• The Knot, a digital resource for engaged couples, releases an annual Wedding Trends Report.
• The Knot hosted a gala to showcase some of the biggest trends you can expect to see in 2020. 
• Insider spoke to The Knot's editor-in-chief Kristen Maxwell Cooper about the trends for an even closer look at what weddings will be like in 2020.
• Creative floral decor, colorful wedding dresses, and interactive entertainment are all going to be popular in 2020, according to The Knot.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Knot, a digital marketplace for engaged couples, hosts an annual gala to display wedding trends for the upcoming year.

The Knot Gala compliments the company's Wedding Trends Report, which details what its experts are seeing couples gravitate towards for their nuptials.

The 2020 Report was just released, the day after the event took place in New York City, and Insider spoke to The Knot's editor-in-chief Kristen Maxwell about the biggest wedding trends you can expect to see everywhere next year. 

In 2020, couples will be using florals for more than just bouquets.

"One of the things I'm loving is this idea of using florals in sort of unexpected ways," Cooper said.

"They're incorporating edible blooms into food, into drinks," she said of 2020 couples. "Or they're even using their florals to sort of create textures and shapes in a monochromatic way."

For instance, couples are color blocking their flowers to create stunning decor, which The Knot demonstrated through massive floral blocks at its 10th annual gala in New York City.

Eco-conscious wedding decor is also becoming more common. For instance, The Knot showcased streamers made of recycled T-shirts at its gala.

Cooper told Insider that "sustainability is top of the line" for a lot of 2020 couples.

Eco-friendly weddings are becoming more common, with couples intentionally avoiding Styrofoam flower holders or giving flowers a second life through additional decor.

They're also composting flowers and food after the event, decreasing waste.

Couples are choosing to create customizable menus, keeping their guests in mind at every turn.

Whether guests are vegan, gluten-free, or just picky, customizable menus allow couples to better cater to their guests and add personal touches to the food they serve.

Don't be surprised if you see mixologists at weddings in 2020.

"We're seeing them really lean into things that are exciting to them, and adding personalized moments," Cooper said of the 2020 couple. 

Mixologists can create this kind of moment, turning the line at the bar into a luxury experience.

Self-service bars are also becoming popular, with guests grabbing their own beverages.

"The reception itself is no longer about sitting down, having four courses, or whatever it is," Cooper said. "Couples are really looking to get their guests in on the action and have them take part in some fun, unexpected things."

A self-service bar can create that kind of moment, giving guests something to do at the reception. Cooper said they're popular for signature drinks, and some couples even go as far as to have a conveyor belt of drinks for added fun.

"Oftentimes, it allows them to have one less bartender," Cooper said of self-service bars as well, which can make a wedding more affordable for couples.

Couples are creating more showstopping moments at their weddings than ever before.

The 2020 couple pays close attention to all the details of their wedding, making showstopping moments out of basics like the bar.

For instance, The Knot featured a bar made entirely of ice at its gala.

Statement lighting can set the mood for weddings.

"We think about uplighting as the classic wedding lighting, or you'd just use the lighting that they have at the venue," Cooper said.

"But as we see couples lean into more unconventional venues — whether it's a brewery or a pop-up barn — a lot of times they have to bring in their own lighting, which can really set the vibe for a celebration," she told Insider.

Hanging lanterns, string lights, LED signs, or even chandeliers can be used for decor. The Knot Gala, for example, featured color-blocked lighting. 

Interactive moments, like this fun dessert umbrella, are going to be big at weddings in 2020.

"The average guest count has been decreasing over the past year, but we're seeing the spending-per-guest increase," Cooper said of current weddings. "What it means is that couples are really thinking about the guest experience." 

Magicians, sketch artists, or tarot card readers can all increase the fun the guest has at the wedding, making it a priority for couples. The Knot refers to these moments as "amenity basket upgrades."

"You gotta do it all for the 'gram," Cooper said of the trend, highlighting that big moments like this can make weddings more photo-worthy and memorable for guests. 

Pops of color are taking the place of all-white gowns.

"Wedding fashion is not so prescriptive right now," Cooper said. "Couples are really looking to their own personal preferences and their own personal style to reflect what they're wearing on their day."

For some brides, that means wearing a colorful dress instead of the traditional white.

"Floral dresses are something that we're seeing a ton of," Cooper said.

"It's just a little bit whimsy," Cooper said of the trend.

Some brides are choosing to wear dresses that are completely floral, while others are wearing white dresses with colorful flower appliques. 

"We're also seeing more jumpsuits," Cooper told Insider of 2020 bridal fashion.

"We're seeing a lot of pants," Cooper told Insider of the 2020 bride. "Whether it's separate pieces or a jumpsuit, pants are always a really popular option for the reception." 

"Or they're wearing it to a rehearsal dinner, a bridal shower, or a bachelorette party," she added.

Brides are going for unique looks when it comes to all of their wedding events, and pants are a great way to switch it up.

Grooms are getting creative with their suits.

The days of grooms only being able to wear traditional black tuxedos are gone, as more men play with fashion on their big days.

Cooper said grooms are "choosing bold footwear or maybe even changing jackets for the reception."

The event planner for The Knot Gala, Jove Meyer, showed off some of the ways grooms can play with wedding fashion at the event, wearing white pants, a silver jacket, and matching sparkly heels.

The big sleeves commonly seen in the '80s are making a comeback in 2020.

"It's a little bit reminiscent of the '80s," Cooper said of the trend. "We saw a lot of these '80s and '90s trends and details on the runway."

"They've sort of been reinvented for today," she explained. "It's not like the Princess Diana sleeves that we're all thinking of, but they're sort of ruffly and they may be off the shoulders. Something that's a little bit more romantic, but definitely has this '80s feel."

"We're seeing one-shoulder dresses coming back in full force," Cooper added.

"The style sort of went away, but now it's coming back," Cooper said.

Couples are rocking matching jackets during their receptions.

Matching jackets create a sweet and fun moment for couples during their nuptials.

Celebrities are influencing this trend, as Kim and Kanye sported matching jackets at their wedding in 2014, and Zoe Kravitz and her husband did the same in 2019.

"A lot of luxury lines were doing it, and then it came down to mass," Cooper explained. Customizable jackets can be purchased on Etsy today.

Brides are loving barrettes and combs.

"Barrettes and combs are really having a moment," Cooper said.

"The veil isn't going anywhere, but we're really seeing brides lean into the barrette over something like a tiara," she went on to say.

Couples are making registries more personal than ever.

"This next generation is the most diverse generation to get married," Cooper said. "So I think that the exciting challenge for these couples is figuring out how to incorporate different cultures, ethnicities, or religions into one event."

One way couples are handling this challenge is through their registries, where they're taking the opportunity to raise money for things they really want instead of just home decor items. Some use it to raise money for honeymoons, a down payment on a house, or even IVF treatments, according to Cooper.

People are embracing unplugged honeymoons.

"For a while, everything was on social media as soon as the couple said 'I do,'" Cooper said of modern weddings. "But then we started seeing a lot of couples asking people to put their phones away during the ceremony."

"Now, we're seeing that extend to the honeymoon," Cooper said, with people choosing to use their honeymoons as a time to debrief and really be alone with their partners.

• Read more:
• What the average wedding costs in the 25 biggest cities across the US
• It turns out getting your partner a wedding gift isn't necessary — here's why, according to experts
• Wedding dresses embroidered with phrases like Hailey Baldwin's 'Till death do us part' veil might be the next big bridal trend
• 4 brides share the 17 smartest money-saving moves they made while planning their wedding

• It seems like tourists are behaving worse and worse.
• Turns out, that's not actually new behavior. With a new decade upon us, we looked back at the most shocking reports of tourists behaving badly.
• One British family was accused of being so troublesome in New Zealand that their passports were revoked.
• A man purposely kicked and destroyed a stalagmite that was thousands of years old in a cave in China.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Are terrible tourists taking over? It seems like every day brings new reports of a traveler doing something offensive in a foreign place.

Unfortunately, tourists behaving badly isn't new. As the constant stream of news stories about them threatens to inundate us, we've decided to look back at the last decade to pick out the very worst reports.

A teenager defaced a 3,500-year-old carving inside an ancient Egyptian temple.

In May 2013, a 15-year-old Chinese teenager scrawled his name on Egypt's 3,500-year-old Luxor Temple, writing "Ding Jinhao was here" on top of ancient hieroglyphics.

He was caught after other visitors uploaded a picture of his handiwork to social media. His parents issued a public apology.

Two tourists tried to steal bricks from the crematorium of a concentration camp as a souvenir.

Two peacocks are believed to have died from shock after they were manhandled by tourists using them as selfie props.

Visitors to Yunnan Zoo in Kunming, China, are believed to have caused the death of two peacocks in February 2016.

Zookeepers told Chinese news outlets that the birds are thought to have died of shock after some visitors picked them up for photos and reportedly even plucked out some of their feathers.

Travelers also likely caused the death of a baby dolphin in Spain in an attempt to take photos with it.

When a baby dolphin got too close to shore at Mojacar beach in Spain in August of 2017, tourists crowded around the animal to take photos.

A charity called Equinac said the tourists' behavior likely shocked the animal and may have caused its heart failure. One image Equinac posted on Facebook even appeared to show a child covering the animal's blowhole, which it uses to breathe.

A British family in New Zealand had their visas revoked after they were accused of littering and trying to get free food from restaurants.

A large British family from Liverpool with 10-15 members gained notoriety in New Zealand during a month in early 2019 as they traveled the country.

According to New Zealand reports, the family tried to scam multiple restaurants into getting free food (which they denied) and littered beaches, among other accusations.

Ultimately, the New Zealand government revoked the family's visas, forcing all of them to leave the country within 28 days.

A man purposely kicked and destroyed a stalagmite that was thousands of years old in a cave in China.

A man touring a cave in China gave a 20-inch limestone stalagmite three hard kicks, destroying in seconds what took thousands of years to create, according to the South China Morning Post.

The event took place in June 2017 in Songtao county, Guizhou province, and was caught on camera. The man can be seen deliberately kicking the rock formation until it breaks, then walking away.

Two Czech Instagram influencers faced intense backlash after one of them had holy water splashed on their private parts at a temple in Bali.

In August 2019, Czech vloggers and influencers Sabina Dolezalova and Zdenek Slouka uploaded a video in which Slouka lifts Dolezalova's skirt and splashes water on her backside in the 15th-century temple Beji Temple in the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali.

After immense online backlash, the two issued an apology in an Instagram video.

A Danish photographer posted images of himself that seem to depict him having sex atop the Great pyramid of Giza.

In November 2018, Andreas Hvid, a Danish photographer, posted a photo of himself in which it looks as though he is having sex with a woman atop the Great Pyramid of Giza. There was an immediate backlash and prosecutors began investigating the incident.

While Hvid claims they didn't actually have intercourse, he does admit to illegally scaling the pyramid. In December 2018, the Guardian reported that two people accused of helping Hvid access the pyramid were arrested.

The video of him and the unidentified woman climbing it is still online.

A British tourist was sentenced to six months in prison for slapping an immigration official after missing her flight.

An Indonesian court sentenced British tourist Auj-e Taqaddas to six months in a local prison for slapping an immigration official after she missed her flight back in July 2018.

Taqaddas had missed her flight to Singapore because she had to pay Indonesian authorities a fine for overstaying her visa for 160 days, The Jakarta Post reported. 

The incident, which took place at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, was recorded and went semi-viral at the time.

Drunk British tourists broke into a Sea World in Australia and stole a penguin.

A pair of drunk British tourists were fined $1,000 for stealing a penguin from a Sea World near Surfer's Paradise in Australia in May 2012. They awoke to find a penguin in their room without any recollection as to how it got there, but reportedly had broken into Sea World where they swam with dolphins before taking Dirk the penguin out of his enclosure.

They then released Dirk into a local waterway, putting the penguin at immense risk, before local authorities found him. According to the Daily Mail, they pleaded guilty to trespass, theft, and unlawfully keeping a protected animal.

Two tourists faced Thai prison for spray-painting a brick wall from the 13th century.

Two travelers from Canada and the UK apparently found a can of spray paint while inebriated and decided to tag the nearest wall— which happened to be the Tha Phae Gate, a popular tourist attraction in Bangkok, Thailand, that dates back to the 13th century.

While the two faced up to 10 years in a Thai prison, they got off with a fine of around $6,000.

Two US tourists posed naked at a famous Buddhist temple in Thailand — among other sites — for their Instagram account called "Traveling Butts."

Two US men traveled the world taking nude photos at various famous sites for their now-deleted Instagram account, "Traveling Butts."

They were detained, fined for public indecency, and blacklisted from returning to Thailand after exposing their rear ends at the Wat Arun temple, according to The Telegraph.

Numerous tourists have been caught carving their initials into the walls of Rome's Colosseum.

There were numerous reports during the last decade of tourists defacing the 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome, Italy, which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined over $28,000 for reportedly carving the letter "K" into the historic structure and given a four-month suspended prison sentence. He was the fifth tourist to try to deface the building that year after a father and son Australian duo as well as two teenagers from Canada and Brazil, according to CNN.

In 2015, two Californian women were reportedly caught scratching their initials into a wall with a coin and then took a selfie. The women later apologized to local media outlets.

• Read more:
• 10 times kids were blamed for thousands of dollars' worth of destruction
• 22 horrible things tourists have done while flying
• A photographer turned his camera on the 'bored tourists' he saw while traveling, and the results are both hilarious and depressing

• If you have a stressful job, your career can negatively impact your mental health.
• Nine professions stand out for their impact on mental health: veterinarians, emergency medical technicians, construction workers, childcare workers, doctors, nurses, restaurant workers, humanitarian workers, and lawyers.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Work in America is leading to burnout and spurring a mental health crisis among professionals — particularly in occupations like medicine and construction work.

Suicide rates across the country are the highest they've been since World War II, according to TIME, and depression among millennials is at a high. US employees are increasingly pointing to work as a source of mental health stress, with more than half of workers saying their job contributed negatively to their mental health.

Business Insider analyzed research on Americans that work in 9 professions who face disproportionately higher rates of suicide and depression. From doctors to restaurant workers, here are the professions where workers are struggling with mental health challenges the most.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.

SEE ALSO: Lonely, burned out, and depressed: The state of millennials' mental health in 2019

Suicide rates among veterinarians have been rising for the last three decades.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in 2018 which found that suicide rates among veterinarians were much higher than those of the US population.

The CDC found female veterinarians were 3.5 times as likely to die from suicide as the general US population. Male veterinarians were 2.1 times as likely, and 75% of those veterinarians who died from suicide worked at a small animal practice. 

TIME Magazine reporter Melissa Chan broke down some challenges animal-care workers face: having to euthanize pets with treatable illnesses because their owners can't afford surgeries or medicine, cyberbullying and verbal attacks from pet owners, and stress from carrying high rates of student loan debt.

Emergency medical technicians, including firefighters and paramedics, have a higher rate of of suicide than the general population.

One recent study compared causes of death for EMTs to the general population, and found that 5.2% of deaths among EMTs between 2009 and 2015 were from suicide, more than double the 2.2% share of suicide deaths among non-EMTs.

The researchers attributed the higher rate of suicide to chronic on-the-job stress and substance abuse. A study published by researchers at Florida State University in 2009 found as many as 40% of EMTs could suffer from high-risk drug and alcohol use.

On top of on-the-job stress, MONEY Magazine's Kristen Bahler reported many first responders juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. Bahler found being an EMT is one of the lowest-paying medical jobs, earning about 30% less per year than the average American worker as of 2018. 

Construction workers have some of the highest rates of suicide among the entire US working population.

Among the US male working population, men working in construction had the highest rate of suicide in 2012 and 2015, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Seventeen percent of construction workers also qualify as "heavy drinkers," defined as drinking five or more drinks at once on five or more days in the past month — the second highest rate among all occupational groups.

A survey published in the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management found fears about job security and little time to spend with family are some of the factors that contribute to construction workers' poor mental health.

Fear of on-the-job injury might also play a role, as construction deaths are skyrocketing in cities like New York. One in five worker deaths in 2017 were in construction, according to the Department of Labor.

Childcare workers, particularly those who earn low wages, have significantly higher rates of depression than the overall population.

Forty percent of early care and education workers suffer from clinical depression, according to a 2018 study done by public health scholars at the University of Washington. The depression rate among these workers amounts to double that of low-income women overall, and four times the rate of the general female population, study author Heather Hill told the Seattle NPR affiliate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the US employs about 1.1 million childcare workers as of 2018. The average wage for childcare workers is about $11 an hour.

Male doctors are 40% more likely to die from suicide than the general public.

Being a physician is a taxing job. An October 2019 report from the National Academy of Medicine found that between 35% and 54% of nurses and doctors have symptoms of burnout. Causes include unmanageable workloads, inadequate technology, and a lack of social support.

A May 2019 report published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that "compared with non-physicians, male physicians are 40% more likely to die by suicide" and "the risk to female physicians is more than doubled."

Nurses have higher rates of suicide than the general US population.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego recently conducted what they said is the first nationwide investigation into nurse suicides in more than 20 years. Their findings, published in October 2019, show that both male and female nurses had higher rates of suicide than men and women respectively in the US.

The study found that the suicide incidence rate for female nurses was about 58% higher than the general female population, and the rate for male nurses was about 41% higher than among the general male population.

For nurses, hardships on the job include long hours because of nationwide worker shortages, along with dealing with physical and verbal abuse at work.

Restaurant workers have stressful, long schedules, and the industry has a high rate of alcoholism.

According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants in the US make up an $863 billion dollar industry with 15.3 million employees.

Katy McLaughlin and Natalia V. Osipova at The Wall Street Journal report that the restaurant industry "has one of the highest rates of illicit drug use and alcoholism and a tradition of masking mental-health struggles." The Journal also cited David Ballard of the American Psychological Association, who says the industry's combination of demanding work, constant stress, and lack of health insurance contribute to mental health issues. 

After celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's death from suicide in June 2018, UnitedHealthcare and the National Restaurant Association started offering a partnership health plan to restaurant workers that covers mental health.

Humanitarian workers are exposed to traumatic situations in struggling countries, which can lead to increased anxiety and depression.

Humanitarian workers bring aid to countries in crisis stemming from natural disasters, war, or any other events that leave civilians without resources. The job is taxing both physically and mentally. 

An October 2018 report reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh found that "humanitarian workers in South Sudan experience substantial levels of mental ill-health" as workers experience "chronic stress exposure" on the job.

Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health published a study in 2012 that found humanitarian workers experience more anxiety and depression after starting their jobs. Of the 212 workers surveyed at 19 NGOs, just 3.8% of workers reported anxiety pre-deployment and 11.8% reported anxiety post-deployment. As for depression, 10.4% of workers reported experiencing symptoms of depression pre-deployment and 19.4% reported symptoms of depression post-deployment.

Lawyers are particularly prone to burnout because of the perfectionism that makes them successful in the first place.

Dan Lukasik is a lawyer and the director of the Workplace Well-Being for Mental Health Association. As an advocate for the mental health of lawyers, Lukasik wrote an August 2018 post about burnout and depression in the field of law. He identifies burnout as a result of intense schedules and the perfectionism typical of lawyers.

A 2016 study by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs surveyed nearly 13,00 licensed, employed attorneys and found that 20.6% of those lawyers screened positive for "hazardous, harmful, and potentially alcohol-depending drinking," 28% were experiencing depression, 19% were experiencing anxiety, and 23% were experiencing stress.

• Leather sneakers can up your style game whether paired with a suit or a sweater and jeans. 
• We chose the Greats Royale Sneaker as the best overall for quality, style, and a great price for handcrafted sneakers that are made in Italy. 

Today's office dress codes have led to the slow demise of dressing formally. Employees are no longer required to wear ties, while athleisure wear now has blurred the line between your workout and your workday. The casual work attire also ushered in the popularity of leather sneakers — footwear with the poise and refinement of a dress shoe, but also with the comfort of a running shoe. This list is focused on the kind of sneakers that are versatile enough to get you from the office to a dinner date or semi-formal event without hurting your feet or compromising your sense of style.

Generally speaking, the name of the game when it comes to dressing up sneakers is minimalism. Sleek monochrome sneakers won't call unwanted attention to themselves and will instead add to the overall effect of your outfit. Whether they're white, black, gray, or even a bright primary color, the cleaner the shoe's design, the easier it will be to pull them off in a dressier situation. And yes, you can wear white sneakers in winter. Pair them with brighter colored denim or chinos and a thick neutral-toned wool sweater for a clean, refined winter look. 

The suit-and-sneakers combo has by now become commonplace but even so, it takes a little finesse to pull it off. If you're planning on achieving this look, a modern, tailored, slimmer cut works best. Go with pants with no break or a slight break (the break is where the material creases just above the bottom of the pant leg opening) that just brush the top of the sneaker.

We chose the Greats Royale Sneaker as best overall because of its classic good looks, high-quality, solid construction, and price point for handcrafted shoes made in Italy. They're $179, which may seem pricey until you learn these sneakers are made in the same factories in the seaside town of Civitanova Marche, that luxury brands use for their sneakers that sell for twice or three-times the price. 

Here are the best leather sneakers for men you can buy:

• Best leather sneakers overall: Greats Royale
• Best leather sneakers on a budget: Adidas Superstars
• Best leather sneakers for dressing up: M. Gemi Lucente
• Best leather sneakers for traveling: Kizit New York
• Best hybrid leather sneakers: Cole Haan Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford

The best leather sneakers overall

Beautiful handcrafted Italian-made sneakers at a reasonable price, The Royale from Greats is our overall favorite. 

Greats is a Brooklyn-based direct-to-consumer brand launched in 2014 with the idea of disrupting the luxury sneaker market, a goal they're managing to achieve. The Royale, their best-selling style, is handcrafted in Italy's Le Marche region, which is famous for its shoemaking tradition. The sneakers are made from full-grain Italian leather with a molded footbed and waxed cotton laces.

The Royale is the most accessibly-priced luxury sneaker from Italy in the world, according to Greats CEO Ryan Babenzien. "We have been able to democratize luxury so a broader audience can buy a sneaker of this quality made in Italy that was previously unattainable," Babenzien told me in an email. 

The sneakers have a minimalist aesthetic and come in seven color combinations. The all-white version — the Blanco — and the one in black — the Nero — are the company's biggest sellers. They also make a stunning chocolate-brown version and also regularly drop limited editions.

The Royale not only looks great but are exceedingly comfortable straight from the box. The entire upper, inside, and tongue are made of a soft buttery full-grain leather. The footbed and outsole provide good support while still being comfortable and responsive. They have a generously padded heel and tongue for added comfort. Some of the reviews said these sneakers ran slightly large, by a half-size, but I found mine fit true to size. 

I haven't had my pair long enough to speak of how they hold up over time, but a commenter on Reddit claimed his two pairs of Royales still looked great and have "held up extremely well" after three years and several hundred uses, with the leather becoming softer over time. The Royale has received numerous positive reviews from the media as well. 

The company is also attempting to tackle sustainability issues. The Royale is made with 25% reclaimed rubber in the soles; the insoles also use reclaimed materials. Greats also has a knit version of the Royale made from a combination of 100% recycled single-use plastic and ocean plastic. The biggest news may be that next year the company is introducing a Royale made from 100% recycled leather using an innovative Japanese process, according to Babenzien. Greats doesn't use any plastic packaging and their shoe boxes are made from recycled cardboard. There's also the sustainability aspect of creating a high-quality and timeless sneaker that isn't going to get thrown out like a cheaply made pair of fast-fashion shoes. Greats also only works with factories that treat their employees fairly and ethically, according to Babenzien.

"The goal is to continue to make the best footwear we can while limiting our impact on the earth as much as we can," he said.  

Pros: High quality, handsome sneakers made by an ethical, sustainably-minded company

Cons: A high price but worth it for all the reasons listed above

The best leather sneakers on a budget

The affordable Adidas Superstar is a classic that never goes out of style. 

For 50 years the Adidas Superstar has been just that: a superstar. They've been worn by legendary basketball stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had a hip-hop song dedicated to them — "My Adidas" by Run-D.M.C. — and have graced the feet of countless style icons of the music, fashion, and art worlds. 

While they've again become super popular over the last few years, many people are rocking the white version with contrasting stripes (black and red being the two most popular) or the black with white stripes. We recommend the white on white or black on black. These two colorways are a bit more subdued, which is what you want if you're looking for versatility in your sneakers. The Superstar will get you from a casual office setting straight to the club. If you're ready to go full-on rockstar, pair a slim fitting suit with one of the bright solid colors, like the vibrant Shock Mint.

The Superstar features a full-grain leather upper — a much higher quality leather than many other similarly priced sneakers — and has a distinctive rubber-shell toe. Customers love the sneakers for their comfort, versatility, and durability. The biggest complaints we've read seem to be about sizing, with recommendations for getting a half-size smaller than you'd regularly wear. Some customers also complained about the initial stiffness of the leather before the sneakers have been broken in.  

Adidas is getting high marks for sustainability, including how the company treats its employees, and its pledge to only use recycled plastics in all its shoes and clothing by 2024.

Pros: A classic sneaker at a fair price from a company that's taking sustainability seriously

Cons: Some customers said the sneakers run large and that the leather is too stiff before being broken in

The best for dressing up

The Lucente from M. Gemi is a pair of super minimalist sneakers that look amazing with a suit and could easily sell for several times the price. 

M. Gemi is another direct-to-consumer footwear brand that's disrupting the luxury market. The company was launched in 2015 with the idea of creating "postluxury" shoes. It has kept the quality and artistry of the luxury market without the price tag and limited access, according to the company. 

The Lucente has a leaner silhouette, tonal stitching, and less ornamentation than the other sneakers on the list, making it perfect for pairing with a suit or for just elevating a super-casual weekend look, like joggers, T-shirt or henley, and a black bomber jacket. 

While M. Gemi makes a stunning version in white, I love the Lucente in a monochrome light gray for its subtlety and ability to easily pair with whatever color combinations and level of formality my outfit of the day happen to be. 

The Lucente is crafted by hand in Italy in small family-owned workshops. The upper is made from calf leather with the same type of leather in a light tan lining the inside. The upper is hand-stitched (rather than glued) to a matte rubber tonal sole made by Margom, a highly respected Italian company known for its product quality and performance. 

These sneakers are exceptional — soft leather, beautiful design, and great attention to detail — and really comfortable right out of the box; I didn't find any need for a break-in period. While they are expensive, compared with other high-end brands they're a great deal for what you get. They only come in European whole sizes; the website has a sizing chart to help you figure out your size. For half-sizes, the company recommends getting the next full-size down. I typically wear a 9.5 US and got the Lucente in size 42, which fits perfectly. A few customers reported that the sneakers were on the narrow side. M. Gemi offers complimentary shipping and returns in case you have any sizing issues. 

Pros: A superbly made minimalist Italian sneaker perfect for dressing up

Cons: Costly, but well worth the price, only come in full European sizes, some customers found them to be rather narrow

The best for traveling

The Kizik New York sneakers are comfortable, easy to get on and off, and versatile, making them perfect for traveling. 

Going through airport security sucks and honestly, so does the process of taking on an off sneakers. Kizik, a brand that started out on Kickstarter, has solved this problem: Its shoes are designed to get in and out of, hands-free, thanks in part to a titanium wire in the heel that compresses when you slide your foot in and bounces back into place afterward. They've become the only shoes I bother to take when traveling by plane. I've also found myself wearing them regularly because of the ease of getting into them and how comfortable they are. 

Kizik's New York Sneaker is made from full-grain Italian leather like the other high-end sneakers on the list but also has a patented technology called F.A.S.T., or Foot Activated Shoe Technology. Besides the aforementioned titanium wire, the sneaker opens up when you slide your foot in, then instantly readjusts for a secure fit. You can also customize the fit using Velcro strips located on either side of the tongue to create a high or low arch and adjust the width and position of the tongue.

They're versatile enough to wear with a suit or jeans and a T-shirt. They come in five colorways, from chocolate brown with a white outsole to a black-on-black version. These sneakers are also available in wide "EE" sizes.

The New York has a unique look with perforations at the heel and three straps across the front mimicking laces, so it has more of a sneaker vibe rather than that of a slip-on. They're a bit on the chunky side. I'm really hard on footwear and as I mentioned, I've been giving my New York sneakers a lot of use. Because of this, I've had to keep up with cleaning and shining them to make sure they look their best. So yes, you can be lazy when slipping them on but if you're tough on shoes like I am, you can't be lazy with maintaining them. They cost less than many of the sneakers on our list and are worth the price for the high-quality materials and built-in tech. 

Pros: Easy to get on and off, high-quality materials, adjustable

Cons: Some may not love the chunkier look, require a modicum of TLC to stay looking their best

The best hybrid leather sneakers

The Cole Haan Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford is the perfect combination of dress shoes and sneakers — unbelievably light for comfortable all-day wear.

If you happen to work for a company that hasn't gotten the memo on the relaxing of dress codes or if you have an event that requires a bit more formality where sneakers are a no-go, the Cole Haan Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford is a perfect choice. It's a hybrid dress shoe-sneaker. The Zerøgrand line is Cole Haan's bestseller, selling millions since they launched in 2014. 

While many of the sneakers on the list have a minimalist feel, the Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford is the opposite with striking broughing and a dramatic rubber outsole. These shoes are a mashup of a classic dress shoe and modern sneaker technology. It's office appropriate and still comfortable for all-day wear. 

The first thing I noticed when I unboxed them was how incredibly light they were — lighter than any of the more traditional sneakers on this list. These Zerøgrands are the most comfortable oxfords I've ever worn. They have a responsive EVA foam midsole (like a running shoe would have) and great flexibility due in part to the outsole's deep grooves. They also have a natural storm welt to keep out moisture.

The Wingtip Oxford comes in five colorways, including a striking dark blue. They're available in wide widths, and I found they fit true to size.

Pros: Incredibly light and comfortable, dressy enough for stricter office dress codes and more formal occasions, available in wider widths

Cons: Some customers say they run too narrow

There are a ton of great leather sneakers around. Here are two that almost made the cut.

• ECCO  Soft 7 Lace-Up Sneaker: ECCO is a Danish shoe company known for stylish and super comfortable shoes. The ECCO  Soft 7 Lace-Up Sneaker is sophisticated, comfortable, and comes in a range of colorways. The upper is made from full-grain leather and is partially lined in leather. Here's why they didn't quite make it: Some customers felt these sneakers didn't provide the same level of foot support as the company's other shoe styles. They retail for between $99 and $159, a price point that's close to the Giants Royale. Finally, the ECCO label is in a prominent area of the shoe in a different color making it very visible, which I felt made it less dressy, and therefore less versatile than the choices that made the list.
• Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Ox: The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Ox is another classic. The original is made of canvas but Converse upped the game with a leather version. The Chuck Taylors have a clean, stripped-down look, and a lower profile than the Adidas Superstars. Like the Superstars, we recommend the monochrome white or black if you're planning on dressing these up. They almost made the cut for the budget selection but the Adidas Superstar, although costing slightly more, still wins on quality and style.

• Ford has a lot of love for Europe, and the feeling is mutual. 
• Ford fan clubs, blogs, and memorabilia collections are popular in Europe.
• Some megafans have even gone so far as to tattoo the brand onto their bodies.
• Meet some of Ford's megafans and see how the love affair has blossomed.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

SEE ALSO: Ford built a Transit van called Nugget that doubles as a tiny home that can sleep up to 4 people

DON'T MISS: Corvettes and Mustangs are some of the hottest cars money can buy — here's how they compare

Some Europeans just can't get enough of Ford.

Source: MSN

Ford's devoted global fan base has grown over recent years.

Source: MSN

Jaron Cole, the founder of Mustang Fan Club, told Business Insider that owning a Ford car overseas is something special.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

Europeans admire an American-made car because it's something they're not used to having, Cole told Business Insider.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

Fans show their love for Ford in a number of ways. Everything from European fan clubs to online Ford blogs exists.

Source: MSN

There are European fans who collect old Ford models, have extensive memorabilia collections, and some who own just about anything Ford related…

Source: Wall Street Journal

…and then there are others who even included their Ford collection in their wedding photos.

Source: Getty Images

There are some individuals in Europe who even have the car permanently branded on them.

Source: Getty Images

Fabrizio Schenardi is one of these Ford megafans who lives in Italy.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

Schenardi told Business Insider that he was first exposed to Ford cars when he was eight years old. There was a small auto shop in his hometown village in Italy that worked on American cars.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

After riding in a Mustang for the first time as a child, he was instantly hooked. "I felt like a rockstar," Schenardi said about the experience.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

Schenardi saved up enough money to finally purchase his first Mustang in 2006.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

That same day, Schenardi got a Mustang tattoo to commemorate his big purchase.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

Schenardi eventually became the first European car blogger, writing strictly about Mustang cars.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

As big as Ford's fan base is now, that wasn't always the case for Ford and its European market.

Source: The New York Times

Ford of Europe wasn't established until 1967.

Source: Bloomberg 

The American car brand had a difficult time attracting European customers and competing with other car brands.

Source: Bloomberg

But today in Europe Ford is an in-demand car brand.

Source: Ford

Ford fanatics overseas often prefer to purchase their cars from America, rather than their local dealerships.

Source: U.S. News

Cole said that it's challenging to purchase a Ford car through another country.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

Certain European countries have regulations, fees, and taxes.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

But many European Ford fans would rather pay import and transportation fees to transfer the Ford car from America, Cole told Business Insider.

 Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club 

It'll still be cheaper than all the fees and such that the European countries would charge them, he said.

Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club

Unsurprisingly, the car brand recently unveiled plans to cut six of its 23 European factories and anticipates more than tripling its yearly passenger vehicle imports into Europe by 2024.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Automotive Logistics

Out of all of Ford's car models, motorhomes are a hot commodity in Europe.

Source: News Atlas

According to Ford, its motorhome sales in Europe are up almost 15% compared to previous years, and sales have surpassed 100,000 units for the first time.

Source: Ford, The News Wheel

More recently, self-employment is on the rise in Europe…

Source: Ford, The News Wheel

...and Ford's Transit vans have become the backbone of business there.

Source: Ford, The News Wheel

Ford recently converted its transit cargo van into a tiny home that's only available in Europe.

Source: Business Insider

This is the fourth motorhome that Ford has released just for its European fans.

Source: Ford

When it was time for Ford to unveil its latest motorhome, there was no question that the brand was going to give the European market priority.

Source: Ford

In addition to motorhomes, the Ford Mustang's popularity has been on the rise in several European countries.

Source: Ford

To celebrate the Mustang's 50th anniversary in late 2015, Ford released an updated version of the beloved car with a new design and engineering.

Source: Bloomberg

Although US sales of the limited-edition Mustang eventually started to dip, Ford saw a major increase in foreign sales.

Source: Bloomberg

Since 2016, one in four Mustangs is now owned by drivers in China, the UK, and Germany.

Source: Bloomberg

According to Bloomberg, Ford even sold 17 Mustangs in Bulgaria, one of the smaller countries in Europe.

Source: Bloomberg

It might seem unexpected for a European to love an American car so much, but when it comes to Ford cars, "the price and performance is one of the best in the world," Schenardi said.

Source: Fabrizio Schenardi

After Ford’s campervan release to the European market and the global Mustang fascination, it seems Ford is paving the way for other American car brands' international presence.

Source: Bloomberg, Ford, MSN

• We picked 10 Kardashian-Jenner moments that made headlines this year and ranked them in order of shock value.
• Tristan Thompson cheating on Khloe Kardashian, this time with Kylie Jenner's best friend Jordyn Woods, easily took the top spot.
• Kylie also clinched the second, third, and fourth spots with her self-made billionaire title, split from Travis Scott, and "rise and shine" meme. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

You can say plenty of things about the Kardashian-Jenner family (and people do), but one thing you cannot call them is "boring."

This past year was no different. Calabasas' first family gave us scandalous behavior, botched product launches, and sensational social media posts that captured the internet's attention for days, weeks, or even months at a time.

Insider picked the 10 biggest moments that made headlines this year and ranked them in order of shock value.

10. Kylie was dragged for her skincare line.

When Kylie Jenner announced a walnut face scrub would be included in her new skincare line, she was immediately mocked online since dermatologists have warned that exfoliants with walnut as an ingredient can irritate the surface of the skin. 

"Walnut Face Scrub!!!!!!!!!! In 2019!!!" one person wrote on Twitter. Another said"Omg not WALNUT Kylie the girls have been dragging St. Ives for 10 years now lol read the ROOM." 

However, Kylie Skin still managed to sell out the full $125 skin set, so the scandal couldn't have been too powerful.

9. Kim and Kanye named their fourth child Psalm.

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West inspired confusion, memes, and plenty of jokes when they announced the name of their youngest child: Psalm West.

Now, Psalm is an unusual name, and objectively hard to pronounce. The popular Instagram account @norisblackbook, which parodies the personality of 6-year-old North West, exclusively refers to the newborn as "Sam."

But, like clockwork, fans and critics react strongly every time a Kardashian child is named, so the reactions have largely lost their power.

8. The West family's flat sinks caused quite a stir.

Kim gave a house tour and answered some inquiries for Vogue's "73 Questions" YouTube series — but, as it turns out, the video only raised more questions thanks to a mind-boggling sink design in the background.

Kim later explained that her husband helped design the functional, yet seemingly flat sinks: There's a slight incline and a slit for the water to drain.

7. Kendall Jenner's "most raw story" turned out to be a brand deal with Proactive.

Kendall Jenner and her mother, Kris Jenner, were roundly criticized for a botched sponsorship announcement.

Kris had teased online that Kendall would be sharing her "most raw story." The social media post also included a video of Kendall vaguely discussing a life-changing experience. 

"When I was 14, I couldn't reach as many people as I can now," she said. "Now that I'm 22 and I have this whole thing behind me I can speak to so many people and just be, like, I can help you, and it's OK. I experience it, I'm very normal and, like, I understand you. Like, I can connect with you. I'm gonna try and help."

Fans immediately began to speculate about what the revelation might be: Would Kendall open up about her mental health? Would she come out as queer? 

Instead, Kendall announced that she's the new face of Proactiv, the topical acne treatment. Some fans were disappointed, some furious, and some simply bemused. 

6. Kylie threw a "Handmaid's Tale"-themed party.

In June, Kylie threw an elaborate birthday party for her best friend with a highly questionable theme: "The Handmaid's Tale."

Each guest was given their own red robe and white bonnet, which are the outfits worn by the oppressed handmaidens in Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel and its Hulu show. The food and cocktails were given themed names like  "Praise Be Vodka" and "Under His Eye Tequila." In one video, Jenner could be heard saying "Welcome to Gilead."

But not everyone found this quippy or clever. In fact, many found it "tone deaf" and "disheartening."

5. Kim drew backlash for trying to trademark the name "Kimono" for her shapewear brand.

Kim received universal backlash when she announced the launch of her new shapewear brand, originally named "Kimono."

A kimono is a traditional robe in Japanese culture, with a history that dates back to 1615, according to London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Kim was criticized for cultural appropriation and was urged to change the brand name — even by the Japanese mayor of Kyoto, Daisaku Kadokawa.

The backlash was so severe that Kim promptly changed the name to "Skims" and apologized, saying she never meant to "intentionally disrespect" Japanese culture.

4. Kylie sang "rise and shine" and instantly became a meme.

Kylie went wildly viral after she sang "rise and shine" to her daughter in a YouTube video. The clip quickly became a meme and inspired fans to joke about Jenner deserving a Grammy.

Her vocals were so popular in videos, tweets, and song remixes that the 22-year-old mogul made "rise and shine" merchandise and even filed a trademark for the phrase.

3. Kylie split from her longtime boyfriend and the father of her daughter, Travis Scott.

In early October, news broke that Kylie and her longtime partner, Travis Scott, had split after more than two years together.

Their breakup shocked fans. After all, the couple's joint Playboy cover was still on shelves; they had just given the magazine an interview in which they gushed about their healthy sex life, their "chemistry," and how they "keep getting stronger."

2. Kylie was named the youngest self-made billionaire ever.

In March, Forbes reported that Kylie had officially become the youngest self-made billionaire ever.

Despite the major accomplishment, many were irritated and even offended with Forbes classifying Jenner as "self-made," on account of her famous family and inherited wealth.

Kylie was eventually compelled to respond to the intense backlash: "I can't say I've done it by myself," she told the New York Times. "If they're just talking finances, technically, yes, I don't have any inherited money. But I have had a lot of help and a huge platform."

1. Tristan Thompson was caught fooling around with Jordyn Woods.

Nearly one year after Tristan Thompson was exposed for cheating on a pregnant Khloe Kardashian with multiple women — and even after Khloe confirmed yet forgave his indiscretions— the couple was hit with an arguably bigger scandal.

In February 2019, Thompson was spotted cheating with a close friend of the Kardashian-Jenner family, Jordyn Woods. Anonymous sources told TMZ that Thompson and Woods "were all over each other" and "making out."

Woods, who had been best friends with Kylie for years, promptly moved out of their shared home. The scandal had such wide-ranging ripples that she was even compelled to address the accusations on Jada Pinkett Smith's "Red Table Talk."

The fallout was also documented on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." Khloe called the incident a "debilitating blow to my soul," and it didn't sound like Kylie felt much better. The effects are radiating throughout the Kardashian fandom to this day.

• Read more:
• Khloe Kardashian confirmed that Tristan Thompson cheated on her multiple times. Here's a complete timeline of all the infidelity accusations against him.
• Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott have reportedly split after 2 years together. Here's a complete timeline of their relationship.
• 15 facts that will make you think differently about the Kardashian-Jenner family
• RANKED: The 19 Kardashian moments that captured our attention in 2018, in order of shock value

• Royals usually follow a strict protocol that dictates their behavior.
• Every once in a while, they bend the rules.
• Meghan Markle brushed off curtsies for hugs, and Prince Harry indulged Jane Goodall in demonstrating a chimpanzee greeting.
• Prince William and Kate Middleton have gotten more relaxed about public displays of affection.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Members of the royal family usually follow a strict set of rules dictating everything from how they sit to what they eat. But even Queen Elizabeth herself has been known to brush royal protocol aside, calling it "rubbish."

Here are 10 times that members of the royal family broke their own protocol in 2019.

On their first royal tour as a family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn't use their official titles.

Palace aides told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl the royal couple is happy for members of the public to address them by just their first names, no titles or formalities necessary.

Usually, members of the royal family should be referred to as "Your Majesty" or "Your Royal Highness."

Markle stopped the founder of the One Young World Summit from curtsying and went in for a hug instead.

The traditional way to greet a member of the royal family is with a bow or curtsy. Embracing royals is usually off-limits for both security reasons and out of respect for their positions. But when One Young World Summit founder Kate Robertson curtsied to Markle on the stage of Royal Albert Hall, Markle appeared to shake her head "no" and insisted on hugging her instead.

Hugging seems to be her preferred greeting.

When Markle and Prince Harry were visiting Cape Town, South Africa, on their royal tour, Markle didn't hesitate to hug a young boy.

Kate Middleton has also been known to make royal protocol exceptions for young kids.

Markle's informal approach seems to be rubbing off on Prince Harry.

On the same visit to Cape Town, Prince Harry hugged Jessica Dewhurst, founder of The Justice Desk. The organization provides self-defense classes and female empowerment training to young girls in the community.

Prince Harry demonstrated a chimpanzee greeting with Jane Goodall, a world-renowned primatologist.

At an event for Goodall's environmental program Roots & Shoots, Prince Harry ditched royal protocol to demonstrate the way chimpanzees greet each other.

As the male in the pairing, Prince Harry patted Goodall on the head before the two embraced and patted each other on the back.

Princess Beatrice announced her engagement while Prince Harry and Markle were on their royal tour of Africa.

Princess Beatrice announced her engagement to businessman Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on September 26 — while Prince Harry and Markle were still on their royal tour of Africa.

"It is an unwritten rule for royals not to do anything that might overshadow the activities of other royals," Richard Fitzwilliams, former editor of "The International Who's Who,"previously told Insider.

Similarly, Prince Harry and Markle promoted their documentary while Prince William and Kate Middleton were on a royal tour of Pakistan.

The documentary itself didn't air on ITV until two days after Kate Middleton and Prince William's tour ended, but interview clips were posted on social media the week before its release.

Williams said that Prince Harry and Markle likely disregarded the rule due to the candid content of the documentary, where they opened up about struggling with royal life in the public eye.

"I think it was clear from the content of the documentary that they are both extremely unhappy in conventional royal roles and would probably not have considered this rule of importance considering what they believe is the significance of its content," he previously told Insider.

Queen Elizabeth usually doesn't attend funerals, but she may have made an exception for the funeral of a close friend this year.

Annette Wilkin, a royal aide who worked at the palace for 45 years, passed away in May. The Queen usually sends a representative to funerals instead of going herself so as to not to be a distraction, but royal sources said that Queen Elizabeth would attend Wilkin's funeral. Buckingham Palace didn't comment on the claims.

Markle and Prince Harry wrote a sweet birthday message for Prince Louis on Instagram, which some thought was a breach of royal protocol.

Kensington Palace's Instagram account celebrated Prince Louis' first birthday by posting new photos of the young royal.

Prince Harry and Markle's official account left a comment with birthday wishes.

"Happy Birthday Louis!" they wrote. "Sending lots of love from both of us! 🎂🎈xo"

Some commenters thought the couple broke royal protocol by not addressing him as "Prince Louis."

Royal couples have gotten more relaxed about public displays of affection.

As royal etiquette expert Myka Meier previously told Insider, there's no official protocol that forbids royal couples from holding hands or showing affection in public, but they often refrain when carrying out royal duties to maintain a sense of professionalism.

Markle and Prince Harry have always been more relaxed about touching in public than Prince William and Kate Middleton since they're not next in line for the throne. But even William and Kate engage in PDA on occasion — at the launch of the National Emergencies Trust in November, Prince William put his arm around Kate as they walked in together.

• Read more:
• 10 times the royals broke their own protocol in 2018
• Meghan Markle has been branded 'difficult' by tabloids. It's the same sexism that demonizes driven women in the workplace.
• The Queen thinks royal protocol is 'rubbish,' according to Michelle Obama

• Week 10 of the NFL season was a strong one for our best bets, with our picks going a solid 8-4-1 against the spread.
• This week, the Steelers and Browns kick off the action in Cleveland on Thursday night, followed up by a full slate of games on Sunday.
• Once again, we're picking every game of the week against the spread with the hopes of making a little money.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

We had a strong week of gambling in Week 1o of the NFL season.

After a rough Week 9, our best bets bounced back last week, going 8-4-1 against the spread to keep us well in the black so far this season.

This week, we're back at it, picking every game with hopes of making a little cash.

Take a look below at our best bets for Week 11 of the NFL season (* indicates home team).

LAST WEEK: 8-4-1
OVERALL: 79-67-2

Cleveland Browns* (-3) over Pittsburgh Steelers

If the Browns are going to turn things around, they need to win this one.

The Steelers are on a four-game winning streak that is begging to come to an end. If Mason Rudolph is really quarterbacking the hottest team in the NFL, my grip on reality might slip away for good.

Dallas Cowboys (-3) over Detroit Lions*

Matthew Stafford is still sidelined with a back injury, but even if he was making progress towards a potential return on Sunday, I wouldn't trust the Lions after how they handled his injury last week.

Dak Prescott is having a phenomenal year, and should do enough this game to keep the Cowboys in first place in the NFC East.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) over Indianapolis Colts*

It's Nick Foles' first game back after getting injured in his Week 1 debut with the Jaguars. Gardner Minshew did a fine job in relief, but Jacksonville is still fourth in the AFC South as things stand.

I was high on Foles and the Jaguars heading into the season, and he should come out of the gate ready to play.

Denver Broncos (+10.5) over Minnesota Vikings*

I often love to bet the Vikings in a spot like this with the belief that Kirk Cousins is good against bad teams and bad against good teams, but the Broncos might not be that bad this year. Even if they are, this is too many points to give to a defense that will fight on every down, no matter who's playing quarterback for Denver.

Houston Texans (+4) over Baltimore Ravens*

The Ravens are coming off of a big win over the Bengals and Lamar Jackson is one of the hottest players in the league. These dream runs don't last forever in the NFL, and the Texans have plenty of talent capable of causing problems to the Ravens so-far unstoppable offense.

Washington Redskins* (-1.5) over New York Jets

I refuse to believe that the Jets are going to win two games in a row this season.

Carolina Panthers* (-4.5) over Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons played the best game of their season last week, shocking the Saints at home with a 26-9 shallacking in New Orleans.

It was the type of performance we've known Atlanta was capable of since the start of the year, and on Sunday they finally put the pieces together. That said, I don't think they can do it again — going on the road against divisional opponents in back-to-back weeks to pull off two upsets in a row just seems like too tall a task for a team that looked like it was moments from firing their head coach a few weeks ago.

Miami Dolphins* (+6.5) over Buffalo Bills

The Miami Dolphins are on a winning streak! Despite the front office's blatant effort to tank on the season, the players on the field have shown a ton of fight over the past few weeks, and been rewarded with two wins for their effort.

The Dolphins are playing with purpose, while it looks like the cupcake schedule the Bills started the year with might finally be catching up with them.

New Orleans Saints (-5.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers*

Drew Brees isn't going to let a division rival humiliate his offense two weeks in a row. Brees is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, and this week he faces the worst passing defense in the NFL. Expect a big day.

San Francisco 49ers* (-11.5) over Arizona Cardinals

According to the Action Network, 80% of the bets on this game are on the Cardinals to cover the big spread.

I'm still not totally convinced of the dominance the 49ers have shown through the first half of the year, but any time the public is that heavily backing a long underdog, I'm going to go the other way.

Philadelphia Eagles* (+3.5) over New England Patriots

My Eagles beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl two years ago. I didn't doubt them then, and I'm not going to doubt them now.

Oakland Raiders* (-10.5) over Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are bad, and the Raiders are one of the delightful surprises of the 2019 season so far. At 5-4 and with two relatively easy opponents this week and next, Oakland could quickly become a trendy pick to sneak into the AFC playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams* (-6.5) over Chicago Bears

Both of these teams are broken, but I trust Sean McVay and the Rams to make the necessary fixes more than I do Matt Nagy and the Bears.

Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) over Los Angeles Chargers (in Mexico City)

The Chiefs and Chargers are playing in Mexico City on Monday night at Estadio Azteca. Elevation: 7,200.

To prepare, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has relocated the team to Colorado for the week to get used to playing in the thin air. According to the Los Angeles Times, the players kind of hate it, and wish they were at home with their families.

Even if the Chargers are more prepared for the elevation, I'll bet on a happy team — the Chiefs — over a team that's holding a grudge against its head coach any time I can.

Now check out our Power Rankings for Week 11 of the NFL season...

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where every team stands heading into Week 11

• Think you can't rock a fedora? With the right one, you could look as good as the stylish celebrities who wear this iconic hat style.
• The Bailey of Hollywood Blixen heads the top of the list with its classic look, US-made quality workmanship, and range of color choices. 

The fedora is the classic men's hat and remains a staple for style mavericks everywhere, like Harry Styles, Jack White, Johnny Depp, Serge Ibaka (of the Toronto Raptors), and Idris Elba, among others. If you want to add a touch of rock-and-roll or take a dressy look to the next level, the easiest way is with a good-looking fedora. As with any apparel, the quality is often reflected in the cost, but I've selected products that are reasonably priced.

I'm personally hat obsessed and could be heading to the hoarding stage, as in, I have more than 40 (mostly fedoras), and that doesn't include caps. I wasn't always a hat person, so if you're thinking that a fedora isn't your thing, perhaps I can convince you otherwise. 

This type of hat has been around for more than 100 years and has taken on many iterations over time. The current trend is toward bigger brims (the projecting edge of the hat) and slightly taller crowns (the part that sits on your head) along with Western-style versions. Snap brims, in which the front of the brim can be worn up or down, is the most common type. For a more modern feel leave the front of the brim up; snap the brim down for a classic look.

Fedoras are best matched with a dressier look (suits, blazers) or at least a collared shirt. Pair a straw fedora with a short-sleeved button-up shirt and chinos for a casual warm-weather outfit. For colder seasons, sweaters, overshirts, and blazers all work well with a felt fedora. If you're going with a Western-style or a wide-brimmed version, pair it with a leather jacket, trucker jacket, flannel, or snap-button shirt.  

The Bailey of Hollywood Blixen fedora won the best overall for its quality, price point, range of colors, and classic styling.

Here are the best men's fedoras you can buy:

• Best men's fedora overall: Bailey of Hollywood Blixen
• Best fedora on a budget: 9th Street Reverb Classic
• Best fedora for summer: Dobbs Rosebud
• Best fedora for dressing up: The Biltmore Camden Ark

The best men's fedora overall

The Blixen is a well-made classic snap-brim that comes in a dozen color choices. 

I've been a Bailey of Hollywood fan for a long time. The brand has been around since 1922 and continues to make an outstanding product while managing to stay relevant over its nearly 100 years in business. The Blixen is made in the US from wool felt, is water repellent, and keeps its shape. It's crushable, making it perfect for traveling. It comes with a nice-looking feather that sits in the Japanese grosgrain band. I've found they fit true to size. 

I have several Bailey's wool fedoras that I've owned for 10 years or longer and I've never noticed any shrinkage or tendency to lose their shape, but the color has faded in a few of the older ones, especially in the darker colored hats. I'm not super fastidious with my fedoras. I don't store them in hat boxes, for instance, so I can't say for sure whether the fading could have been prevented.

Pros: A well-made quality fedora, a nice range of colors

Cons: Not as long-lasting as fur felt, colors can fade over the years

The best fedora on a budget

A classic style that comes is very affordable in a good range of colors. 

9th Street Hats is the value line of the Levine Hat Company, a St. Louis, Missouri-based hatter with a 100-plus history. It's made from Australian sheep's wool and features a 2.5-inch snap brim in a range of colors, from cognac to a dark blue, and is lined in satin. It ships in a hat box to prevent it from being crushed in transit — a nice touch for the price. Some customers found the hat to run slightly large; here's a size guide. It's our only option that's not made in the US.

Pros: Great value, nice range of colors, satin-lined

Cons: Not US made

The best fedora for summer

The Dobbs Rosebud is a handsome straw fedora that's ideal for warmer weather. 

Dobbs is another heritage brand that's existed since 1908 and is known for its high-quality hats. I have two Dobbs fur felt fedoras from the 1950s, purchased on eBay, that still look amazing. The Rosebud is made in the US from florentine Milan straw and comes in a choice of colors including a rich burgundy. While some customers said the hat runs about a half-size large, I found it to fit true to size. The inside features a leather sweatband.

The Rosebud is versatile enough to give you a lot of use from spring to early fall. I've worn mine with a summer suit for a wedding as well as with a linen button-up and shorts while on vacation. It's a sturdy straw hat that's still lightweight and comfortable enough to get you through the hottest part of summer. The Rosebud has a higher crown (4 inches) and shorter brim (2 and 1/8th inches), which doesn't necessarily complement a heavier face.

Pros: Durable yet lightweight summer fedora with a variety of color choices

Cons: Not suitable for all face types

The best fedora for dressing up

The Camden Ark is a classic, high-quality fur-felt fedora made in the US. 

Biltmore Hats has been around for more than a century and has maintained its legacy for creating elegant and well-crafted hats. It began life as a Canadian company but has since moved to the US. I've found their hats run true to size, but come with a sizing insert that goes under the sweatband in case it's a little too roomy. 

The Camden Ark is a classic fedora with a 4-inch crown and 2.25-inch snap-brim that has a satin-lined interior and leather sweatband. The rabbit-fur felt has a luxurious hand-feel and subtle sheen and comes in seven colorways, from "pecan" to a rich blue. Many fedora aficionados prefer fur felt over wool felt because of the former's long-wearing properties, tendency to retain its shape, and its colorfastness. Fur felt is also thinner than wool felt, giving this hat a sleeker look and feel. While there are benefits to fur felt, some people are averse to buying fur products. Additionally, this is a pricey hat. 

Pros: Beautiful high-quality, fur-felt fedora

Cons: Some people may be averse to buying fur, pricey

The best Western-style fedora

The Cruiser from Stetson is a travel-friendly fedora with a subtle Westen vibe. 

Western-style fedoras have become popular of late and are great for giving you a subtle Western feel that isn't over the top. And who better to go to than Stetson, the legendary brand that's been around for more than 150 years? Western fedoras also work well with longer hair — think Jack White or Harry Styles (before he cut his hair). 

The Cruiser is 100% wool, made in the US, and combines the best of the fedora and Western hat styles. It has a 2.5-inch snap brim and features a thin leather hat band. It's also crushable, making it perfect for travel. Stetsons can be expensive but the Cruiser has a good price point. On the downside, there are limited color choices. You'll find Stetson's fit guide here. 

Pros: Made in the US, great for travel, good price 

Cons: Limited colors

What else we considered

There are so many great hat companies and fedora styles available that it was really hard to choose which ones to include on the list. Here are three fedoras that nearly made the cut. 

• Country Gentleman is an American heritage brand owned by the Pennsylvania-based Bollman Hat Co. It's been around since 1921. Its Dunmore fedora is made in the US from wool felt, has a 2.5-inch snap brim, and a beautifully detailed leather hatband. It's around $46. I've had a Country Gentleman wool felt fedora for about 15 years and while it's still in decent shape, there's been some fading and it's lost its shape a bit. I still wear it, as it's an incredibly comfortable hat.
• Brixton is a newer California brand launched in 2004 that does a nice job riding the line between classic and innovative hat styles. Its Coleman fedora is a good-looking Western-style fedora with a 2.5-inch brim and clean design. The fit was loose enough that I had to put in a hat size reducer, a strip of foam material that adheres under the sweatband. It comes in three colorways: aluminum, washed black, and black mix, for around $60. 
• Sunday Afternoons is a family-owned hat company out of Oregon that is best known for its adventure hats but the company also makes fedora-style headwear as well, including a version called the Havana hat. I wore one a lot this past summer while hiking and at the beach. This is where it shines thanks to its wider brim that nicely shades your face. It has a 50+ ultraviolet (UV) protection factor rating — the highest available. One nice addition is the adjustable sweatband that gives you a better fit. It's made from a paper-poly blend material. The company guarantees its materials and workmanship for life. It's a good price at just under $30. 

• Thanks to the internet and social media, slang words spread through our culture faster than ever.
• Most slang words don't stand the test of time, and some deserve to fade away sooner than others.
• Here are eight of our least favorite slang words from the past decade, including "YOLO,""canceled," and "snowflake."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Thanks to the internet, slang words have the ability to take root in our culture faster than ever.

While some words demonstrate real staying power, naturally, not all of these words are going to stand the test of time. 

Almost all slang falls to the wayside at some point — we certainly don't use words like "groovy" or "tubular" anymore, except perhaps ironically — but there are definitely some words that deserve to fade out way sooner than others.

Perhaps they've been overused, or their original meaning has been twisted, or they're simply not relevant anymore — or worse, they reveal something about our culture that is unhealthy or damaging.

No matter what the reason, every decade has slang that needs to go, and the 2010s are no different.

Here are the eight slang words from the 2010s that we absolutely cannot stand anymore.

Bae

The word bae rose to popularity in 2013, and by 2014 it had made the list of Oxford Dictionaries' shortlist for Word of the Year in 2014. 

The dictionary defined bae as "a term of endearment for one's romantic partner" and said its origins "are in African-American English, and it has proliferated through use on social media and in lyrics in hip-hop and R&B music."

Bae made quite an impact on culture, and numerous news sources published articles discussing its meaning, history, and proper usage.

Though it is often simply thrown around as a substitute for the common "babe" or "baby," its literal meaning is the exact reason that we're placing it on our list of words we can't stand.

Bae is supposedly an acronym, short for "before anyone else." Setting aside the fact that at the height of its popularity, people were using bae to refer to almost anything they loved — overuse that quickly became grating, especially when corporations began using it— the mindset behind the acronym is problematic, too.

Defining your partner as "before anyone else" and truly meaning it is a symptom of codependency, an incredibly common form of toxic love. Sandra L. Brown, a writer for Psychology Today, defined the difference in simple terms:

"Love," she said, means "separate interests; other friends; maintain other meaningful relationships," while "toxic love" means "total involvement; limited social life; neglect old friends, interests."

In this new decade, let's try to leave behind the culture of idealizing codependent relationships that is reflected in words like bae and reframe our cultural mindsets to idealize healthy, comfortable relationships instead.

Fake news

Let's get one thing straight: Donald Trump did not invent the term "fake news."

It was actually popularized in 2014 by Craig Silverman, Buzzfeed's news media editor, when he found a cluster of foreign websites printing outrageous, untrue headlines about American politics in order to generate revenue via clicks on Facebook.

It was, in short, digital media's version of yellow journalism, and it still poses a threat — especially in light of Facebook's recent refusal to vet political ads on its platform.

However, even Silverman has said that he refuses to use the term anymore, due in large part to Trump's twisting of the meaning. Instead of using it to call out actual political misinformation, Trump and his supporters use it to vilify any news coverage they disagree with or that portray him negatively, regardless of the accuracy.

Trump's demonization of the media isn't just baseless — it's dangerous, according to several scholars. Throughout history, it's been part of the pattern of authoritarians to destroy the public's trust in their news sources, so that they think the only place they can turn for information is the leader himself. The leader can then, in a sense, take control of the public's thinking.

It's important that we bring to an end the divisive attitude of dismissing news sources we disagree with as "fake news" as soon as possible.

On fleek

Let's lighten up for a second. The phrase "on fleek,"coined sometime around 2003, but popularized by a 2014 Vine, didn't have any major political or sociological implications — it just didn't need to exist.

First of all, if the definitions on Urban Dictionary are any indication, the phrase is already pretty much universally hated — but we managed to find one definition not dripping with contempt:

1. adj. hella; on point
2. adj. very good

However, this definition underscores the phrase's pointlessness. It is defined using two slang phrases vastly more popular than itself. 

On fleek was also — probably because of the Vine that popularized it — used primarily to describe eyebrows. Our culture isn't so eyebrow-centric that we need a separate word just to denote their perfection, so it's probably best to leave this one in the past.

Canceled

For years, concerts, flights, and other events have been subject to cancellation. But only recently did we start canceling people.

To understand what it is to cancel someone, we must first understand the movement that the term grew out of, namely call-out culture.

Call-out culture, essentially, is public shaming in which members of a community are "called out" for problematic behavior. Call-outs usually happen on social media sites like Twitter and Tumblr, where information is easily shared and commented on.

What eventually stemmed from those internet call-outs, though, was habit of "canceling" the perceived offenders. Urban Dictionary defines canceling as"to dismiss something or somebody" and "to reject an individual or idea." 

And when people use the term unironically, it reveals a big problem with our culture.

It's good to call people out, particularly celebrities and those in power, and hold them accountable for their actions. Some people have committed acts so egregious and deplorable that they do deserve to be cancelled.

However, cancel culture has exploded online to such a degree that public figures now run the risk of being canceled the moment they make a mistake, or even for mistakes they made in the past.

The main issue with the word doesn't come down to the fates of celebrities. It comes down to the mentality surrounding it. Canceling someone the moment they make a mistake is, by definition, inhuman. Humans make mistakes — it's what we do. 

Cancel culture as it currently exists doesn't give people a chance to learn from or apologize for their wrongdoings. It doesn't give them a chance to grow. Especially today, with teenagers growing up and putting their lives on social media, that can be incredibly dangerous. Very few people truly deserve to be "cancelled."

Basic

Though the term has been around for decades, basic became "everyone's favorite new insult" in 2014, according to Vox. It's still a favorite today — it's even used in one of Eleanor Shellstrop's catchphrases on the hit comedy "The Good Place."

There are two top definitions for basic on Urban Dictionary. The first is mostly straightforward, and defines it as an adjective meaning "only interested in things mainstream, popular, and trending."

The second, though, is a prime example of everything wrong with the word:

"Used to describe someone devoid of defining characteristics that might make a person interesting, extraordinary, or just simply worth devoting time or attention to."

Calling someone — usually a woman— basic is most often associated with liking things like Starbucks, pumpkin spice, Ugg boots, ombre-dyed hair, or even "making out with girls for attention in high school," according to an Elite Daily article that demonstrates how subjective it all is.

There's nothing wrong with liking popular or mainstream things. After all, they're popular for a reason. Moreover, grouping together any people who like a certain subset of mainstream things and deeming them not worthy of devoting time or attention to conveys superiority and condescension.

Not into pumpkin spice? That's fine. But that alone doesn't make you more worthy of attention than someone who is. Even Eleanor Shellstrop eventually realized that being basic isn't altogether a bad thing, as long as it makes you happy. 

Basic isn't going to die, and we know that — and it's not like it's really hurting anyone in a position of vulnerability — but perhaps we should all try to be a little less judgmental in our use of it. Let people like what they like.

YOLO

YOLO was a popular acronym in 2011 and 2012, short for "you only live once." Often shouted before doing something reckless or fear-inducing, the spirit behind the word was that you should live in the moment and do the crazy things you're afraid of.

Though Drake claims that he coined the term YOLO in his song "The Motto" in 2011, KnowYourMeme found that the first use of the acronym occurred in 2004 on the NBC reality show "The Average Joe."

Regardless of who coined it, the word now has a resoundingly negative opinion on Urban Dictionary — and with the publicin general— for two reasons.

The first reason is that it encourages people to do stupid things without thinking of the consequences. Is YOLO a good excuse to go skydiving? Absolutely. Is it a good reason to soak gummy bears in vodka and hand them out to children? Absolutely not.

The second reason is that by the time 2012 was around halfway over, the word was generally overused, and people were already tired of it. 

Now, if you hear YOLO used, it is likely to be ironically — hence earning its place on our list.

Snowflake

The most popular Urban Dictionary definition for snowflake tells us exactly where it came from and what it's supposed to mean:

"A term for someone that thinks they are unique and special, but really are not."

The term gained popularity through a line from the book "Fight Club" and its film adaptation: "You are not special. You're not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else."

The term began a steady ascent in internet popularity around the beginning of the decade, with a massive spike in late 2016. It's become a favorite insult of right-wing conservatives, particularly as a catch-all insult for liberals.

As Dana Schwartz wrote for GQ, "calling someone a snowflake combines every single thing a college freshman loves: trolling people on the Internet, a self-satisfied sense of the superiority of one's own impeccable powers of reasoning, and 'Fight Club.'" 

Snowflake makes the list of slang words we can't stand not because of political bias — it's one of the worst words because it's lazy. Calling someone "snowflake" is simply not a strong argument, nor is it actually that insulting, yet it is used as though it should be able to shut down a debate. Those who use it as such should try harder, or let someone else do the talking.

Triggered

Often used in the same sentence as snowflake, "triggered" saw a rise first as a serious psychological term. 

According to the Good Therapy blog, "a trigger is a reminder of a past trauma. This reminder can cause a person to feel overwhelming sadness, anxiety, or panic. It may also cause someone to have flashbacks."

People started attaching trigger warnings to sensitive content on the internet a long time ago, particularly when having to do with topics like violence or rape. Later, Tumblr users began asking people to attach warnings for more specific things that might trigger their own anxiety attacks or other mental illnesses. 

However, starting in 2015, the term gained massive popularity online for a different reason: It was co-opted by the alt-right as a way to make fun of people for being angry, upset, or sensitive about something. 

This use of the word in this casual manner completely ignores the seriousness of what people with mental illnesses may deal with when they encounter one of their triggers. Trivializing it also means that those people are taken less seriously when they ask people to avoid their triggers.

Mental health is already stigmatized enough in our society. The casual use of the word "triggered" needs to go.

• Insider spoke to celebrity ring designer Neil Lane and runway stylist and jewelry expert Tanya Dukes about engagement ring trends for 2020.
• Geometric cuts, minimalist designs, and colorful stones are all surging in popularity, according to the experts.
• Unconventional rings are also becoming more common after celebrities like Katy Perry embraced unique shapes.
• But other stars like Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Hyland are opting for one large diamond, creating a renewed interest in the clean aesthetic.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Engagement ring trends are constantly changing.

Insider spoke to runway stylist and jewelry expert Tanya Dukes and jewelry designer for the stars Neil Lane about what ring trends we can expect to see in 2020.

Lane predicts romantic designs are going to be big in 2020.

"We're seeing more brides opt for rose gold over traditional metals, as well as gemstones like morganite and soft stones, so I think romantic designs are going to be big in 2020," Lane told Insider.

For instance, this ring has a morganite stone and rose gold band.

"I'm a romantic, so I love designs with delicate shapes and dreamy hues," he added.

"Understated solitaires on unembellished bands are rising in popularity," said runway stylist and jewelry expert Tanya Dukes.

"I'm surprised that solitaires are rising in popularity, even among celebrities," she said. "It's an understated look but very classic and timeless."

Dukes noted that the trend is particularly popular for couples who can afford a large stone.

"Jennifer Lopez's current rock from Alexander Rodriguez is an extreme example," Dukes elaborated, speaking of the $4.5 million engagement ring Rodriguez gave Lopez in March 2019.

"Geometric shapes and minimalistic designs are becoming increasingly popular because of their versatility," Lane said.

"They're ideal for modern women seeking style and elegance that translates from day to night," Lane said of minimalist rings.

Dukes seconded Lane's analysis. "There's a movement toward elegant minimalism — a less is more attitude that pays a lot of attention to the architecture of a ring rather than adding a lot of decoration," she said.

The experts have also noticed colorful stones rising in popularity.

"Morganite, aquamarine, and garnet engagement rings have recently become quite fashionable, as they offer unique, eye-catching options," Lane said.

"Gemstones were once considered an avant-garde choice, but now brides are looking for that pop of color," he added.

"There's been a big embrace of color," Duke said. "That applies to diamonds and gemstones too."

"Scarlett Johansson is wearing a massive light-brown diamond in her new engagement ring, while Jenny Slate just debuted her sapphire engagement ring," Dukes pointed out.

Both Lane and Dukes pointed to Katy Perry's flower-shaped engagement ring from Orlando Bloom as an example as well, highlighting both the floral shape and colorful design.

"Brides are looking beyond the traditional diamond for a ring option that lets their true colors shine," Lane said.

Lane has seen increased interest in oval and pear-shaped rings from contestants on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."

"A few years ago, everyone wanted a round or a princess-cut diamond," Lane said. "Now, bachelors and bachelorettes are rediscovering and gravitating toward fancy-cut stones like the oval and pear."

"Both men and women are drawn to these romantic cuts, so I've incorporated them into a number of my designs at Kay Jewelers," Lane noted of his latest work.

Oval diamonds are becoming a popular shape for rings.

"Everyone jumped on the oval diamond bandwagon this year," Dukes said of the cut.

"Actresses Sarah Hyland, Melissa Benoist, and model Lais Ribeiro are among the celebrities who got engagement rings with the fancy-cut stone," she said.

"I think the trend for the shape is reaching its peak," Dukes added, as it has been a popular shape for a few years now. The oval shape will probably become less popular toward the later half of 2020 as brides begin to gravitate toward geometric shapes.

When it comes to shopping for engagement jewelry, both experts said you should pick a ring that speaks to you.

"While today's ring shapes and colors are fun and unique, you shouldn't choose something just because it's the latest trend or because it will impress your friends," Lane told Insider.

"Always be true to your heart and pick a style that you love. Your ring should be a celebration of your personality and style," he added.

"Go with something you love, even if it doesn't look traditional," Dukes agreed.

• Read more:
• How engagement rings have changed over the past 100 years
• I picked out my own engagement ring, and it was the best decision I could have made
• Here's what you need know about insuring an engagement ring
• 26 of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings of all time

• Now through November 19, you can save 25% sitewide at L.L.Bean by using the promo code "SAVE25" at checkout.
• If your order totals more than $50 after promotions and discounts are applied, you'll also receive free shipping.
• While clothing and gear are included in the promotion, the best items on sale right now are L.L.Bean's iconic Bean Boots.

L.L. Bean is making the transition to winter easier by offering 25% off your entire order, including new arrivals, using promo code "SAVE25" at checkout. If your order total is $50 or more after promotions and discounts are applied, you'll also get free shipping.

Better yet, the iconic L.L.Bean Boots, a wintertime staple, are included in the sale.

These boots have built a solid reputation over the years and continue to be one of the brand's bestsellers. Since 1912, L.L.Bean Boots have been made by hand with the help of expert craftspeople, and the company continues to use the same design and process that they have practiced since day one.

The detailed technique ensures quality, but the boots often sell out because the demand from eager buyers far exceeds what the Maine-based factory can produce by hand.

Popularity wise, the rubber moccasin and the original eight-inch boot are at the top of the list, but there are a total of 29 styles available for men, and 29 styles available for women— so there's a pretty high chance you'll find the perfect boot.

Check out the best L.L.Bean Boots for men, women, and kids below:

Men's L.L.Bean Original 8-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Original 8-Inch Boot, $104.25 (Originally $139) [You save $34.75]

Men's L.L.Bean Shearling-Lined 10-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Shearling-Lined 10-Inch Boot, $172.50 (Originally $230) [You save $57.50]

Men's L.L.Bean Limited-Edition Luxe Padded Collar 8-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Original Gumshoe Boot, $89.25 (Originally $119) [You save $29.75]

Men's L.L.Bean Small Batch Chamois-Lined 8-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Small Batch Chamois-Lined 8-Inch Boot, $104.25 (Originally $139) [You save $55.75]

Men's L.L.Bean Signature Waxed-Canvas 10-Inch Maine Hunting Boot

L.L.Bean Signature Waxed-Canvas 10-Inch Maine Hunting Boot, $74.25-$111.75 (Originally $99-$149) [You save $24.75-$37.25]

Men's Limited-Edition Luxe L.L.Bean Boots, 9" Shearling Lounger

L.L.Bean Limited-Edition Luxe L.L.Bean Boots, 9" Shearling Lounger, $157.50 (Originally $210) [You save $52.50]

Women's L.L.Bean Limited-Edition Luxe Padded Collar 6-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Signature Waxed Canvas Rubber Moc, $59.99 (Originally $79.99) [You save $20]

Women's L.L.Bean 8-Inch Bison Boot

L.L.Bean 8-Inch Bison Boot, $111.75 (Originally $149) [You save $37.25]

Women's Limited-Edition Luxe L.L.Bean Boots, 7" Shearling Lounger

L.L.Bean Limited-Edition Luxe L.L.Bean Boots, 9" Shearling Lounger, $157.50 (Originally $210) [You save $52.50]

Women's L.L.Bean Herringbone Shearling-Lined 10-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Herringbone Shearling-Lined 10-Inch Boot, $156.75 (Originally $209) [You save $52.25]

Women's L.L.Bean Small Batch Chamois-Lined 8-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Small Batch Chamois-Lined 8-Inch Boot, $104.25 (Originally $139) [You save $34.75]

Women's L.L.Bean Rubber Moc Boot

L.L.Bean Rubber Moc Boot, $74.25 (Originally $99)[You save $24.75]

Kids' L.L.Bean Boot Original

L.L.Bean Boot Original, $104.25 (Originally $139) [You save $34.75]

Kids' L.L.Bean Small Batch 6-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Small Batch 6-Inch Boot, $67.49 (Originally $89.99) [You save $22.50]

Kids' L.L.Bean Waxed-Canvas Boot

Kids' L.L.Bean Boots, 6" Camo

L.L.Bean 6-Inch Camo Boot, $104.25 (Originally $139) [You save $34.75]

• New regulatory filings posted Thursday detail the biggest stock purchases and sales from billionaire fund managers in the third quarter.
• Investors including Stanley Druckenmiller, Carl Icahn, and Chase Coleman made significant changes to their multibillion-dollar portfolios. Druckenmiller sold more than 2 million shares of Uber in the third quarter. 
• The hottest buys were well-known tech stocks — e.g., Amazon and Netflix — that have been beloved by these investors for years. Chase Coleman's Tiger Global increased its bet on Alibaba as well.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Competitors, analysts, journalists, and more all just got their quarterly peek inside the stock portfolios of the biggest fund managers in the world.

Secretive funds like Chase Coleman's Tiger Global revealed the changes they made to their holdings in the third quarter, and some of the biggest names were very active.

The billionaire Carl Icahn sold off some of his third-biggest holding, Occidental Petroleum, which is trading at a low for the year, filings showed on Thursday. Stanley Druckenmiller's family office ditched almost all of its Uber stake, selling more than 2 million shares in the quarter.

Continue reading to see some of the biggest moves from the biggest managers.

Stanley Druckenmiller dumps Uber

The most recent headline of a prominent investor dumping the ride-hailing giant came from the company cofounder Travis Kalanick selling more than $700 million worth of stock.

But the billionaire fund manager Druckenmiller actually sold a majority of his stake before Kalanick made his move.

Filings show that Druckenmiller's family office owned just under 2.7 million shares, worth roughly $125 million, at the end of the second quarter. The latest filings show that he now owns only 166,882 shares, which the firm valued at roughly $5.1 million.

Druckenmiller also sold more than a million shares of Microsoft, which is his family office's biggest holding, and half of his Alibaba stake, which was worth $175 million at the end of the second quarter.

Tiger Global is a fan of Alibaba

The billionaire Chase Coleman of Tiger Global is known for his tech prowess, and he made a big bet on Alibaba, which has seen its stock price bounce up and down all year. 

The fund nearly doubled its stake in the Chinese company in the third quarter, buying more than 3 million shares. Its stake was worth $1.3 billion at the end of the third quarter and was its fifth-biggest holding.

The firm continued to add to its large Facebook stake in the quarter as well, buying more than 2 million shares.

Paul Tudor Jones' Allergan bet

After surviving the activism of one billionaire fund manager, Allergan was an attractive investment for another in the third quarter.

David Tepper tried to force the drugmaker to split the CEO and chairman roles for more than a year, and the company announced it would explore that when its current CEO and chairman, Brent Saunders, left the position. Jones has now piled into the stock, which has struggled in recent years.

Jones nearly doubled his stake in the drugmaker, and he owned just under $95 million worth of stock in the company at the end of the third quarter.

D1's Daniel Sundheim still loves Netflix

The former Viking Global investment chief Daniel Sundheim told conference attendees in May that he loved Netflix. His portfolio shows he walked the walk.

Sundheim, who runs the nearly $8 billion D1 Capital, added a million more Netflix shares in the third quarter. His total stake was worth $988 million at the end of the quarter.

He also plowed in Amazon, roughly sextupling his stake, from 66,500 shares at the end of the second quarter to more than 411,000 shares.

Carl Icahn chipping away at his Occidental Petroleum stake

The billionaire investor Icahn shed a chunk of one of his biggest holdings in the third quarter.

Occidental Petroleum, which is now trading at the lowest price it has all year, made up 7% of Icahn's multibillion-dollar portfolio at the end of the second quarter, filings show, but he dumped more than 7 million shares of the energy company in the third quarter.

His stake was worth $1.1 billion as of the end of the quarter.

• Every year, Korean beauty retailer Soko Glam surveys its customers to create a list of top 10 best K-beauty products.
• Below are the 10 best K-beauty products of 2019, according to the Soko Glam community.
• You'll find everything from hydrating sheet masks to vitamin C powder more potent than traditional serums. 

Each year for the past six years, Soko Glam— the one-stop-shop for Korean beauty and skin-care products — has compiled a list of the top 10 most innovative must-haves. This year's list can be found below.

Finalists were chosen by shoppers via a survey that was circulated over the summer, except for one must-have that Soko Glam staff added. The list spans all categories and from newcomers to longtime holy grails, like Mamonde Petal Spa Oil To Foam Cleanser and Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch. 

Whether you're new to Korean beauty or a Reddit-haunting veteran, use this list as your cheat sheet for the best K-beauty and skin-care products to buy. If you bought only these 10 products to start, you'd be in good shape.

Here are the 10 best Korean beauty and skin-care launches of 2019, according to Soko Glam:

Mamonde Petal Spa Oil To Foam Cleanser

Available at Soko Glam, $21

Supposedly a one-stop-shop answer to double-cleansing, this Mamonde oil-to-foam cleanser starts as a silky oil that grabs makeup, SPF, and grime, and then emulsifies into a milk that cleanses skin without stripping it of moisture.

Customers note that it's good for sensitive skin, and the damask rose oil makes for a great natural scent.

Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist

Available at Soko Glam, $24

A collaboration between Soko Glam and Acwell, this essence mist is full of brightening and hydrating ingredients, and sprays a fine, even mist. Your face should feel refreshed and nourished after spritzing.

Solved Skincare Coconut Oil Cleansing Pads

Available at Soko Glam, $25

Solved Skincare Coconut Oil Cleansing Pads are travel-friendly double-sided pads that can tackle waterproof mascara, longwearing lipstick, and even sunscreen without missing a beat.

The pads are formulated with an emulsifier to make sure the 100% virgin coconut oil rinses off cleanly with water. They're less messy than a traditional cleansing oil and not housed in a heavy bottle either, so they can go wherever you go. 

Mediheal N.M.F Intensive Hydrating Sheet Mask

Available at Soko Glam, $9.95

Mediheal makes some of the most hydrating masks Soko Glam staff or customers have tried.

Developed by dermatologists and estheticians, the masks contain hyaluronic acid, amino acids, and sugars (a natural humectant to helps skin retain moisture) to take skin from dry and flaky to soft and supple. Other ingredients like willow bark and witch hazel tone and exfoliate. 

Elensilia CPP Collagen 80% Intensive Eye Cream

Available at Soko Glam, $20

This eye cream is made with 80% hydrolyzed collagen extract that helps plump skin, preventing the appearance of fine lines. It also has two patented peptides, one that reduces puffiness and one that helps boost collagen production and protect against collagen loss.

According to Soko Glam reviews, shoppers appreciated that the eye looks smoother, brighter, and more hydrated as soon as the cream is applied, and that concealer doesn't cake up when layered on top.  

Neogen Real Vita C Powder Lemon

Available at Soko Glam, $20

This is a vitamin C powder designed to be mixed in with your toner or essence so there aren't any unnecessary fillers like water that can dilute its potency. It's formulated with 17% ascorbic acid (the type of vitamin C that gets absorbed into your skin), allantoin, hydrolyzed collagen, trehalose, and lemon extract to help the complexion appear brighter and plumper.

The dark jar helps prevent the powder from oxidizing too — a frequent concern when buying vitamin C products.

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

Available at Soko Glam, $24.50

Klairs' Midnight Blue Cream helps calm irritated skin post-facial extractions, sun exposure, windburn, and more, while also hydrating and reducing redness.

The guaiazulene comes from chamomile oil and is also responsible for the cool blue hue, while centella hydrates and relieves irritation and redness. Staff and customers note that a thin layer was enough to boost moisture and calm skin overnight and that the formula melts right into the skin. 

Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil

Available at Soko Glam, $25

If your main skin complaints are blackheads and dull skin, this cleansing oil may be a good option.

It uses gentle polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) to help minimize the appearance of large pores, improve the skin's texture, and cleanse without leaving behind a greasy or sticky film. Tea tree leaf oil helps prevent breakouts, and jojoba oil and other seed oils and extracts pack in nourishment. 

Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch

Available at Soko Glam, $5

Cosrx stickers act as a vacuum for acne-causing bacteria and gunk.

Stick one on top of a whitehead and it'll draw all the gunk inside to the surface like a magnet without irritation, pain, or the potential contamination or scarring from your own wandering hands.

According to shoppers, it also seems to fast-track the healing process too.

Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner

Available at Soko Glam, $19

This toner rebalances skin with ingredients like acne-fighting salicylic acid, soothing aloe water, and moisturizing snail mucin. Use it with a cotton pad or the palms of your hands before the rest of your skin-care routine to help other products absorb more deeply. 

• A great pair of jeans is a staple every woman should have in her wardrobe.
• Our favorite place to buy women's jeans is Everlane because the denim fits well, is affordable, and is made transparently.

If there's an equivalent in your closet to, say, butter in your refrigerator, it must be your favorite pair of jeans. Is there a food that butter does not improve? No. Is there an outfit that a good pair of jeans does not make better? Absolutely not. Is butter a necessary part of life? Yes. Do you need jeans to get through society? Surely. You see, the parallels are uncanny.

While there exists no shortage of stores from which to purchase your new favorite bottoms, there are a few places that we turn to without fail for a great pair of long-lasting, comfortable, and good-looking jeans. And that's because they satisfy a few key criteria.

First and foremost, you'll want your jeans to be incomparably comfortable. After all, I practically live in my favorite pair, and that's only the case because wearing them and wearing leggings are about equal when it comes to mobility and stretchability (though leggings, are not, in fact pants).

Second, you'll want to think about your favorite cut. The boot cut, believe it or not, appears to be making a comeback, though other classics like the straight cut or skinny cut are also great options. Be sure that your favorite jean purveyor offers more than just one jean varietal — after all, you'll need different jeans for different occasions.

Of course, you should also keep price point in mind. While a great pair of jeans will last you for years on end (and as such, can justify a high price tag), it simply is not the case that buying a great pair of pants requires you to pay an arm and two legs.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you'll want to pay attention to the type and quality of denim used in your jeans. Given that the fabric can make or break your pants, this is certainly no place to skimp. Be sure that your favorite jean purveyor sources its denim from top of the line suppliers, and know how to take care of this durable material. After all, the longer you own your jeans, the better they look.

No matter which of our favorite stores you choose for your next shopping spree, we're sure you won't be disappointed.

Here are the best places you can buy women's jeans:

• Best place to buy women's jeans overall: Everlane
• Best place to buy comfortable jeans: Mott & Bow
• Best place to buy plus-size jeans: Warp + Weft
• Best place to buy petite jeans: Madewell
• Best place to buy high-end jeans: Rag & Bone
• Best place to buy skinny jeans: Liverpool
• Best place to buy performance jeans: DUER

The best place to buy women's jeans overall

Somehow, Everlane's wide selection of jeans looks great on just about everyone. Coupled with the brand's radical transparency and affordable prices, Everlane denim is a hit. 

Perhaps the reason that Everlane jeans look so good on so many women is that it incorporate elastane into its fabric. That means that your jeans are just stretchy enough to ensure that you're always comfortable, and always look your best.

Everlane's defining trait has always been its transparency, and it prides itself on informing customers exactly where its products are made and how much it costs to make them. When Everlane first started making denim apparel back in 2017, it managed to attract a waitlist that was 40,000 people long. And now, nearly two years later, its jeans are still just as popular. Like Warp + Weft, Everlane ensures that its LEED-certified factory in Vietnam recycles 98% of its water. The plant also uses alternative energy sources to further reduce its carbon footprint.

When it comes to Everlane's styles, I'm a big fan of both the High-Rise Skinny Jean and the Kick Crop Jean. As a petite person, I'm always a bit skeptical of "crops," which tend to look like, well, full-length jeans on my frame. But the Kick Crop Jean somehow works on a variety of different heights, which is a feat in and of itself.

The vast majority of Everlane jeans incorporate some amount of elastane in them for that trademark stretch. The Slim Fit has just 2 percent elastane, which is enough to notice the difference in feeling, but not enough to make your jeans lose their shape. You can always opt for other pairs with more or less elastane depending on just how stretchy you'd like your jeans to fit.

Pros: Affordable; stretchy (which makes them universally flattering); comfortable

Cons: Jeans with elastane tend not to last as long as 100 percent denim

Shop premium women's denim from Everlane

The best place to buy comfortable jeans

Mott & Bow makes some of the most comfortable jeans around, and with just a few styles to choose from, you won't be paralyzed by choice.

If you're looking for jeans that you can literally live in, you're looking right at Mott & Bow. The brand's founder, Alejandro Chahin, was born and raised in the denim business, and the Honduran denim factory from which Mott & Bow gets its fabric is the same factory that his family founded. That means that this denim is time tested and truly some of the most comfortable material out there — so much so that I'm sometimes sad to replace my jeans with my PJs at the end of the day.

This is a sentiment shared by other folks at Business Insider as well. Our senior director, Breton Fischetti, once wore them on a six-hour flight as an alternative to sweatpants.

I'm also a particular fan of Mott & Bow for its straightforward approach to jean styles. Unlike other brands, which run the risk of overwhelming you with the sheer volume of jean options, Mott & Bow only has three offerings from which to choose: straight, slim, and skinny. And for you jean purists out there, you won't have to worry about distressed looks or odd paint splatters that are meant to make you look handier than you are. Rather, Mott & Bow jeans are simple, sleek, and classic.

Folks are also particularly taken by Mott & Bow's free try and return service, which is exactly what it sounds like: pick a pair of jeans, get them sent to your doorstep to try them on, and if you don't like them, just send them back. It's like turning your own home into your dressing room. And if you need any additional help, you can always turn to Mott & Bow's phenomenal customer service reps.

Pros: Straightforward styles; incredibly comfortable fit; high-quality material; great customer service

Cons: If you're looking for more variety in your jeans, Mott & Bow may be too to-the-point

Shop premium denim at Mott & Bow here

The best place to buy women's plus-size jeans

Warp + Weft makes some of the most comfortable jeans I own, and with several beautiful styles, even more beautiful washes, and sizes ranging from 00 to 24, they're a great place to turn when replenishing your jean supply.

You may not have heard of Warp + Weft yet, but believe me, you'll be hearing of them for years to come. The brand comes from the creative director of DL1961, and it's quickly made its way into my heart and closet. Aside from killer looks, Warp + Weft also boasts eco-friendly production methods, soft and comfortable fit, and inclusive sizing.

And when we say eco-friendly production, we mean it. Alas, most jeans are not particularly kind to the earth, as a traditional pair of jeans actually requires 1,500 gallons of water to produce. Warp + Weft, on the other hand, has somehow slimmed down its production to require just 10 gallons of water per pair, and recycles 98 percent of that water.

The jeans that come out of this process are some of the softest I've ever worn. For years, I decried jeans, determining that they were far too stiff and immobile for me to live my best life. But Warp + Weft has changed my mentality altogether. It seems to be thanks to a proprietary cotton wrapping technique, which makes all four of the company's core fabrics extremely soft and surprisingly breathable. Despite this level of comfort, they still look structured and sleek, and no matter how many times I've run them through the wash, I haven't made them look like jeggings instead of jeans.

When it comes to variety in selection, Warp + Weft has more than enough to go around — whether you're looking for a relaxed straight jean or a pastel boot cut, you're in luck. And with sizes ranging from 00 to 24, just about anyone can find a great fit here. Plus, the brand sells both women's and men's styles (and kid's too!), so you and your entire family can go out on the town in matching jeans (if you're into that sort of thing). I also love the different washes that Warp + Weft offers, particularly the Seine— it's a dark blue that looks effortless and timeless, and would be just as appropriate for work as the weekend.

Somehow, everything still costs under $100, with most jeans priced at $98, and outlet deals cost even less.

Pros: Inclusive sizing (00 to 24), incredibly soft denim, wide selection of styles and washes, affordable price point

Cons: If you prefer a more traditional raw denim feel, the softness of Warp + Weft may be a bit much

Shop Warp + Weft jeans for women

Best place to buy petite jeans

Madewell has a large selection of stylish and simple jeans that work particularly well for petite women. 

Shopping for denim can be difficult if you're petite. Standard inseams may be too long, but tailoring can be inconvenient and expensive. Finding great petite jeans that already fit you just right is a much better solution, and you can do that at Madewell. 

Madewell has a large selection of denim and almost all pairs come in regular, tall, and petite options. From skinnies to wide-legs and boyfriend pairs, Madewell has it all. And, because they offer a range of inseams, you can confidently try styles that you normally wouldn't go for.

Many women on the Insider Picks team swear by the brand's Cali Demi-Boot, a kick-flare option that's fitted through the leg with a little extra volume towards the bottom. Insider Picks strategy director Ellen Hoffman counts these as some of her favorite jeans. She says, "Madewell's demi-bootcut jeans are another winner for petite ladies like me. The regular version has a 26-inch inseam that perfectly suits my 5-foot-3 frame, but Madewell also offers tall and petite options."

Whether your style is eccentric or subdued, you're sure to find something you love in Madewell's extensive catalog. With dark washes, light ones, and even pairs covered in funky embroidery, Madewell makes it easy to find your perfect pair. — Remi Rosmarin

Pros: Regular, tall, and petite options, tons of styles and washes

Cons: Some pairs run large, prices vary by wash

Shop all denim at Madewell here

Best place to buy high-end jeans

Rag & Bone jeans are pricey, but the denim is high-quality, and the styles are timeless and super flattering. 

There are so many high-end denim brands to choose from, but when it comes to splurging on jeans Rag & Bone is my go-to. The quality is top-notch, the styles are classic and cool, and the fits are always flattering. 

Most pairs of Rag & Bone jeans are made of non-stretch denim. This makes them relatively stiff, but not so much so that you feel like you can't move. The raw denim feel also makes the pants more durable than softer options and denim blends, which often require some extra attention. 

Rag & Bone's breadth of styles has something for everyone. The brand has a large selection of options with everything from classic skinnies to of-the-moment flares and color-blocked pairs. There are constantly new styles making their way into the rotation, so there's always a trendy new pair to try out. But these stylish, durable jeans don't come cheap — most pairs will cost you around $200 or more. 

Many women on the Insider Picks team count Rag & Bone jeans as their favorites, including myself. I've loved every pair I've tried from the brand. From the quality craftsmanship to the effortless styles, Rag & Bone jeans feel worth the hefty price tag. What stands out to me most though is the fit. There's an attention to detail that makes these some of the most flattering jeans I've ever put on. Jeans are ripped in the right places, fitted where you want them to be, and looser in the areas where you need some extra give, like around the waist. I'm constantly complimented on my Rag & Bone jeans. Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton shares that sentiment. She says, "They're the only pants I am asked about every time I wear them — and they're the only pair I've liked enough to get tailored when they ripped instead of just trying something new". 

If you're looking to splurge on a pair of jeans that'll last a lifetime in your wardrobe, Rag & Bone is a great option. — Remi Rosmarin

Pros: Flattering, raw denim feel, wide range of cool styles

Cons: Expensive, can run large

Shop premium denim at Rag & Bone here 

The best place to buy skinny jeans

Skinny jeans can feel like suffocating jeans, but somehow, Liverpool manages to make even the slimmest of cuts feel comfortable.

Skinny jeans may be closet staples, but then again, they also tend to be cruel reminders that beauty is pain. As it turns out, it doesn't have to be that way, especially not if Liverpool is in the mix. This relatively new brand is known for testing its jeans on a variety of body types, which means that they're truly made for everybody. And when it comes to its skinny styles, this cross-fitting practice makes for unbelievably comfortable jeans that don't veer into jegging territory.

Liverpool offers dozens of styles within its skinny category alone, many of which come in various shades and fabrics. But what unites them all is their almost unbelievable wearability. I love the Abby Skinny 4-Way Stretch Contour in the dark wash. Thanks to the four-way stretch, they leave you with enough leeway to actually move around. 

If you fall in love with Liverpool (which, let's face it, you most likely will), you'll find that serving as a brand evangelist pays for itself. The company offers a pretty sweet referral program, which helps you earn and use points for discounts on future purchases. Moreover, Liverpool often runs pretty steep sales, which makes their sub-$100 jeans even more affordable.

Pros: Super comfortable and flattering skinny jeans, plenty of styles, extensive referral program

Cons: Some folks may be put off by the number of rhinestones and patterns available within Liverpool (but there are plenty of other options to choose from, too)

Shop premium denim at Liverpool here, also at Nordstrom

The best place to buy performance jeans

Jeans are meant to be the workhorse of pants, and DUER's jeans live up to that promise.

To find the intersection between form and function, head on over to DUER. The brand's slogan is "Denim for the Adventurous," and those are more than just words. Back in 2013, Gary Lennet (who previously spent 25 years making jeans for Levi's, Guess, and Lee) teamed up with Abid Hafeez, an expert in performance fabric with decades of experience to his own name. A little over a year later, the duo launched their first pair of jeans on Kickstarter, raising more than $50,000 and plenty of demand for their L2X Performance Denim. A year later, their second pair of jeans launched on the crowdfunding platform to the tune of $250,000. The rest, as they say, is history.

DUER sets itself apart through its Performance Denim, a supremely stretchable and lightweight fabric that is not only durable, but also moisture-wicking and anti-stink. That means that even after a long day of outdoor adventures, your jeans won't smell like they've been working hard.

Indeed, DUER jeans can be found at outdoor retailers like REI, and adventurous women and men alike have made the brand their go-to when it comes to buying jeans that can make an easy transition from the city to the country.

I love the brand's straight cuts, which somehow manage to hit the ankle at just the right length (which is perfect for tucking into hiking boots). The flexibility of the fabric also allows for maximum movement, which means that you're not only comfortable all day, but not restricted from potentially strenuous activity. Also comfortable are the brand's skinny jeans with a side slit — they're just breathable enough to withstand the sun on a summer's day, and fashion-forward enough to double as a pair of designer jeans.

Pros: Flexible fabric; durable and long-lasting; made for the outdoors

Cons: DUER jeans can get a little pricey, generally starting around $119

Shop premium performance denim at DUER here

What else we considered

• Universal Standard: Universal Standard's denim ranges from size 00 to 40, with a well-curated selection of stylish, universally flattering options. 
• Agolde: Inspired by denim trends of the past, Agolde jeans balance vintage silhouettes with modern sustainable manufacturing practices. The durable denim won't bag out on you and comes in lots of cool styles. 
• DSTLD: Made in the same factories as high-end brands, DSTLD is able to sell premium denim at affordable prices by cutting out the middleman. You can get most of their quality pairs for less than $100. 
• Levi's: People have been relying on Levi's for durable denim for decades now, so you can be sure they're made to last. While the brand may be over 150 years old, you can find vintage and on-trend styles. 

• The past decade, 2010 to 2019, was full of memorable award show moments.
• Award shows are often full of embarassing, surprising, and funny moments. 
• Here are some of the award show moments we just cannot forget. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

During the 2010 MTV VMAs, Lady Gaga's controversial meat dress was tied to her protest against the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Source: Billboard

During the 2011 Emmys, Jimmy Kimmel tackled Jimmy Fallon to steal Fallon's acceptance speech in case he won that night.

Source: Yahoo!

At the 2011 MTV VMAs, Beyoncé revealed she was pregnant by unbuttoning her tuxedo top and rubbing her belly after her performance.

Source: Rolling Stone

During the 2013 Golden Globes, hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's opening monologue taking shots at "the beautiful people of film" received a lot of laughs.

Source: Business Insider

At the 2013 MTV VMAs, a scantily clad Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke's raunchy performance shocked audiences.

Source: NY Daily News

At the 2013 Oscars, Jennifer Lawrence tripped going up the stairs to accept her award for Best Actress.

Source: US Magazine

During the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, Kendall Jenner "forgot how to read" and had an awkward teleprompter moment when introducing the band 5 Seconds of Summer.

Source: MTV

At the 2014 Golden Globes, Jacqueline Bisset ended her acceptance speech saying, "I believe if you want to look good you've got to forgive everybody," confusing everyone.

Source: CBS News

Midway through the 2014 Oscars, Ellen Degeneres handed out slices of pizza to some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Source: CBS News

The famous celeb selfie taken at the 2014 Oscars was retweeted more than a million times in less than an hour.

Source: The Independent

At the 2014 Oscars, John Travolta mispronounced Idina Menzel's name as "Adele Dazeem" when he introduced her. Not even close.

Source: E! News

At the 2015 VMAs, Nicki Minaj used her acceptance speech to confront host, Miley Cyrus, who didn't talk fondly of Nicki to the press.

Source: The Verge

John Hamm tried to be funny at the 2015 Emmys by crawling on stage to accept his award.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

At the 2015 Golden Globes, Chrisy Teegan's awkward crying face became a viral moment thanks to the camera operator's impeccable timing.

Source:ET online

Viola Davis made history at the 2015 Emmys as the first black woman to win lead actress in a drama series.

Source: Variety

It was at the 2016 Oscars when Leonardo DiCaprio finally won an Oscar after being nominated six times.

Source: Vanity Fair

Host of the 2017 Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel, brought an unaware Hollywood bus tour out during the live show.

Source: Fox News

At the 2017 SAG Awards, Winona Ryder's facial expressions on stage accepting an award with the "Stranger Things" cast stole the show.

Source: The Verge

During the 2017 Emmys, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda, stars of the 1980 film "9-5," came out to a standing ovation at the award show.

Source: Today

Celine Dion wowed the crowd at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards by singing the "Titanic" theme song in honor of the song's 20th anniversary.

Source: US Weekly

At the 2017 Oscars, Nicole Kidman's now famous "seal clap" was likely an illusion caused by the camera operator using a wide angle lens.

Source: The Guardian

During the 2017 Grammys, Adele used her tearful acceptance speech as an opportunity to share her admiration for Beyoncé.

Source: Vanity Fair

At the 2017 Oscars, "La La Land" was incorrectly announced as the winner of the "Best Picture'" award, which was actually "Moonlight."

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

For the 2018 Golden Globes, Oprah delivered an empowering and emotional speech in which she called out sexual abusers.

Source: Chicago Tribune 

At the 2018 Emmys, producer and director Glenn Weiss got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend on stage. She said "yes"!

Source:Vox

Remi Malek fell off the stage at the 2019 Oscars soon after accepting his award, causing paramedics to rush to his aide.

Source: People

During the 2019 Oscars, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper had such intense chemistry while performing a song together from their movie, "A Star Is Born," that their performance sparked romance rumors.

Source: Collider

For the 2019 Golden Globes, Melissa McCarthy brought 40 sandwiches with her into the award show and handed them out to hungry guests.

Source: HuffPost

At the 2019 Golden Globes, the Fiji water girl photobombed almost every celebrity on the red carpet, and social media couldn't get enough.

Source: Time 

The 2019 Oscar win for Lady Gaga made her the first female to win all big five awards in one season.

Source: National Post

At the 2019 VMAs, Adriana Lima mistakenly yelled "What's up New York?" to the crowd in Newark, New Jersey.

Source: Insider

At the 2019 Oscars, Spike Lee won his first competitive Oscar for his film "BlacKkKlansman."

Source: LA Times

During the 2019 People's Choice Awards, Noah Centineo confused everyone when he tried quoting former President John F. Kennedy during his acceptance speech.

Source: HuffPost

• A photo of strikingly human-like chimpanzees is among the most stunning images from this year's Nature Photographer of the Year competition.
• The annual competition is presented by Dutch organization Nature Talks, and highlights the beauty of the natural world and the importance of conservation.
• Judges received more than 14,000 entries this year.
• The overall winner was Csaba Daróczi of Hungary, who snapped a picture of a pair of rabbits.
• Entries for next year's competition open December 1.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Most of us have heard how similar to humans chimpanzees can act — but it's another thing to see it.

A photo of chimps reaching out to the camera for help has been judged as one of the most striking nature photos of the year, according to the Nature Photographer of the Year 2019 competition.

Presented by Dutch organization Nature Talks, the competition showcases the beauty of the natural world and the importance of conservation.

Seven judges sifted through about 14,000 images (a new record for the competition) from photographers in 73 different countries to award prizes across 11 categories. 

The Nature Photographer of the Year prize went to Csaba Daróczi of Hungary, who snapped a perfectly-timed (and illuminated) shot of a pair of rabbits leaping high into the air.

"This photo is proof of the fact that you don't have to get extremely rare or extraordinary species in front of your camera to be able to create a great nature photo," said Keith Wilson, chair of the jury. "If you have a vision and a creative mind you can create a great shot close to home."

Here are a few of the best shots from the competition.

Nature Photographer of the Year and Black and White category winner: 'Jump' by Csaba Daroczi

Youth category winner: 'Symphony no 5' by Giacomo Redaelli

Black and White category runner up: 'Exchange wild' by Alain Ernoult

Man and Nature category winner: 'Lonely' by Luke Massey

Man and Nature category finalist; 'Help us' by Tom Svensson

Underwater category winner: 'Up in the air' by Alexey Zozulya

Mammals category finalist: 'Colorful night' by Mohammad Murad

Mammals category finalist: 'Climbing to the sweet' by José Juan Hernández

Birds category runner up: 'Golden eagle landing' by Audun Rikardsen

Birds category winner: 'Greeting the sun' by Peter Cech

Read more:

A cat named Quilty has become internet famous after he was placed in solitary confinement for helping other cats escape at a Texas shelter

Meet 'Narwhal the Little Magical Furry Unicorn,' a rescue puppy born with an extra tail on his face

19 hysterical winners from this year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

An awkwardly timed photo of an adorable lion cub is the funniest animal photo of 2019

Wild turkeys are terrorizing the town of Tom's River, New Jersey, by pecking at roofs, breaking windows, and attacking residents

• It's so easy to get wrapped up (pun intended) in holiday season shopping— and it can be tough to know when to stop.
• Unfortunately, the thrown-away paper, plastic packaging, and endless delivery boxes aren't great for the environment.
• To help you stay sustainable this season, Insider has rounded up 19 gift ideas that go a little easier on our planet.
• Spend a little extra on clothing brands that use recycled materials, or on homewares made from ocean plastic.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more details.

A sustainable denim jacket

Denim brand FRAME is making an effort to be more sustainable and socially-conscious, and with this in mind has recreated its most popular styles with a line of Sustainable Denim using raw materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester.

Find it here for $130.

A Transparent Sound speaker

This wireless Bluetooth speaker from Swedish audio brand Transparent Sound may look sleek, but it was also designed to last and be "passed on through generations."

Its founders claim to have "chosen materials which are modular and easily repairable," including a single aluminum "uniframe" and tempered glass panels, and each element can be upgraded as new technology is released, so you'll never need to buy another speaker again.

Find it here for $550.

A self-watering indoor garden

Say goodbye to grocery store herbs in plastic packaging that you only use half of before you throw them away.

Give the gift of fresh food and flowers in their house or office with the self-watering Smart Garden 3 and Smart Garden 9 — no gardening skills required.

Company Click & Grow came up with the concept after citing research, which it claims showed indoor plants improve health through consumption, as well as reduce stress, improve air quality, and overall happiness. Nature is known to have plenty of benefits for us, after all.

Find it here for $110.

A cushion made from recycled plastic bottle filler

Poodle & Blonde cushions are filled with recycled plastic bottle filler instead of feather or wool — but they're still super stylish.

Made in the UK but shipping worldwide, the cushions are made with zero animal products, helping keep carbon footprint low.

Find it here for $148.

Sneakers with recycled rubber soles

Sneaker brand Primury makes shoes with part-recycled rubber soles, as well as some completely vegan styles.

There are limited amounts of the product to avoid waste, too.

Find them here for $205.

Eco-friendly sunglasses

Neubau's sunglasses are made from naturalPX, a unique eco-friendly material made from "organically sourced and renewable primary products," including an oil extracted from the seeds of castor oil plants.

The brand also uses recycled bottles to make its packaging and supports bee conservancies.

Find them here for around $175.

A yoga mat made from natural tree rubber

Yoga Design Lab makes yoga mats from natural tree rubber, recycled plastic bottle microfibres, and water-based inks, so the yogi on your list can get extra zen during their next class.

The Combo Mat is a mat and towel combined, too.

Find it here for $78.

Boxers made from eucalyptus trees

Hamilton and Hare offers a range of environmentally friendly underwear made from a blend of cotton and lyocell, a cellulose nanofibre fabric that's made Eucalyptus trees, requiring no fertilizers or pesticides.

The zero-waste process uses 20 times less water than cotton plants, too.

Find them here for $47.

A table that eliminates the need for paper

Reduce your paper use with Sony's Digital Paper, which tries to copy the "simplicity of reading and writing on real paper" yet digitize the process with device sharing, searchable documents, and encryption. A great gift for the academic in your life.

Find it here for $498.

Recycled fishnet tights

A personalized, vegan makeup palette

The "make your own" personalized, all-vegan palettes from Beautonomy not only allow you to create shades from scratch that are perfectly suited to the person you're shopping for, but you can also design the case it comes in, right down to the name and style.

The packaging is recyclable, too.

Find them here for around $27.

A set of sustainable pajamas

The unisex pajama sets from Sleep Society come in pretty out-there prints, but they showcase the work of artists around the world.

Better yet, the custom TENCEL fabric is "produced from raw Austrian beechwood from sustainable forests and milled using surplus renewable energy." The pajamas also come from an organic, ethical factory, too.

You won't get too hot, either, as the fabric is temperature-regulating and super breathable.

Find them here from $58 apiece.

Beauty products that help clean the ocean

KEVIN.MURPHY claims to be the first beauty company to switch its packaging to be made entirely from 100% recycled ocean plastic.

The brand also donates a percentage of proceeds from all aerosol products to offset global carbon emissions.

Find products like the "Repair Me Wash" for $34 here.

A sustainable smart speaker

The smart speaker Google Nest was built using sustainable materials, like post-consumer recycled plastic with the Nest Wifi and recycled plastic bottles with the Nest Mini.

A single half-liter plastic bottle makes enough fabric to cover two Nest Minis, according to Google.

Find a Nest Mini here for $49.

Cozy clothing from a brand that donates 90% of its profits

London-based sustainable womenswear label Ninety Percent donates — as its name suggests — 90% of its profits to charitable social and environmental causes with the aim to "put planet and people before profit."

Find its products, like this $155 hoodie, here.

Coffee coasters made from ocean plastic

British company Joy Resolve has a coffee coaster range made from recycled ocean plastic — and they'll give you serious seaside vibes.

Find them here for $58 for a set.

Natural, CBD-based hair products

EMERA is a CBD-based haircare brand that uses natural, biodegradable ingredients like avocado, lemongrass, and peppermint in its products.

Its hemp plants require less water than most crops, according to the brand, and its products are manufactured in an energy-efficient, solar-powered facility. They also come in recyclable packaging.

Find its products, like the $30 Nourishing CBD Serum, here.

A waterproof onesie made using recycled fabric

It's always nice to have a little one to buy for, and a waterproof onesie is a good option.

The EcoSplash all-in-one suit is made from recycled fabrics, but will keep a tot cozy and warm.

Find it here for $65.

A bottle of organic prosecco

It's common to give a bottle of bubbly, but why not make it organic?

Mionetto claims to have made the world's first organic prosecco — the Prosecco DOC Organic Extra Dry — made from grapes "cultivated without usage of chemical product nor synthetical fertilizers."

Find it here for $14.99.

• There's a large group of adult Americans who are still on their family's phone plans. Some do it to save money, while for others it's just a habit.
• When you decide to sever the phone plan, have a conversation early on; it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
• Let adults still on the plan make their case for the benefits of staying on, and help them find a new plan if you decide separating is the right call. 
• Once you make the choice, don't back down.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Bryan Kuderna is a pretty successful guy. A bestselling author, Kuderna is a certified financial planner from Shrewsbury, New Jersey who caters to millennials. But you wouldn't know it from his phone bill. The 32-year-old father of three also just got off his parents' cell phone plan after more than a decade. His 34-year-old brother Jeff is still on it, while his sister-in-law is also on her parent's plan. 

The Kuderna "kids" are among a large group of Americans who are sharing mobile phone plans well into adulthood. For some, it's to save money, and for others (like Kuderna's family) it's just habit — something they've done for years. "I'd been on their plan since I was 16 or 17," said Kuderna. "It's one of those things that goes on autopilot and it's hard to break. It's costly to start a new plan, and you lose those perks like unlimited minutes and texts."

But not everyone is sharing a mobile plan for the right reasons, and that's where families run into trouble. Sometimes parents keep their adult children on their plans to stay connected, while in other instances it's the child who may be taking advantage of a parent's generosity. Blame it on laziness or a lack of direction, but some young adults expect their parents to pay for everything until they get the boot.

"I have a lot of clients in that situation. They have the greatest of intentions as parents, but it's not having the right results. It's enabling their children to stay home," said Kuderna. Either way, sharing a cell phone plan well into adulthood can be a disservice to everyone involved. Not to mention, it can also cause family strife if one person on the plan is less responsible than others. 

"Sharing family mobile phone plans can be harmful if adult children incur extra charges and fees for which parents will be held financially responsible," said money coach Melisa Boutin. "That's a major downside that parents should be aware of."

Whatever the reason, when it comes time to go your separate mobile ways, there are both good ways and bad ways to go about it. If you want to remain family and friends, follow these four steps.

SEE ALSO: Let's face it: Group birthday dinners suck. Here's how to make the experience more enjoyable for you and your wallet.

Step 1: Start the conversation early

Kuderna said a good time to start the conversation is before the child becomes an adult. The sooner they know they will be responsible for certain bills and how much it will cost, the better prepared they'll be when the time comes. "The kids will know that once they graduate, it isn't free in perpetuity," said Kuderna. 

If your child has already graduated college and is in the workforce, begin planting the seeds a few months before you want to cut the cord so that everyone has time to adjust. Nobody likes surprises, nor do they want to find out they are responsible for a monthly bill that can easily surpass $100 per month. Cutting your adult child off your phone plan without any warning is not the recipe for harmony and peace — it's more apt to elicit the reverse effect.  "Warn the child that on this date we're cutting you loose," said Varda Epstein, a parenting expert and mother to 12 children.

Step 2: Let them make their case

Adult children aren't always looking for a free ride. Many want to be independent, but life has a funny way of getting in the way. For some, it's student loans that may be hampering their ability to become contributing adults. For others, they haven't found a high enough paying job to make it on their own. Before you kick them off your mobile phone plan, let them make their case. They may have a legitimate reason why they can't afford the bill. 

"I think we have all heard too many stories of lazy adult children who refuse to support themselves, but in my experience, kids do want to become independent of their parents, and if they need a little help getting there, parents should feel good about helping however they can," said Epstein. 

Kuderna, who is also the author of "Millennial Millionaire" and host of The Kuderna Podcast, was ready to get out of the house when he graduated from college, but his parents, knowing a little bit about the real world, reined him in. Instead of going out and wasting money on rent, he hunkered down at home, started saving, and was able to purchase a home a few years later. Kuderna remained on the family cell phone plan, and only recently decided to get off of it  because he wanted to go on a plan with his wife, Anita. 

Step 3: Help them find a new plan

The last thing any parent wants to do is leave their children struggling to pay their bills — particularly when those children may have high student loan tabs and other debts. On the flipside, some parents may feel it's high time to throw some more of life's responsibilities toward their kids once they see what their children elect to spend their money on. Either way, when you do cut mobile ties, try to work with the child to help them find a new plan that makes financial sense.

"This can involve calling your current mobile phone service provider to transfer the adult child's phone plan to an individual account," said Boutin. 

Step 4: Stick to your guns

Once you commit to ending the family cell phone plan, you have to stick to your decision. The last thing you want to do is waver and give in. That could harm you financially, and damage your child's efforts to achieve independence. "Besides, re-joining the plan could come at a higher rate, or with less coverage, depending on your carrier and plan," Kuderna said.

But that's not the worst of it. "From a big-picture standpoint, it's providing a false safety net that they can always get bailed out, and that can hamper future growth," he said.

Life is the topic. Money is the tool. Let's talk about everything.

• Marie Yovanovitch, the US's former ambassador to Ukraine, is the third official to testify in the public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump.
• Yovanovitch was abruptly recalled from her position in May after what she characterized as a smear campaign against her by Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
• She will vividly detail the shadow campaign Giuliani conducted to strong-arm Ukraine into acceding to Trump's demands for politically motivated investigations.
• Scroll down to watch the hearing.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The public on Friday is set to hear from one of the most significant witnesses to President Donald Trump's shadow foreign policy campaign in Ukraine.

Marie Yovanovitch served as the US ambassador to Ukraine until she was abruptly recalled in May following what she has characterized as a smear campaign against her based on "false claims by people with clearly questionable motives."

Yovanovitch's testimony is expected to throw the spotlight on Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer who is accused of engineering her ouster.

Yovanovitch arrived to testify to the House Intelligence Committee as part of its public impeachment hearings beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Friday.

You can watch the hearing here:

SEE ALSO: Who's scheduled to publicly testify next in Trump's impeachment hearings

What Yovanovitch told Congress behind closed doors

Yovanovitch testified behind closed doors that Trump and Giuliani wanted her removed since the summer of 2018 because she refused to let Giuliani use the US Embassy in Ukraine in his efforts to obtain political dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

She said she felt "shocked" and "threatened" by the attacks leveled against her.

Yovanovitch also told Congress a top State Department official confirmed to her that her recall in May came despite her having "done nothing wrong."

Multiple witnesses, including Bill Taylor, now the US's chief envoy in Ukraine, and George Kent, a senior State Department official, have corroborated Yovanovitch's claims.

Yovanovitch raised concerns with senior State Department officials about Giuliani before her ouster, but despite having their own concerns, they didn't think they could stop him. After Yovanovitch was recalled, the acting assistant secretary of state, Philip T. Reeker, told her Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "was no longer able" to protect her from Trump.

Michael McKinley, who served as a top deputy to Pompeo, quit a few days before his testimony to Congress because of the State Department's unwillingness to issue a statement supporting Yovanovitch. He also testified that several department employees had their careers derailed for political reasons.

Several government officials, including Taylor and Kent, have already testified to Congress behind closed doors, and their revelations paint a damaging portrait of a concerted effort across the administration to leverage US foreign policy to pressure Ukraine into acceding to Trump's demands.

Specifically, the president wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make a public statement committing to investigate the Bidens and a bogus conspiracy theory suggesting it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

Officials also outlined the lengths White House officials went to in order to conceal records of a July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky.

Witnesses have testified that five men were part of an effort to condition security assistance to Ukraine and a White House meeting on Zelensky publicly announcing the investigations Trump wanted.

The men are Giuliani; the US ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland; the special representative to Ukraine at the time, Kurt Volker; the acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney; and the outgoing energy secretary, Rick Perry.

The president's defenders have said he did nothing wrong and that this is a normal part of how diplomacy and foreign policy are conducted.

But national security veterans, legal scholars, and at times Trump's own officials who have testified have suggested his actions open him up to a variety of charges including abuse of power, bribery, extortion, misappropriation of taxpayer funds, and soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election.

Eight more diplomats and national security officials are expected to testify publicly in the next week. Here's the latest impeachment hearings schedule.

• Read more of Insider's impeachment coverage:
• Think Trump will get impeached? Gambling sites say the odds are in your favor
• Trump could be impeached and removed from office but still win reelection in 2020
• Over half of the House of Representatives support the impeachment inquiry against Trump — see all of them here
• Everything you need to know about Trump's impeachment process: What's happened, who the players are, and what comes next