wear your hair or your clothes or anything else about you that feels like 'you' and it makes you uncomfortable."

— Lisa Fontes, psychologist and author of "Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship"

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Moving is a stressful experience no matter how you slice it, and taking on the job of finding and outfitting your first apartment as an adult is even more so.

Your first apartment is a perfect storm: an intersection of many needs and low resources. Chances are high that your college roommate might have bought the kitchen utensils... or the vacuum... or the pots and pans...  and now you’re trying to furnish an entire apartment on your own with less money than it seems the job will demand.

The few purchases you do make will need to last you longer than the cheap, seasonal models you bought in college so you’re not in the same spot, dumping more money into a dresser next year. You’ll likely want nicer belongings than plastic storage bins for all of your clothes as an adult now, anyway.

Since it's unlikely you have a carte blanche at West Elm, the purchases you do make are best when backed up by the advice of people who’ve been there before and can help you choose wisely. While I went through my post-graduation apartment search recently, I decided to make use of an incredible resource and survey my colleagues on their most valuable first apartment purchases. We spend around 40 hours a week thinking of ways to optimize peoples' lives with valuable products, so the purchases we make for our own homes carry special significance for me.

Below, you'll find the 17 things the Insider Picks team is most glad we bought for our first apartment.

SEE ALSO: This bedding startup's pillows are some of the best I've used, and they're worth every penny

Breton Fischetti, senior director of commerce: Brooklinen sheets

This pick is one that I did with a bit of hindsight, but I lived in a four-bedroom apartment, so my bedroom was the only bit of space in the apartment that was truly mine.

I really enjoyed having a good set of sheets. Once I got them it really made a difference in making the place feel more grownup and put together compared to whatever sheets I had leftover from high school/college. I recently bought a set of Brooklinen sheets and they are a great option. It's definitely a stretch of a purchase for a first apartment, but you use sheets every day so it's worthwhile. 

Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle (Queen), $239.25

A mirror to open up a small room

A first apartment or home is probably going to be smaller, and the easiest way to make a small space feel bigger is with a good mirror. It reflects light and adds depth to any room.

Umbra Mira Wall Mirror, $80

Ellen Hoffman, commerce editor: OXO Mixing Bowl and Colander Set

I bought this set of mixing bowls and colanders when I moved into my first apartment, and years later it’s up there with my tea kettle and cow mugfor most-used items in my kitchen.

The set includes three mixing bowls and three colanders in various sizes with a space-saving, nesting design. So simple, but so practical for anyone who cooks at home a lot.  

OXO Good Grips Nesting Bowls and Colanders Set, $64.38

On the morning of December 16, 1944, more than 200,000 German troops and almost 1,000 tanks drove into the Ardennes forest, across an 85-mile stretch of the front line, running from southern Belgium to the middle of Luxembourg.

The German thrust shredded Allied lines, held by units sent to the Ardennes to rest and reorganize.

Bad weather held Allied air power in check, and many American troops were caught off guard. The US Army's 106th Infantry division was encircled in hours, and two out of three soldiers were caught or killed. US forces settled into wholesale retreat, save for a few pockets of soldiers who fought on but were quickly isolated, though they held crucial road junctions.

The German offensive pushed a 50-mile bulge into the Allies' lines on the Western Front. US Gen. Dwight Eisenhower saw a chance to break the German war machine, and more than a half-million troops were thrown into battle.

The two armies clashed in driving snow and sub-zero temperatures. Soldiers often couldn't see more than 10 or 20 yards in front of them.

"Both the enemy and the weather could kill you," Private Bart Hagerman of the 17th Airborne said in a PBS documentary. "And the two of them together was a pretty deadly combination."

Casualities mounted for the US, and physical-fitness standards were lowered to pull in more troops. Men suffering from physical or mental wounds were thrown back into the fight.

"It's very hard to forget the expressions on their faces ... a kind of hollow-eyed, lifeless, slack-jawed expression," Ben Kimmelman, a captain in the 28th Infantry, said in the documentary. "It's almost as though they're going to a hopeless doom."

The battle lasted until the final days of January, when Allied troops returned to their original lines. Almost a million troops were engaged, and 16,000 Americans were killed with another 60,000 wounded or captured. German losses were thought to be twice that.

SEE ALSO: It's been 77 years since the Battle of Britain — here are 14 photos of the Nazi onslaught in the skies of England

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During the Battle of the Bulge, a US Army half track crosses a temporary bridge over the Ourthe River, in the war-torn Belgian city of Houffalize, in January 1945.

American soldiers check for identification on the bodies of dead US troops shot by the Germans near Malmedy, Belgium, during World War II's Battle of the Bulge, January 1945.

A dead German soldier, killed during the German counter offensive in the Belgium-Luxembourg salient, on a street corner in Stavelot, Belgium, on January 2, 1945.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market may not be the oldest farmer's market in America, but it is often rated as the best.

First opened in 1907, Pike Place sits on the Puget Sound waterfront, in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Home to hundreds of vendors hawking fish, produce, meat, specialty goods, jewelry, and even art, the market is still a place where small businesses thrive.

We took a day trip over Christmas to see Pike Place in full swing. Even amongst the bustling crowds, there isn’t a better place to spend a day eating and shopping.

SEE ALSO: Amazon announced the 20 finalists for HQ2 — but one walk through Seattle made me very uneasy for whatever city wins

Pike Place Market is the longest, continuously operating farmer's market in the United States.

First And Pike News is a famous newsstand at the market's primary entrance. The feeling of an old world market starts here, with racks of international newspapers and obscure magazines unavailable elsewhere. It's been locally owned for its entire existence.

Pike Place Nuts features freshly roasted nuts with odd, delicious flavors like banana walnuts and caramel cashews. It's the kind of oddly specific thing you can only find at Pike Place.

Even frequent travelers don't know everything that goes on behind the scenes in an airplane. And this doesn't even apply to the plane mechanics that make flight possible. Basically, flight attendants understand the ins and outs of air travel on a whole different level, and they act accordingly. For instance, you'll never see a flight attendant running around the cabin shoe-less. According to them, no one should take their shoes off on a plane. Ever.

To learn more, INSIDER spoke with Kara, who blogs at The Flight Attendant Life, where she shares amazing advice for fellow flight attendants and passengers alike. In addition, we rounded up some responses from flight attendants on Reddit who have seen it all. When you fly for a living, you're bound to pick up on some truths about air travel that would shock the average person in coach. Read on to learn some facts that will change the way you fly the friendly skies.

Flying can make you terribly dehydrated

There's a reason that drink cart looks extra-enticing when you've been in the air for a while. Most everyone feels thirsty while flying, but many people don't realize just how dehydrated you can get, as Kara explained. It's a persistent problem for frequent travelers.

Low humidity inside the cabin contributes to dehydration, which can make you feel fatigued and groggy. To combat this, drinking about eight ounces of water for every hour you're in the air is a good rule of thumb, according to Everyday Health. Consider bringing your own water bottle to measure the progress. Drinking plenty of water will make the whole flight more pleasant, even if you do need to sneak in an extra trip to the tiny bathroom.    

Alcohol affects you more in the air

The mid-flight cocktail isn't for everybody, and it's best not to overestimate your tolerance at 20,000 feet. In general, drinking when you're a little dehydrated isn't a great idea anyway. If you add in some elevation, this only compounds the problem. 

"Since the altitude of the plane (simulated to 8,000') thins your blood, alcohol will hit you harder. We were told one in the air for two on the ground. Also, it is illegal to be intoxicated on a plane and it is illegal for us to get you drunk. So if we cut you off don't argue we may serve you later if you're nice."— Redditor skeeeee

Pace those gin and tonics accordingly. Maybe take in a glass of water after every alcoholic drink to stay hydrated. After all, getting super-drunk on a plane isn't fun for you or the staff, and it isn't even legal.

Flight attendants are pretty creative with cooking hacks

If you want to know how to eat well on limited accommodations, ask a flight attendant. They can make do in almost any situation.

"I saw a commercial flight attendant heating a lamb chop last week on the burner of the aircraft's coffee maker," said Kara. "There were no ovens on that plane."

So the next time you're chilling on a plane, there might be a flight attendant in the back cooking up dinner over a coffee maker. They're basically survival experts. (Whether you should attempt to warm meat over your hotel room's Mr. Coffee is another question entirely.)

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• Don't fight over outlets — get a charging station to juice up all your devices at once. Of all the charging stations and USB hubs out there, the Satechi Charging Station is the best one for most people with its ability to quickly charge seven devices.

If you have a lot of devices or a big family, charging everything up each day can get out of hand real quick. You end up with tangled cords, arguments over who's been hogging all the outlets, and worse, devices that remain uncharged because someone unplugged them. There's only one way to end the pain, and it's not chucking your gadgets out the window. You need a charging station or a USB charging hub.

Charging stations and hubs come in all shapes and sizes. While most of them look like a mini power strip or battery pack with multiple USB charging ports, others take the shape of attractive docks, storage units, or device organizers. We've included different options to suit different needs and device charging specifications, so whether you have an iPhone and an Apple Watch, a Quick Charge Android phone, or a USB-C Android phone; we've got you covered.

As someone who reviewed mobile devices for five years, I've used a lot of different charging solutions to juice up all the gadgets that land on my desk. Some of them are invariably better than others, but these are the best ones. In addition to personal experience, these picks are based on expert and buyer reviews across the web. Read on to check out the best charging stations and USB hubs you can buy.

Updated on 01/25/18 by Malarie Gokey: Added the Nomad Wireless Charging Hub as the best charging station with wireless charging. Updated prices and removed one station that was out of stock.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Satechi 7-Port USB Charging Station Dock is our top pick and why you should also consider the Nomad Wireless Charging Hub, the Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock, the Anker Quick Charge 3.0 63W 5-Port USB Wall Charger, and the Vogek 6-Port USB Charger Desktop Charging Station.

SEE ALSO: The best battery packs you can buy

The best charging station overall

Why you'll love it: The Satechi 7-Port USB Charging Station Dock charges seven devices at once and holds them in place while they juice up.

Anyone who lives in a crowded household needs a charging station with a lot of ports, and the Satechi 7-Port USB Charging Station Dock fits the bill perfectly.

You get seven USB Ports, three of which are Quick Charge compatible, charging at rates of 2.4A and four of which charge at the standard 1A. Each port has surge protection, so you don't have to worry about your device getting fried by too much electricity. 

The cables are not included, contrary to what you see in the product images on Amazon, so you have to buy your own cables. We recommend buying short 6-inch cords, so you don't have to wrap up the excess cordage. You should always getApple MFI certified lightning cables and safe USB- C and micro USB cables(<— click on the links to get the best ones). If you already have cables and they're long ones, you can use the velcro straps Satechi includes with the charging station for cable management. 

The charging station itself is sturdy and simple. It has seven slots with anti-scratch silicone pads that hold your devices in an upright position while they charge. Satechi's charging station measures just 7.4 x 5.5-inches, so it shouldn't take up too much space on your desk, shelf, or countertop.

To use it, you simply plug the USB end of the cords into the side of the charging station, set your device on its side with the charging port facing the cable, and plug it in to charge. It's a brilliant, simple solution that prevents tangled cables and clogged outlets. The charging station plugs right into the wall, taking up only one outlet to charge up to seven devices at a time.

Buyers on Amazon generally love the Satechi charging station, but some say that the spacing between dividers is too narrow for devices wearing thicker cases. Others point out that it's not the most beautiful thing to have on the counter, especially is you have long cords. However, most buyers still say it gets the job done and works very well. 

Pros: Charges seven devices at once, holds gadgets in place, includes short cords for charging without tangled wires, affordable

Cons: Basic design, cables not included

Buy the Satechi 7-Port USB Charging Station Dock on Amazon for $49.99 (originally $59.99)

The best charging station with wireless charging

Why you'll love it: Nomad's Wireless Charging Hub has four USB ports and a wireless charging pad, so you can juice up five devices at once.

Anyone who has a phone with wireless charging (like the new iPhones and many Android phones) will love this charging station from Nomad. The black, circular puck has a wireless charging pad on top with a maximum output of 7.5W. Underneath, you'll find three USB-A ports and one USB-C port for charging up any other devices you have in your home.

I use this charging station in my home to charge my iPhone X wirelessly every day. When I need to charge it up a bit more quickly, I plug it into the lightning cable I've plugged into one of the USB ports. I also charge my Kindle and wireless headphones with a couple of Micro USB cables. Finally, I have a USB-C cable set up for new Android devices. It fits my needs perfectly.

The entire charging station has a maximum output of 30W to charge five devices at once — four with wires and one without. The USB-C port has a high-speed 3A output, two of the USB-A ports have a 1A output, and one USB-A port has a higher 2.1A output.

Essentially, that means devices that charge with the USB-C cable will charge the fastest, the one 2.1A USB-A port will charge the next fastest, and the other two USB-A ports will charge the slowest. Because of this, you'll want to plug your largest device (your phone or tablet) into the fastest charging port available and your smallest devices (AirPods, Bluetooth headphones, etc.) into the slower ones.

Subtle LED lights on the top of the puck indicate the charging status of your devices. Orange lights mean your devices are still charging, while a soft white light means they're all juiced up.

In the box, you get a 1.2-meter charging cable that supplies power to the entire charging station. You have to supply your own charging cables for your devices. You should always get Apple MFI certified lightning cables and safe USB- C and micro USB cables (<— click on the links to get the best ones).

Mid-length cables are perfect for this charging station because you can easily wrap them around the puck when they're not in use. The puck's cable management is very effective in keeping your cords untangled and out of the way.

The wireless charging top is a great bonus and it makes the entire charging station more practical. You no longer have wasted space on the top. 

Pros: Charges five devices, wireless charger on top, USB-C and USB-A ports included, LED indicator lights are subtle, good cable management

Cons: Expensive, wireless charging puck needs more grip to prevent slippage

Buy the Nomad Wireless Charging Hub from Nomad for $79.95

The best charging station for iPhone and Apple Watch

Why you'll love it: The Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock juices up both your Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time.

The Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock for Apple Watch and iPhone sat on my nightstand for several months while I was using an iPhone and Apple Watch every day. It looked gorgeous and got the job done without cluttering up my bedroom with wires and ugly chargers.

If you have an iPhone and an Apple Watch, this is the dock you want. It's less pricey than most dual iPhone and Apple Watch docks, but it has a lightning connector and an Apple Watch charging disc built into the design so you don't have any extra wires. you simply plug the Belkin dock in and pop your phone and watch in the dock to charge both up simultaneously.

The only real downside to the dock is that you can only charge one iPhone and Apple Watch at a time, so if the rest of your family wants to juice up, they'll have to go elsewhere. It's also expensive in comparison with the other charging stations in our guide, but that's the price you pay for good looks and concealed cords.

Pros: Great for iPhone and Apple Watch, attractive design, sturdy, built-in lightning and Apple Watch charging connectors eliminate wires

Cons: Only charges one iPhone and one Apple Watch at a time, expensive

Buy the Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock for Apple Watch and iPhone on Amazon for $99.95 (originally $99.99)

From the posh suburbs of Short Hills, New Jersey, to the sprawling mansions of Ross, California, INSIDER has rounded up the richest zip code in every state, plus Washington, D.C.

With the help of real estate site Trulia, we used data from the 2012-2016 five-year American Community Survey— a subset of the United States Census Bureau — to calculate the richest zip codes with a population size of over 1,000 in every state, based on median household income. For privacy reasons, the maximum income the American Community Survey will release is $250,001, so any zip code that lists its median income as $250,001 may be higher.

Keep scrolling to find out the richest zip code in your home state. 

Andy Kiersz contributed reporting to this article.

ALABAMA — 35223

Cities/towns: Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Irondale

Median household income: $203,083

Population: 10,723

ALASKA — 99516

Cities/towns: Anchorage

Median household income: $146,688

Population: 21,775

ARIZONA — 85262

Cities/towns: Scottsdale, Carefree

Median household income: $129,564

Population: 10,575

• Taco Bell started serving fries on Thursday.
• The fries are served with cheesy dipping sauce or "nacho style," smothered in cheese, beef, sour cream, and more.
• We taste-tested the fries — and found they were like nothing else fast-food chains are serving right now.

Taco Bell is finally serving fries.

On Thursday, the fast-food chain added $1 nacho fries to the menu. Instead of taking the classic fast-food route, Taco Bell tops its fries with a spicy seasoning and serves them with a side of nacho cheese.

Customers can also order "supreme" fries for $2.49 or the larger serving of "Bell Grande" fries for $3.49, served with even more toppings: beef, pico de gallo, nacho cheese, sour cream, and other add-ons like guacamole, bacon, and jalapeno peppers.

McDonald's and other burger chains need to think about the power, the influence, the business implications that these fries could have.

To see how Taco Bell's new fries measure up to the competition, we tried them for ourselves.

SEE ALSO: Crock-Pot is forced to defend itself after a heartbreaking plot twist on 'This Is Us'

For $1, customers can get a handful of fries and a cup of nacho cheese sauce for dipping — the first sign that Taco Bell isn't trying to imitate competitors' fried offerings.

Taco Bell's emphasis is on the cheese rather than the ketchup. It's the right decision.

While the nacho cheese isn't by any means gourmet, it provides a rich and gloopy satisfaction and immediately sets the fries apart from their ketchup-dipped rivals.

The fries also diverge from fast-food norms with an impressive mix of spicy seasoning instead of the typical salt bomb. They taste exactly how french fries from Taco Bell — and only Taco Bell — should taste.

Taco Bell's fries are fairly hefty and a bit floppy — certainly less crisp than offerings at chains like McDonald's.

Had the fries been classically seasoned with salt, this would have been a major misstep. But the thicker cut is a smart move for Taco Bell, as it guarantees the potato can balance out the spices and rich nacho cheese.

The nacho-fied fries are a mess — but a highly rewarding one, especially for $2.49. While you can dip each fry in the nacho cheese, you'll end up shoveling the "supreme" fries into your mouth with a fork.

It's a quintessential Taco Bell creation — a bunch of delicious and semi-embarrassing ingredients mixed in a bizarre way that you're going to end up craving at 2 a.m.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season two, episode 11 of "Riverdale," titled "The Wrestler."

Wednesday's episode of "Riverdale" had a lot of layers to wade through. 

The CW drama featured Archie growing closer to Hiram Lodge, the Southside splitting even further from the Northside, revealed Chic's shocking job, and showed Betty turning to her "dark side." But, of course, the show managed to fit in some pop culture references and tie in to the comics.

INSIDER worked with Archie Comics to reveal five references you might have missed.

The teens learn about Augustus Pickens in school, but Archie comics fans may recognize the name.

In the comics, Pickens was an army general who served during the American Civil War. Pickens Park is named after him.

"Riverdale" introduced another teacher from the Archie Comics, Ms. Haggly.

On "Riverdale," Cheryl gives a presentation in history class and says thank you to a Mrs. Haggly. In the comics, Ms. Haggly is supposedly the oldest teacher at the school and is depicted as slightly overweight and with white hair.

Cheryl mentions her great-great-great-great grandfather Barnabus Blossom during her history presentation — and the name may have some real significance.

While Barnabus Blossom may not exist in the comics, there is a Barnabus Blossom House located in Fall River, Massachusetts. One important tidbit about Fall River is that it is where Lizzie Borden was from. Borden was infamous for being tried and then later acquitted for the murders of her father and stepmother. This seems like a fun, creepy coincidence.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Kate Middleton is expecting her third child with husband Prince William.
• She's a style icon, and her maternity wardrobe is no exception.
• Here are some of her best looks.

Kate Middleton is a style icon known for always looking polished. Her looks have undergone an evolution over the years, and her wardrobe is about to make another shift with the announcement of her third pregnancy.

While she was pregnant with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, she wore tailored coats and print dresses with sky-high heels and didn't miss a step. Her maternity wardrobe is sure to impress this time around.

Here are some of her best maternity outfits.

Kate Middleton's maternity wardrobe features lots of coats.

She's been known to wear them more than once, like this pink Mulberry coat.

You can read more about this outfit here.

She also loves this purple Séraphine maternity coat so much that she's worn it twice.

Read more about this trendy coat here.

• McDonald's locations worldwide have unique menus that reflect the local cuisine of that country.
• Many of these items aren't available in the United States.
• We've rounded up some of the most interesting menu items from McDonald's locations around the world.

Whether it be masala veggie burgers in India or rice and beans in Costa Rica, international McDonald's menus feature a wide variety of options that aren't available in the United States.

In addition to the classic Big Mac and fries, every McDonald's restaurant in the world has a custom menu that reflects the typical cuisine of that country. Some locations even have entirely unique sections on the menu, such as a separate soup menu or vegetarian menu. 

From fried rice to poutine, here are some of the most interesting menu items that you can't buy at any McDonald's in America.

SEE ALSO: McDonald's new Dollar Menu has a sneaky way to get a ton of food cheap

McDonald's Hong Kong: Vegetable and Egg Pasta

It's rare to see pasta on a breakfast menu, but at McDonald's Hong Kong, that's where you'll find this Vegetable and Egg Twisty Pasta.

McDonald's Japan: Corn Cream Soup

Soups are a common side dish at McDonald's Japan, in addition to the traditional options of a salad or French fries. 

McDonald's India: Pizza McPuff

Some McDonald's restaurants offer entire vegetarian menus. The Pizza McPuff is one of many vegetarian options at McDonald's India, and it's made with cheese, tomato sauce, and chopped vegetables. They also have vegetarian burgers like the McVeggie.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• We've tried more skinny jeans than we can count. After testing the best new skinny jeans, Warp + Weft got our vote for best overall with its vast size offerings, various inseam lengths, sub-$100 prices, and different skinny jean styles.

For many women, skinny jeans are a wardrobe staple. For one, they can be styled to look ultra casual or night-out polished. Skinny jeans are generally comfortable, with a good amount of stretch woven into the denim. The slim-fit silhouette is flattering across a variety of body types. Plus, there are now a wide range of washes, rises, sizes, and lengths available from affordable denim brands — many of which are also dedicated to body inclusivity.

If you’re reading this article, I’m certain that you’ve owned plenty of skinny jeans before. You may already have a couple of favorite go-to pairs. Maybe you haven’t found a pair you absolutely love yet. But what I do know is that even the most avid skinny jean wearers tend to diversify their arsenal. After all, different jeans offer different things.

That's why we tested several different skinny jeans to come up with this buying guide to the best skinny jeans offered by the buzziest direct-to-consumer denim brands and to decode the key features that may be most important to you when shopping for a pair of skinnies.

Read on in the slides below to learn why Warp + Weft makes our favorite skinny jeans and why you might also like those from Everlane, Liverpool Jeans, Mott + Bow, and Universal Standard.

SEE ALSO: We tried the skinny jeans the internet has been raving about — and they really are that slimming

The best skinny jeans overall

Why you'll love them: With sizes ranging from 00 to 24, Warp + Weft skinny jeans offer a wide spectrum of trendy and classic styles for every kind of body type.

What impressed me most about Warp + Weft is how many great styles the brand offers across so many sizes, which made me think this is a brand dedicated to offering jeans to an inclusive customer base. There are a variety of both classic and trendy styles to choose from, which is important to note, especially since many skinny jeans tend to come in one particular look.

Warp + Weft sells coated jeans, distressed jeans, destroyed hems, and colorful denim for more adventurous wearers. For that reason, I gave the Petite MXP — with its stretch-blend fabric and exposed pull-ring fly zipper — a test run. The pants were slim-fit down to my ankles (though a little long in the inseam), sculpting every curve from my hips to my calves for a seamless look. The exposed fly detail is out of my ordinary aesthetic, but I was delighted to see how fashion-forward and understated it looked at the same time.

For a more classic affair, a representative of the brand told me that the JFK mid-rise skinny is the “hometown favorite” because it comes in the widest variety of fabrics and colors, and can be scored for less than $100.

This denim is super soft, with a touch of stretch and lift, allowing it to hug your curves without squeezing or digging into your body. A common characteristic of stretch denim is that, yes, it’s designed to stretch over time. So if you’re interested in a style from Warp + Weft, it is recommended that you order a whole size down to bypass this issue.

Read our full review of Warp + Weft on Insider Picks.

Pros: Fun and trendy details, wide variety of sizes

Cons: Petite inseams run too long, may loosen over time

Buy the JFK Skinny at Warp + Weft for $49-$98 (Price varies on wash)

Buy the JFK Skinny Petite at Warp + Weft for $49-$98 (Price varies on wash)

Buy the JFK Skinny Plus at Warp + Weft for $49-$98 (Price varies on wash)

The best jeans with minimal stretch

Why you'll love them: The ethically-made High-Rise Skinny Jeans from Everlane are made with a high-quality Japanese fabric that's 98% cotton and 2% elastane.

Everlane has two skinny jean fits available for women — a high-rise and mid-rise, with different washes and lengths (ankle and regular) available for each.

Since I’m a petite woman at 5’3, I opted for an ankle-length style, which fit my frame perfectly without hemming or cuffing (those who are shorter may need additional alteration). What I like most about this Everlane pair is how structured it is compared to the other brands in this shopping guide. The company used cotton with a mere 2% elastane for a touch of stretch.

In other words, this style is less likely to stretch out or get baggy over time. Some shrinkage did occur after giving the pair a wash, but after a day or two of squeezing back into them, the jeans eventually gave way back to the original size.

As with all Everlane products, these jeans are produced under ethical and environmentally-conscious processes. And at $68 a pair, the price isn’t too shabby either. I highly recommend Everlane denim if you’re a woman who prefers her jeans to hold her in at the waist, but don’t expect these pants to do any favors during a large dinner.

Pros: Two lengths available, transparent ethos

Cons: Sizes max at 32 in European sizing (roughly 13/14 in US sizing)

Buy the High-Rise Skinny Jean (Ankle) at Everlane for $68

Buy the High-Rise Skinny Jean (Regular) at Everlane for $68

Buy the Mid-Rise Skinny Jean (Ankle) at Everlane for $68

Buy the Mid-Rise Skinny Jean (Regular) at Everlane for $68

The best skinny jeans for curvier bodies

Why you'll love them: Liverpool Jeans“cross fits” its styles across multiple body types, which means these skinny jeans are designed to flatter curvier silhouettes.

While I myself have a relatively straight body shape (there isn’t much of a difference from my waist to hips), Liverpool is known to make a great pair of jeans for other varying body types. Liverpool employs a “cross fit” innovation process, which has the brand reworking jean styles until it accommodates most everyone, including wider hips and muscular thighs and calves.

Even though a handful of women may all be the same pant size, Liverpool ensures that its jeans will also fit and flatter across the board. Liverpool told me the cross fit begins with a professional size four fit model, followed by a personal test run by co-founder Jill Perilman who makes sure all points of measure grade are also consistent in a size six.

From there, a whole array of samples are cut from sizes zero to 12 and tested across many women staffers at Liverpool for diversity. Feedback is collected, samples are revised, and fit/construction issues are addressed before a style goes into production. As you can tell, Liverpool takes this process very seriously.

The most popular style, the Abby Skinny, is a classic mid-rise that is offered in 16 different washes and up to a size 16. The denim is super-soft with a generous amount of stretch without feeling like the style is going to bag out.

I would compare the fit similar to the way compression workout leggings feel — form-fitting around the legs with plenty of give for those aforementioned curves. As a petite woman, I found myself having to cuff the hems a few inches, but overall, Liverpool has made a great pair of affordable everyday jeans that can easily translate from day to night.

Read our full review of the Liverpool jeans on Insider Picks.

Pros: Designed to flatter multitude body types, many washes and sizes available

Cons: Not available as a high-rise, style runs a bit long for petites

Buy the Abby Skinny Jean at Liverpool for $79

Buy the Petite Abby Skinny Jean at Liverpool for $79

The French seem to hold a monopoly on all things aspirational and lifestyle-related. Included in this monopoly are, of course, weddings.

And, as it turns out, French weddings vary quite vastly from American ones and the differences are pretty striking. Check out what they are here:

Brides don't post photos of their engagement rings in France.

In the US, it's practically required to put an engagement ring photo on Facebook or Instagram the moment one gets engaged. But in France, this isn't the case — according to The Cut, couples keep their engagement a secret until they can tell their family and friends one by one.

Brides give their grooms jewelry

According to The Cut, it's traditional for the bride to give the groom a nice watch in exchange for their engagement ring.

You don’t have to RSVP to the actual wedding.

According to FrenchToday, when you receive your invitation, called "un faire-part,"you don’t have RSVP. ("RSVP," coincidentally, is French — it stands for "répondez s’il vous plaît")

• A recent leak suggests Samsung's Galaxy S9 smartphone will go on sale in mid-March.
• Samsung has already confirmed it will announce the smartphone late next month, on February 25.
• Current rumors about the Galaxy S9 say it will have many subtle updates.

We may now know when Samsung plans to launch its new Galaxy S9 smartphone.

Evan Blass, a well-known tech informant, says he learned from a C-level executive at a smartphone-case maker that the Galaxy S9 and larger Galaxy S9 Plus will be available to preorder on March 1 and will go on sale on March 16.

Samsung has said it will announce the phone late next month, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Before Samsung confirms all the details then, here's what we know about the Galaxy S9 so far:

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy S9 retail box may have just leaked — and it seems to reveal the phone's key features

Samsung has not said when it will release the Galaxy S9, but it did recently confirm its unveiling in February.

This makes Blass' claim of a March release for the Galaxy S9 quite plausible. His reported schedule is very similar to Samsung's past smartphone releases.

Though the Galaxy S8 was delayed until April last year because of safety concerns, the Galaxy S7 was announced in late February 2016 and released in mid-March, as were several older devices in the Galaxy-S series.

Samsung sent press invites for a launch event on February 25.

Though concrete release details for the Galaxy S9 are still not yet available, Samsung has sent out press invites for its upcoming launch event, confirming the date for February 25.

The invite also hints at the phone's name. We assumed it would be the Galaxy S9, but the giant "9" on the press invites somewhat confirms this. The image also suggests the device and launch event may focus heavily on camera updates.  

There has been a barrage of recent leaks and rumors pertaining to the Galaxy S9.

It's not surprising that a host of new leaks, rumors, and details have surfaced as Samsung shares more details about the Galaxy S9 launch. 

Most recently, the device reportedly surfaced in a video leak, showing off its touchscreen ability as well as its design similarities to the Galaxy S8. 

Other details come directly from Samsung, with the manufacturer recently sharing information about its latest camera technology on its official website. The camera features include updates to autofocus and settings that allow users to have more control over the camera parameters without having to go into pro mode. Many have connected these details to the Galaxy S9, especially since the launch event invite hints at camera updates.

Luxury doesn't have to come with sticker shock. 

In fact, between experiences and physical products, you can probably afford more luxuries than you realize.

Here are seven things (plus one bonus item) to start with:

SEE ALSO: Here are the ages you financially peak at everything throughout life — from salary to net worth

DON'T MISS: We compared 3 of the most popular premium airline credit cards — and the winner was clear

1. Good sheets

High-quality bedding doesn't have to break the bank, and it may last longer than less-expensive options. Brooklinen's Luxe Collection is one of the best affordable, luxury sheet sets on the market. A queen set costs $150, but will give you years of "soft-as-the-clouds" comfort.

Source: Business Insider

2. A virtual assistant

2018 is the year of the smart-home device. Buy one of the two best options on the market, Amazon Echo ($100) or Google Home ($130), and play music, get directions, order an Uber, check your bank account balance, and get answers to your most pressing questions. The smaller versions of both devices are just $50 — a small price to pay to never feel helpless in your own home again.

Source: Business Insider (1, 2)

3. A monthly pedicure

The average cost of a basic salon pedicure in the US is just $33. Having your feet scrubbed clean and nails polished while you relax in a massage chair will leave you feeling pampered and looking put together.

Source: Statista