Williams has revealed the FW47 as its contender for the 2025 Formula 1 season
The FW47 will be piloted by Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in the new season
Williams also has a new title sponsor, Atlassian
Williams provided a sneak peek of its 2025 Formula 1 car, the FW47, on Friday following an initial shakedown test at the Silverstone Circuit in the U.K.
The car is still sporting a temporary livery, as the final design won’t be revealed until the special F1 75 Live event on Feb. 18 at London’s The O2 entertainment precinct, celebrating this year’s 75th anniversary of F1. Prominently displayed on the livery is the logo of new title sponsor Atlassian, the Australian software company.
McLaren has also given an early look at its new contender, the MCL39.
Once a dominant force in F1, with seven Drivers’ Championships and nine Constructors’ Championships to its name, Williams has struggled in recent years, finishing near the bottom of the standings. In 2024, the team placed second to last, ahead of only Sauber.
Carlos Sainz (left) and Alex Albon
However, there’s renewed optimism with Carlos Sainz joining the squad this season from Ferrari, where he was replaced by Lewis Hamilton. Sainz, who finished fifth in the standings last year, takes the seat previously held by rookie Franco Colapinto, who joined Williams midway through last season after Logan Sargeant was dropped. Sainz will race alongside Alex Albon, who finished 16th in 2024.
The 2025 F1 cars retain most of the same design regulations as last year’s models, with power unit rules remaining unchanged ahead of the new regulations set for 2026. Williams continues to source its power unit from Mercedes-Benz AMG, featuring a turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 paired with two motor-generators—one on the driveline and another integrated with the turbo—delivering a peak output of approximately 1,000 hp.
The FW47 is set to hit the track alongside the rest of the 2025 grid at the Bahrain International Circuit on Feb. 26 for pre-season testing. The season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16. A total of 24 races are scheduled this year, including three U.S. stops in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas.
Ever dreamed about quitting your job and travelling full-time? Ever joked to your partner about not returning to work and running away? If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to act on that crazy impulse, instead of just dreaming about it, here’s our story.
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How it all started
When we bought a motorhome and we crossed the English Channel in it for the first time in 2017, I never dreamed that within a year I’d be homeless and unemployed. By choice.
I vividly remember standing on top of a mountain in Switzerland next to the motorhome on that first trip, in the dark, staring up at the Milky Way in awe. I remember turning to my husband and joking about running away from the ‘real world’ and never going back to work.
Even then, it seemed impossible. I mean, come on, how many people in their 30s actually leave a secure and well-paying job… to travel.
Our motorhome in Switzerland on that first trip to Europe
Why we loved travel so much
In 2017, we were in a mess. My lovely mother in law had just passed away totally unexpectedly, we were homeschooling our daughter through her GCSE exams and we worked totally incompatible hours. My ex husband, having been deployed for many years, was now at home working regularly Monday to Friday hours, while I worked shifts as an air traffic controller. I’d either start really early, finish really late or, the worst one, arrive home after a night shift, too tired and grumpy to want to talk or spend time together.
We’d go days in a row sharing little more than a quick handover on our daughter before heading our separate ways. Having spent years paying off debt and child maintenance, we finally had money, but very little time. So it’s no wonder that the simplicity of travelling with a van and motorbikes and the fun of exploring, spending time together both as a couple and a family, appealed to us so much.
Still, standing on that mountain in Switzerland, the idea of making this a permanent way of life was so out of our realm of possibility that we laughed it off- one of those jokes people make when they’re on holiday.
Until the next morning.
Thinking outside the box
Starting the long drive back from Switzerland to England, we started talking about HOW we could get more time to have adventures in our lives. What needed to change and what could we do differently? What was holding us back?
We were just passing the time on the drive, throwing ideas around and thinking outside the box. My ex husband and I had always been good at that.
That’s how we ended up living on boats for 15 years- initially as a way to save money, but afterwards just because we enjoyed the simplicity of the lifestyle and the feeling of being a little bit ‘weird’. We liked making choices few other people could understand.
The problems we faced
There were some things that seemed easy to fix, and then some which were bigger. The biggest was my job. People prefer air traffic controllers to be in the ops room, not camping up a mountain while they’re working!
And although we had days off built into our working cycle, it was tough to get a good chunk of time where we could really go exploring. So the obvious answer was to ask for a sabbatical from my work for a short time so we could travel.
Mr WB and I on the bikes.
What about money?
Another big problem was money. We had a house ( to care for my mother in law), with all the bills that came with that, plus we still had our boat and several other commitments. We’d been talking about buying a house instead of renting and had been saving to build up a deposit for that.
If I decided to leave my job, what did we do for money?
About 3 hours into our fun game of ‘how can we change our life’, I started a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet I still update to this day. A sheet showing our income and our expenditure.
This sheet changed everything.
One simple thing changed our view
Suddenly, we saw how much money we were wasting each month, even on seemingly little things like Costa or takeaways. We could see how much the house was costing us to run, plus other expenses we’d started paying for without really thinking about it.
We were both passionate about being debt-free, and we’d worked hard to pay off all debts and credit cards which we naively run up in our 20s. We’d spent 10 years living thoughtfully and frugally but, now that we had better jobs and more disposable income, it was clear to see we had started spending a lot of money mindlessly again.
Could I take unpaid leave?
This led to the next step in the game. If we were spending so much money needlessly, we should be able to save enough to allow me to take a sabbatical. Would we be able to save up enough for 3 months unpaid leave? 6? Heck, what about a whole year?
By the time we’d finished our drive back from Switzerland, we’d spent 3 days talking almost non-stop about this plan. It had gone from being a distant dream, to being something almost possible, if we stopped spending.
Was a year free from work worth not having the luxuries we enjoyed every day? Could we stop spending enough to make it work?
How we stopped spending
So we did. Immediately. We were militant and obsessive. We stopped eating out, we stopped buying clothes and we cut our daughter’s allowance (she was less pleased about this change!)
What’s both amazing and terrifying is that within 3 months we hadn’t just met our goals, we’d blown them out of the water. Within 3 months, we’d given up the house, moved back onto our boat, sold all our furniture and cut our expenses down so that we were living entirely on just my ex husband’s wage.
Meaning everything I earned went into savings.
Suddenly, the year-long sabbatical seemed not only possible, but easy. So I applied to my work for a year off.
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My terrifying decision
Except that my work said no. They weren’t going to give me time off.
Actually, they didn’t say no, they just said “we’ll let you know at the end of the year and it was unlikely to be allowed for a full 12 months.”
Which left me with a terrifying decision.
By now I was so excited about the thought of travelling for a while, that the idea of not doing it was soul destroying.
Still, the only option we had left was for me to quit my job. As in, permanently.
It’s not a career you can pick up again in a few years, or go elsewhere to do with another company. I was either in, or I was out.
Not only that, but my social life and my identity was tied up in my career. I liked having a ‘cool’ job. I liked chatting to people at parties or events about what I did. And I liked earning my own money.
Did I REALLY want to give all that up?
What if…?
What if things went wrong? What if we’d miscalculated? What if we got sick? What about my pension? What if…. The list went on. There were so many unknowns in the future and I was scared to go back to a time where we had no money and too much debt.
On the flip side,
For a while, I’d been unhappy in my job. I liked most of the people I worked with, but things were changing in management and also in the way we handled the aircraft in our airspace.
Whenever people hear I’m an air traffic controller, the first thing many say is ‘that must be stressful’ and honestly, most of the time it wasn’t. But it was beginning to be.
My sleep was affected and my health became affected. This decision was weighing on me. After 13 years and really hard training, was I really going to walk away from a stable, secure and well-paid job with an amazing pension?
The quote which changed my life
At around this time, I read a road trip travel quote from Robin Sharma which changed my life: “Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life”
It’s EASY to stay in the known. It’s EASY to stay safe and do the same things again and again each year. But we had a unique opportunity where our daughter was almost old enough to go to university and we hopefully had a few years before my parents needed us around more to help support them.
We wanted to travel whilst we were young enough to enjoy it. We wanted to tour our bikes and live a little. Tomorrow, as they say, is promised to no one.
So, in November 2017, I handed in my 3 months notice. I was terrified and elated all at once. I had no clue if this was the right decision. So many people I worked with told me I was crazy. That this was a huge mistake. That I’d regret it.
Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life
The most terrifying part
And the most terrifying part was, I had no idea if they were right or not. All we could do was plan as best we could and hope it was enough. Besides, I knew that staying there, although familiar and safe, wouldn’t be the adventure we craved. We wanted to live a different year.
I worked my last day in February 2018, and a week later we set off for a motorhome tour of Europe. Since then, we’ve visited over 15 countries, travelled over 60,000 miles and we’ve not starved yet.
I missed this…
Sure, I’ve missed the money and sure, for a few months I struggled whenever strangers asked ‘what do you do’. But the experiences and memories we’ve been able to make, both as a family while our daughter travelled with us, and as a couple who have reconnected again, had been, to quote Mastercard, priceless.
We’ve since stood on top of hundreds of mountains and stared up at the Milky Way countless times, and never once have I regretted my choice- not even when the world turned upside down in ways we could never have predicted.
If you’re dreaming and debating a decision like this for yourself, I can’t promise you a happy ending. It’s not easy changing your life and it’s REALLY not easy giving up financial security. We don’t know what might happen in the future or how the world might change.
But I guess that’s the same even if you stay in a job. I know many people who have been made redundant unexpectedly, or the company they work for has closed down. NOTHING is guaranteed in this life.
What I do know is that our years are definitely not the same as all the others anymore and we had more adventure in the first few years than the 15 before them. So, wherever you are, whatever your dream, I hope you find the courage to ignore the doubters and go for it and I wish you all the luck in the world.
Feel free to find me on Instagram or Facebook and let me know how it’s going 🙂
Before I launched the 2025 Lexus LX 700h down the hill, I hit the crawl-control button on the center stack. Then I took my foot off the brake and let the vehicle deal with the throttle as I focused on steering over the rocks, logs and moguls. Crawl control, a new feature on the LX, is essentially low-speed cruise control that maintains a smooth-and-steady speed over difficult obstacles and reduces tire slippage. It works amazingly well.
2025 Lexus LX 700h
Frankly, the LX in general did well on the short off-road course Lexus created for media evaluation. I did several loops, turning driver-assistance features on and off, using the center locking differential and going without, playing with crawl control, and using my own throttle pressure. The LX 700h managed it all capably.
In some regards, it’s hard to reconcile that this bougie $115,000-plus SUV can be a capable off roader. But it is. And then it just as aptly transfers to pavement for a smooth and posh ride with massaging seats and seamless power from the LX-first hybrid powertrain.
2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail
Engines
At its core, the 2025 Lexus LX 700h is equipped with a 3.4-liter turbocharged V-6 engine that delivers 457 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Since this is an off-road capable vehicle that can ford up to 27.5 inches of water, the hybrid battery is encased within a waterproof tray that prevents water from getting into the battery during deep water crossings.
The benefit of the hybrid powertrain isn’t really going to be fuel economy, as it only gets 1 mpg better than the gas-powered LX 600 in combined driving. Power output is the winner here, as the LX 700h delivers 48 more horsepower and 104 more pound-feet of torque than the LX 600.
One of the tradeoffs, however, will be cargo space. Because the battery sits under the cargo area and third-row seats, you lose a little in the boot. Behind the third row, you only have 7.2 cubic feet of cargo volume, which is barely enough to fit a backpack.
2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail
Review
In general, I was impressed with the overall ride and handling of the 2025 Lexus LX 700h because this is a large and heavy vehicle. Yet, even as a petite driver, I had great visibility out of all the windows and managed to find an excellent driving position. Often, body-on-frame vehicles of this size will “drive big,” but the LX 700h did not. Some of that has to do with the lower belt lines, but a lot of that has to do with the powertrain. The huge torque increase helps this big lug accelerate swiftly, and even with an upright stance the LX 700h has a nice amount of agility. So, whether you’re maneuvering through city alleys or picking your way over a rocky pass, there is a huge amount of both finesse and comfort.
2025 Lexus LX 700h F Sport
Design
The in-your-face exterior styling of the LX 700h is going to be a bit polarizing, especially with the overlarge toothy grille. It looks better in some trims than others, but I can’t help seeing Jaws of James Bond villainy fame every time I look at its mug. It’s too much metal for my taste. But, beauty beholder. And one thing’s for sure: You won’t mistake it for another vehicle if you see it in your rear-view mirror.
The interior is much more conservatively styled with luxurious materials and finishes. Several of the vehicles I tested had real-wood accents, and the F Sport trim had some racy red leather seats with sporty aluminum accents. The Ultra Luxury trim, which only seats four, is intended to coddle rear-seat passengers, and it does that well with reclining, massaging, heated captain’s chairs, quilted bolstering, and curved headrests.
The only interior design feature that could be a bit off putting is the two-screen design on center stack. The large top screen houses the Lexus infotainment system with navigation and digital assistant, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The lower screen showcases vehicle functions and climate controls.
2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail
Prices and Trim Levels
The trims for the 2025 Lexus LX 700h start at bougie and get bougier–and every one has a starting price of more than $115k. Gulp. The quick trim breakdown, with prices that include destination, is as follows:
2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail
Overtrail ($115,350):
This is the dedicated off-road trim and adds things like electronically controlled front and rear locking differentials, a skid plate, active height control, and 33-inch all-terrain tires.
F Sport Handling ($117,850):
This trim is on the sporty side of the spectrum with unique front and rear fasciae, an F Sport-tuned suspension, performance dampers, and a rear stabilizer bar.
Luxury ($119,850):
This trim starts to put the focus on luxury with standard semi-aniline leather seats, front seat massagers and ventilated second-row seats.
Ultra Luxury ($141,350):
Designed with rear passengers in mind, this trim adds diamond-stitched patterns to the leather seats, reclining and massaging rear seats, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a power right rear recliner with ottoman.
Favorite Features
With the pricey nature of this vehicle, there’s a lot to like on the 2025 Lexus LX 700h. The top of my list has to be the massaging seats, which actually felt like they were giving a solid chair massage. The cameras and plethora of available angles – especially while using the Multi-Terrain Monitor–is a huge benefit in such a large vehicle. Whether you’re avoiding a boulder on the path or a trash can in the alley, you’ll always have a good view of what’s surrounding the vehicle.
2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury
Lexus has also done a nice job with its infotainment system. The voice commands are natural, and you can say something simple like, “I’m cold,” and the vehicle will turn up the heat. Or you can be more specific and ask it to turn on your heated seat. If you’re feeling silly, you can also have the digital assistant tell you a joke. That one never fails to amuse me.
One more feature I would surely appreciate on a hot day: the standard cool box positioned in the center console.
Disappointments
I hate to harp on the price thing, but the LX 700h is expensive, and I was disappointed by a few of the low-tech features. For example, when I was sitting in the Luxury trim, I noticed that the shade covering the moonroof was, get this, manual. Then in the F Sport, there was no release for second-row seats in the cargo area – but there was in the Luxury trim. I feel like that should be standard at this price point.
Speaking of seat releases, to fold the third row flat, you have to press and hold the power button. And it’s S-L-O-W. I don’t think a one-touch power operation would be amiss here.
Value
For the most part, the 2025 Lexus LX 700h is well done from the materials to the overall ride and handling. I love the power packed in the hybrid powertrain, and the Overtrail trim is a joy to drive in off-road situations. The price is stiff, but certainly worth it to those who can afford it. I’d only ask that Lexus up the features game and make the sunshade and seat operations a bit more tech-forward.
China’s Geely is one step closer to launching in Australia, with the first batch of EX5 electric SUVs set to arrive in Australia imminently.
The first allocation will roll off ships at ports in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth this week, before the model officially goes on sale in March.
Pre-orders have already opened for the EX5, a mid-sized electric SUV to rival the top-selling Tesla Model Y.
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It’s the first vehicle from Geely’s namesake brand under a new factory-backed operation, around a decade after the brand was last seen here.
Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed for the EX5, though a Geely Australia spokesperson indicated the Chinese brand’s local division is “aiming for the $49,000-$55,000 mark”.
Measuring 4615mm long and 1901mm wide with a 2750mm wheelbase, the Geely EX5 is almost identical in length to a Toyota RAV4 but it’s wider and has a longer wheelbase.
The EX5 is launching in Australia with two available trim levels but just one drivetrain: a 160kW/320Nm front-mounted electric motor hooked up to a 60.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
Claimed range on the WLTP cycle is rated at up to 430km for the base model on smaller 18-inch wheels (410km for the high-spec Inspire with 19s), with combined energy consumption quoted at 15.8-16.6kWh/100km.
Standard equipment highlights from the base model include leatherette upholstery with heated and power-adjustable front seats, LED lighting all round, a 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.2-inch instrument cluster display.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are missing at launch, but will be added with an over-the-air software update.
The flagship Inspire adds a panoramic sunroof, a 13.4-inch head-up display, 16-speaker premium audio, ventilated front seats and a lounge chair for the front passenger which can be reclined with a leg rest.
Beyond the Tesla Model Y, other key rivals for Geely’s electric SUV include the BYD Sealion 7, Leapmotor C10, Deepal S07 and Xpeng G6.
MORE: 2025 Geely EX5 Australian range detailed as pre-orders open MORE: Everything Geely EX5
“How high is this hike again?” I asked as I panted up the mountain trail, the top seeming so far off in the distance.
“12,0000 feet,” our guide Efrain said cheerily as he and the others from the Amazonas Explorers office glided up the trail. “But it flattens out soon!” he added as a bit of encouragement.
I was skeptical.
When I first reached out to Amazonas regarding my Machu Picchu hike, I asked them to pick a route that was a little off the beaten path and could be done in a day. There are lots and lots to choose from in the Sacred Valley after all; the Incas built over 40,000 kilometers of roads through their empire, and many of them have become hiking trails.
The full-day hike selected was less traveled than others and would take us to the archaeological site called Huchuy Qosqo (“Little Cusco” in Quechua). Starting an hour outside of Cusco in the small village of Taucca, it goes over some mountains, through abandoned villages and a delightful ravine full of Incan ruins, and winds over a ridge before getting to our final destination: Huchuy Qosqo.
Beginning in the village, we hiked straight up to our first waypoint. We were at the highest altitude I had ever been in my life (higher than Machu Picchu), and, despite having been in the region for a week, I was feeling it, needing to take frequent breaks while I wheezed my way up the mountain. Thankfully, the sky was overcast and hid the sun while the gentle wind kept me cool.
But the frequent stops only made it easier to appreciate the landscape around me. The higher we went, the better views we got of the land below and the mountains around us. At this altitude, not much grows, and the barren, arid landscape kind of reminded me of the plains of Wyoming and New Zealand’s Tongariro hike. Craggy mountains unfolded as far as the eye could see and below us were villages and farms.
“The lake in front of the town is part of a hydroelectric dam,” Efrain said. “Most people here are farmers, mostly for the local market and potatoes. The bigger farms that export the food you buy in the States are elsewhere in the valley.”
After the first trail marker (is really just a telephone pole marking our first stop), the trail flattened out a bit and I got into a deep conversation about food with Patrice, one of the Amazonas employees. She had a lived in the States, so we discussed the quality of food in Peru versus the United States. (She found the food in Peru better because it was less processed. It was hard to disagree.)
“All the foods you call superfood and spend a lot of money on, we just call food. We’ve been eating it since Inca times.”
As we made our way across the arid expanse, it grew more mountainous, though the trail followed what looked like the remnants of a ravine. The path began to gently slope downward, whereupon trees and flowers began to appear, as well as ancient Incan walls and foundations to building long since gone. Soon, we came across a mostly abandoned village made of collapsed mud structures and caved-in straw roofs.
Villages like this are common throughout the region, where people live a subsistence lifestyle. But as young people move to the cities, they die off, and most of the structures are left in various states of disrepair. Efrain said there were only a few families left in this community. The only people we saw the entire time were two women in traditional attire herding some goats.
At the end of the village, we came across what Efrain described as an old Incan guardhouse, where we stopped for lunch near a small waterfall and watched as the women’s goats grazed in front of us, all of us enjoying our respective meals.
After we ate and had a lively discussion about Westerners coming to Peru for ayahuasca ceremonies — and how they don’t always incorporate the spiritual essence but just want to get high — we continued on through an ancient Incan doorway that led to the final part of our trek to Huchuy Qosqo.
“This was probably a military guardhouse,” Efrain explained as we passed through it and descended a series of steps down into a canyon. “Structures like this were used to protect the people inside the canyon as well as keep track of their numbers to ensure they had enough food for everyone. The Incas were great counters and took detailed censuses to ensure the food supply.”
As we followed the path and the small river that originated from our lunch-spot waterfall, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with joy. I was having the best day out of my entire trip to Peru. While Machu Picchu and the trek there were very special, this one felt much more so. The scenery was spectacular, I got a peek at rural life and traditional attire, and we were the only people on the trail, which made the trek feel extra special.
Efrain pointed out age-old Incan stone terraces as we made our way along the trail, which eventually widened, giving us a view of the start of the Sacred Valley — which surprised me, because I had not noticed that the “canyon” we were walking through suddenly steeply dropped off. While I thought we were slowly descending to the base of the mountain, we were still thousands of feet above the valley floor!
After gazing at the valley, we continued across the Incan terraces that lined the mountain walls toward Huchuy Qosqo. I’m always amazed at how they transformed this place, adding in underground watering paths, irrigation systems, and stairs to move between terraces. The food grown here would have fed the surrounding area as well as Huchuy Qosqo.
We entered the ruined city through an old gate. Little is known about Huchuy Qosqo but, according to the records we do have, it was home to the Inca ruler Viracocha, who was exiled here after his youngest son, Pachacuti, won a decisive victory against people rebelling against his father.
After the battle, Pachacuti declared himself king and his father spent the last of his days in Huchuy Qosqo, which was also one of the last settlements built with mud-covered stone walls (Pachacuti decided to start building the famed stone-wall Inca structures we are familiar with today). After the collapse of the Inca Empire, it was eventually raided and used by the Spanish, who destroyed most of the buildings in 1534.
Like the rest of the trail, we were the only ones at the site besides the guards. We didn’t stay long, as the site wasn’t as impressive as the journey there, and I was tired and ready to head back to Cusco.
We gathered our fellow hikers and started our descent down the mountain, through a series of steep switchbacks that did a number on my knees to the actual bottom of the canyon, where our driver picked us up.
“What an incredible hike!” I exclaimed on the ride back.
As I stared out the window at passing villages, I had a giant smile on my face. This hike was my favorite experience I had in Peru and, with only two days left in the country, I was content to leave feeling like I got to do something so special.
How to Hike to Huchuy Qosqo
You can go with a guide or on your own, though I wouldn’t advise the latter. While you can easily take a cab from Cusco to the starting point and grab a bus back at the end point, the trail is hard to find (and sometimes, especially at the beginning, it disappears) and there are absolutely no signs anywhere. Even at Huchuy Qosqo, there are no signs describing what you are looking at, the landscape, or the history of the ruins. If you want any context, you’ll need a guide. Like for Machu Picchu, I went with Amazonas Explorer.
Note: Take sunscreen! I came back to my hotel burnt to a crisp. Lobsters aren’t even as red as I was. I forgot to put sunscreen on because it was cloudy and rainy and I didn’t feel the sun, but at this altitude, the UV is very strong and I paid the price for it. Don’t be like me!
Book Your Trip to Peru: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
What is a luxury experience? For luxury brands, it is no longer about making people dream about extravagant outfits. Major luxury empires have now set their sights on all-inclusive experiences to build rapport with their loyal clientele that entail top-notch shopping experiences, exclusive access to runway shows, behind-the-scenes visits with the designers, private viewing, and more. Their recent ventures into hospitality are a prime example of the direct-to-consumer approach. From collaborating with world-famous establishments to opening their hotels, these fashion brands have dipped their toes into the hospitality scene to drive royalty. Here is the list of the latest hotels to visit at least once in your lifetime.
Palazzo Versace Macau
Versace is no stranger to the world of hospitality. In 2015, the Italian fashion house launched its iconic Palazzo Versace in Dubai and has since established itself as a serious player in the hospitality industry. Almost a decade later, Versace introduced another establishment in Macau — one of the most sought-after stamping grounds for lively nightlife. Located at Grand Lisboa Palace Re-sort, the hotel — exuding Italian glamour — is where the East andWest collide. Under the creative direction of Donatella Versace, the luxury sanctuary perfectly embodies the DNA of Versace while paying homage to Chinese culture. Embellished along-side the house’s Medusa emblem are chrysanthemum flowers, dragon elements and geometric patterns. The property is home to 271 rooms and suites, a pampering Turkish hammam, a Romanesque outdoor pool, and the Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant.
Learn more about Palazzo Versace Macau here.
1, Place Vendôme
Located in the glamorous 1st arrondissement — the cradle of art , where Paris’ most iconic landmarks, such as the Champs-Élysées and Musée du Louvre, and the world’s biggest fashion flagship stores are a stone’s throw away — 1, Place Vendôme is a dream come true for fashion enthusiasts. Gentrified from Hôtel de Vendôme over a painstaking five-year renovation, the Chopard and Scheufele family-owned hotel is the quintessence of Parisian grandiosity. Revamped by the celebrated interior architect and designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the luxury abode is conceived with the spirit of Chopard in mind — the relentless pursuit of impeccable craftsmanship and artistic crafts. With a main entrance adorned by Jean-Michel Othoniel’s exquisite aquamarine Murano glass bead installation, the five-star hotel — boasting five rooms and 10 suites, each with a unique decor — is bedecked with wrought iron, enamel tiles, ornamental plaster ceiling and shimmering marble.
Learn more about 1, Place Vendôme here.
Bvlgari Hotel Roma
The Bvlgari Hotel Roma is an exemplar of la dolce vita. Dreamed up by Milan-based ACPV (Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel) Architects, the ninth edition of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts nestles in the heart of the illustrious Campo Marzio district. There, one gets to stroll the iconic Spanish Steps and be pampered by a profusion of designer boutiques at the Via Condotti and a lavish culinary scene crammed with the finest dining options. What really sets the Bvlgari Hotel Roma apart from the exhaustive list of luxury accommodations are its interior design and ultra-luxury offering. With an impressive 5m-tall foyer splendidly decorated with an original Roman sculpture of the emperor Augustus in Pentelic marble and a Barovier & Toso handblown Murano glass chandelier, the hotel is a homage to its Bvlgari store in Via Condotti. Taking the indulgent experience up a notch, the Bvlgari Hotel Roma houses 114 guest rooms that overlook the glorious Via della Frezza, Il Ristorante — Niko Romito Roma — spearheaded by the eponymous chef of three Michelin-starred restaurant Reale — and a spa complete with eight treatment rooms, a fitness centre and a salon.
Learn more about Bvlgari Hotel Roma here.
Vermelho Hotel
What does a luxury hotel look like? One will probably say a towering building with a swanky outlook in the middle of the city centre. Vermelho Hotel — the first hospitality establishment from the legendary shoemaker Christian Louboutin — will completely shatter this general perception. Tucked away in Melides — a beach town flanked by wild Atlantic beaches and raw landscape — the Vermelho Hotel is an extravagant coffer of cultural influence, complete with ravishing details that are worth a second look. Upon entry, guests will be welcomed by a gold and green glass-blown mural chandelier designed by Klove Studio. As one makes their way into the boutique hotel, azulejo — traditional Portuguese patterned ceramic tiles —heaves into sight, telling the tales of diverse influences that make up the country’s history. The spectacular mise en scène is further elevated by elaborate bespoke decor and Liberty-style furniture, which are brought to life with the magical touch of Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ducrot. The awe-inspiring journey does not end there. Bringing the experience to whole other level, the hideaway is where one can truly savour Portuguese cuisine and its wide spectrum of flavours — all these while resting one’s eyes on the striking interior design realised with the help of Orfebrería Villareal and Maison Gatti.
Learn more about Vermelho Hotel here.
This article was first seen on Men’s Folio.
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Electric vehicles improved in the 2025 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study but plug-in hybrids got worse.
Released Thursday, the annual study focuses on the rate of problems with new vehicles, as reported by owners, with scores assigned based on problems per 100 vehicles. The new results are based on problems experienced by the original owners of vehicles going back to the 2022 model year. The sample included 34,175 responses from owners gathered from August through November of 2024.
EVs improved by 33 problems per 100 vehicles compared to the previous year’s study, while plug-in hybrids saw an increase of 26 problems per 100 vehicles compared to last year, when EVs were found to be the most trouble-prone vehicles.
2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The gap between EVs and gasoline vehicles also narrowed significantly, J.D. Power noted, now standing at 223 problems per 100 vehicles and 200 problems per 100 vehicles, respectively. Plug-in hybrids were the most problematic, at 242 reported issues per 100 vehicles. Hybrids fared the best; such models without a plug experienced the fewest problems, at 199 per 100 vehicles.
In a previous study, J.D. Power underscored that the powertrains aren’t to blame for all these issues; rather it’s been all the other tech that debuts in EVs. The 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study indicates that tech-related issues are becoming more prevalent across the auto industry, with software connectivity issues among the most frequent owner complaints, and just 30% of owners saying that they saw improvements after over-the-air updates.
2022 Audi Q5 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid
That contributed to a worse performance, as averaged across the entire industry, in this year’s study. The industry as a whole saw problems per 100 vehicles increase by 6%, averaging 202 problems per 100 vehicles.
But EVs continue to perform more poorly than other vehicles in these studies. J.D. Power also noted a higher rate of owner-reported problems for EVs, compared to the industry average, in its 2024 Initial Quality Study. Consumer Reports’ annual reliability survey in late 2023 found that vehicles that plug in, overall, are more trouble-prone—and it noted that especially applies to plug-in hybrids.
In today’s fast-paced world, beauty routines are becoming more focused on health, balance, and holistic practices. Products and routines are progressively emphasising proactive, preventative measures, turning skincare into a ritual of self-care that nourishes both body and mind. In skincare, this has manifested in less invasive methods to improve appearance and a focus on hydrating ingredients. Simultaneously, the beauty world has seen new educational tools and services that help individuals understand their personal style and best features. These practices reflect purposeful additions to a daily routine, reflecting a more careful approach to beauty regimens. There is no definitive answer to “looking your best,” only new methods that can inspire and empower those looking to re-vamp their everyday routine.
Stimulate the Skin
As the body’s largest organ, the skin is often exposed to stressors on a daily basis. As a result, it is in a constant state of renewal to maintain a healthy state, with new cells forming in the deepest layers of the skin and gradually working their way to the surface. Stimulating cell regeneration is crucial in creating fresh, smooth skin as it helps to accelerate this natural process by shedding dead skin and encouraging the production of new, vibrant cells. This not only improves texture and tone but also enhances the skin’s ability to repair itself, fight off environmental damage and retain moisture.
While there is an abundance of topical treatments that can target uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, or acne, vitamin C is considered one of the best ingredients to stimulate cell production in the skin. According to Healthline, vitamin C acts as a chemical catalyst in the process of collagen production — the main protein that provides the skin with firmness and elasticity — which in turn supports the structure of new skin cells that have emerged. The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic has been frequently declared as one of the best vitamin C serums on the market, by outlets such as Forbes, Byrdie and New York Magazine. Packed with a potent blend of 15 precent pure vitamin C, 1 percent vitamin E, and 0.5 percent ferulic acid, the serum creates an antioxidant shield on the face against skin-damaging factors like UV rays and diesel exhausts.
Another way to encourage skin cell regeneration is by physical processes — namely, microneedling. The procedure works by making small punctures in the skin with small stainless steel needles to activate the body’s natural healing process, resulting in refreshed skin. Health.com recommends the StackedSkincare Microneedling Tool, a beginner-friendly at-home dermaroller fitted with 0.2mm needles for gentle micro-exfoliation. However, since microneedling is considered a “minimally invasive” procedure, it is generally recommended to visit a dermatologist or licensed medical spas for regular treatments. Today, stimulating the skin has become a central focus within skincare, owing to the emphasis on preventative beauty routines. While products like hyaluronic acid and collagen face masks are still popular on the market, these ingredients ultimately deplete from the skin as we age and cannot be replenished with topical treatments. What is possible is taking proactive steps to enhance skin health over time, by training the body to renew itself from within.
Know Your Colour Palette
Photo by Copper and Wild
As beauty becomes increasingly personalised, a preference for tailored routines and styles have taken on new momentum. Colour analyses, in particular, helps individuals discover the hues that complement their natural skin tone, hair and eyes, and has gained immense popularity as people seek to optimise their everyday routines. Although the process of colour analysis has seen renewed interest, the concept is commonly attributed to the 1987 book “Color Me Beautiful” by professional colour consultant Carole Jackson, who grouped shades into seasonal palettes for the most ideal combination.
Modern day versions of Jackson’s concept are seen in various ways, from in-person beauty studios to online iterations. Seoul-based colour analysis studios are especially popular, as a result of kpop stars like Hyeri and Blackpink’s Jisoo posting about their private colour analysis consultations. Color Place in Gangnam is one of the most prolific consultation studios in Korea, with a range of famous clientele like Twice’s Nayeon and Exo’s Baekhyun. The studio offers a full-service package of colour analysis, hair style, brow shape and eyewear recommendations conducted by a professional. Alternatively, apps like StyleDNA utilises AI to analyse photographs of individuals to determine the optimum colour palette, prints, textures and cuts for outfits. Meanwhile, Four Seasons Studio is a virtual consultation, where three professional stylists will examine a series of selfies and photos to create a colour analysis. Results and recommendations are sent to customers within 24 to 72 hours.
A prominent trend of today’s beauty landscape is the focus on personalisation and customisation. New York City-based psychotherapist Dana Dorfman told Refinery29 that the desire to know one’s colour palette, face shape, and overall aesthetic could be connected to our innate need for a framework in life. “Given the complexity of the world, a simplification or a boxing in of things can sometimes make life easier,” Dorman said. “It also helps with decision fatigue because it does the deciding for you and you get the reassurance from an expert that it suits you.”
The benefits extend beyond decision-making by helping to streamline wardrobe and makeup choices, reducing carbon footprints and learning to make mindful choices about what products should be considered long-term investments and what are just fleeting trends.
With stress being a major culprit behind skin issues such as acne and premature aging, holistic beauty practices have begun to gain traction. Adaptogens are usually a group of plant-based compounds like ashwagandha, ginseng and mushrooms that are believed to restore balance to the body from physical and mental stressors. The concept stems from Asian traditional medicine practices, where ingredients are revered for their ability to enhance the body’s conditions as a whole instead of targeting specific issues. This — coupled with the common antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of natural plants — creates a solution for improving the skin and enhancing overall wellbeing.
Although the use of mushrooms in Chinese medical practices has been ongoing for centuries, the ingredient has only now found its way into global skincare lines. Research firm Innova Market Insights estimated that there was 50 percent annual growth in the use of mushrooms in beauty and skincare launches from April 2019 to March 2024. Out of all mushroom types, snow mushroom (also known as tremella) proved to be the top ingredient, touted for its ability to outperform hyaluronic acid in moisturising the skin. For those suffering from dry skin, the Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner actually contains a blend of both snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid, which the company claims can increase moisture levels by 35 percent.
Photo by NoonBrew
In the 2020s, the beauty and wellness industry continues to overlap. As the modern world grows more fast-paced and stress-driven, people are seeking ways to nourish not just their skin but their entire wellbeing — adaptogens fit this new outlook on beauty. Since adaptogens are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is limited research in the efficacy of certain ingredients. The key to incorporating adaptogens is to do so in moderation, and pair these holistic ingredients with tried-and-true ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C. Adaptogens align with a broader movement toward purposeful beauty routines, where every product is chosen with intention to improve both skin and long-term health.
Maintain Healthy Hair
Recently, haircare has followed the same ideology as skincare, with an emphasis on nourishing ingredients and consistent care. Yet facial hair like brows and lashes can often get overlooked, especially when they are subject to beauty and makeup procedures. While consistent use of brow gels or mascara should be safe for the health of facial hair, human error is usually the cause of thinning eyebrows or eyelash loss. L’Oréal points out a number of mistakes many makeup users fall victim to, including using eyelash curlers roughly, using false lashes too often and improperly removing makeup at night. When not done carefully, all of these practices can damage the hair follicles by exposing them to chemicals and leaving them dehydrated.
In response, an increasing number of brow gels and mascaras have followed the hybrid-makeup formulation, which fuses skincare ingredients into makeup products to deliver skincare benefits during use. Typology’s Serum Mascara utilises an oil-in-water emulsion formula, designed to hydrate and nourish while also enhancing the lashes’ appearance. Castor oil and pea peptides are infused into the formula to help stimulate lash growth, while keratin prevents breakage and promote healthy growth. Additionally, the formula is vegan and eco-friendly, with its black tint derived from vegetable and mineral origins. Hybrid formulas have also resulted in multi-use brow and lash serums. The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum contains four specialised peptides for hair growth, panthenol for moisturising, and red clover extract for fuller, thicker hair.
Investing in a brow or lash serum allows a more low-maintenance-high-impact type of approach to beauty routines. However, it is important to note that over-the-counter serums cannot make hair grow longer, they simply aid the existing processes and provide strengthening ingredients to the hair. Still, hair serums remain popular for its natural look, associated with the “clean girl” beauty trend that many prefer. Most importantly, lash and brow serums are a move towards products that help the hair and skin, rather than just masking imperfections.
Find Your Facial Features
Similar to colour analysis, finding and understanding your unique facial features has become a staple in the beauty community. It is not a new phenomenon, going back to the familiar ethos of knowing what styles, colours and haircuts would suit oneself. It has, however, gained more attention in recent years owing to an embrace of individuality, moving away from a one-size-fits-all ideal. Highlighting specific facial features — through methods like tailored makeup techniques, skincare, or haircuts — offers a way to create a beauty routine that feels authentic and effective.
Although a well-known practice among professional makeup artists, advancements in technology have helped educate the masses on how to create a makeup routine that is distinctive to them. Augmented reality (AR) designer and Mink Beauty founder Grace Choi has gone viral multiple times for her creation of TikTok filters like “Cheek Contour, “Face Shape” and even skin “Undertone.” Speaking to Glamour, Choi said that the filters were meant to serve as “a personalised stencil for every viewer, [telling] them exactly where to place products on their face to achieve [the] desired result.”
The filters work by overlaying the face with a diagram of sorts, pinpointing parts of the face where makeup should be applied or drawn. A crucial aspect of Choi’s filters — which differ from beauty routines and hacks of the past, are the way in which the overlays fit to a person’s exact face — ensuring that every individual is seeing how the makeup would look applied to them.
Since Choi’s virality, there have been a number makeup filters that have resulted from a new understanding and appreciation for tailored makeup practices. Other trends include determining your “animal type,” which sees users do their makeup inspired by the facial features of an animal they most closely resemble; and “contrast level” makeup, a theory that individuals should be looking at how the shades of their skin tone, facial features and hair colour differentiate from one another and use makeup to create a more harmonious look. What is most important to remember is not getting caught up in the technicalities. There is no harm in experimenting with different approaches to makeup, but it is not the be -all-end-all of a routine. Beauty writer Zeynab Mohamed warns that these filters could still be feeding into the endless “trendy makeup” cycle. Instead, emphasis should be placed on the way these new methods can help educate individuals on their facial features — and there is no right and wrong answer to this.
One of the most popular items on the beauty market are lip cosmetics, with the worldwide lip market looking to achieve USD 22.90 billion in 2025, according to Statista. Self-care rituals have become a driving force for the popularity of lip care, with nourishing balms, exfoliators and plumping treatments now essential to many daily regimens. With lip products often being thought of as makeup rather than skincare, the recent intermingling of skincare and beauty routines have brought a new forefront of products to the market, celebrated for their ability to hydrate, protect and enhance our lips.
In 2022, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask was the most renowned lip product on the market, introducing beauty-lovers to a product that effortlessly created the “plump, juicy” lip look that many desire. First released in 2018, Laneige’s lip mask took off in 2022 thanks to a bout of powerful celebrities like Kate Moss and Keke Palmer raving about its benefits. New York Magazine’s Tembe Denton-Hurst suggests that its reputation endures because of its ingredients. The mask is an ointment-type product formulated with vitamin C, antioxidant berries and hyaluronic acid to melt away dead skin and leave the lips feeling hydrated and smooth. Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Beauty also experienced commercial and viral success with their Peptide Lip Tints, a lightweight gloss that offers a subtle tint of colour. The tint is infused with a host of nourishing ingredients popular in traditional skincare, such as palmitoyl tripeptide-1 to promote skin healing and collagen production, as well as vitamins E, D, and A.
The quest for perfect-looking lips is never-ending in the beauty world. What is different now is the way the industry wants to achieve this. The Guardian reported that when Kylie Jenner dissolved her lip filler, clinics were bombarded by similar requests immediately after. While lip fillers and plumpers are not entirely out of fashion, lip products are now migrating towards beneficial products with skin-strengthening ingredients to achieve ideal-looking lips.
Include Facial Massages
The introduction of at-home beauty devices have given allowed skincare enthusiasts to experiment with facial massages. The practice, explained by Dr. Shari Auth for Byrdie, originated in Asia and Chinese aristocracy. In today’s climate, celebrities like Meghan Markle and Jennifer Lopez have praised the effects of a simple buccal massage. With its ability to stimulate blood flow and reduce puffiness, facial massages provide immediate and long-term benefits.
According to Medical News Today, it is common to wake up with a puffy face in the morning due to overnight fluid retention, where lying down in bed causes our body’s fluid to collect in the face. Eventually, the fluid will disappear once people start to move around. However, a popular way to ensure a sculpted and de-bloated face before stepping out is to add a facial massage in between skincare steps. Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, gua shas are a centuries-old massage tool usually made out of smooth, contoured stones. Its unique shape is designed to gently scrape along the skin to stimulate circulation and help with lymphatic drainage, and can be used all over the body. Face rollers are a quicker alternative to gua shas, similarly crafted from stones to gently massage the skin and reduce swelling.
It is also widely believed that gua sha can help sculpt the face into more aesthetically-pleasing shapes, with high cheekbones and sharper jawlines. The reasoning behind this is because facial massages can help circulate bloodflow and relax facial muscles, resulting in a glowing, lifted look. With consistent use, the belief is that the face will eventually become slimmer and more sculpted. However, multiple dermatologists and aestheticians have stated that this practice is a myth, as facial massaging cannot get rid of excess fat in areas of the face. Despite this, facial massaging still remains a well-liked skincare step as it supports healthier skin by releasing muscle tension, making it an essential step in achieving a glowing complexion.
Consider Hair Theory
A recent beauty practice to come out of TikTok is the idea of “hair theory,” which suggests that the way we style our hair can drastically change the appearance a person. It implies a similar-thinking to how outfits are put together, with consideration for what type of jewellery, shoes or bags can best complement a look. “Hair Theory” promotes more awareness of how hair can also play a role in crafting the perfect outfit, by experimenting with styles that factor in clothing cut, fit and function.
An easy-to-follow guide to “hair theory” originates from TikToker Thanya, whose three-part tutorial has garnered over 40 million views. The hairstyle-neckline guide determines the best hairstyle in relation to the your shirt’s neckline. WWD created an all-encompassing article for Thanya’s three-part series. Examples include wearing a high ponytail or updo for turtlenecks, wearing hair down for strapless dresses, and wearing a half-up half-down for sweetheart necklines and one-strap tops. The general rule, however, seems to be that hair up can flatter high necklines, and hair down can flatter lower necklines. Texture and length of hair can also affect the way that your overall appearance is perceived. Pinterest contains a host of hairstyle neckline diagrams that can also be filtered by hairtype, whether wavy, curly or protective.
Photo by Christopher Campbell
Beyond its aesthetic role, hair is a powerful tool for self-expression, just as personal style is. Caroline Brooks, founder of The Glasshouse Salon and Spa, told Glamour, “The length, colour, style, and texture of hair can have an effect on how you feel yourself. Getting a fresh blow-dry can make you feel more confident, and a new colour can make you feel more refreshed, but a bad hair day can make you feel self conscious.” Brooks suggests that the popularity of “hair theory” is due to the universal appeal of personal expression through simple, easy-to-try hairstyles. It is yet another reminder of how much power a style can have, and is a new aspect to consider when wanting to revamp a look.
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Copper sinks. Quality cheese. Fine wines. It seems like the best things in life just get better with time, and that same rule applies to Birkenstock’s sandals. With roots predating the American Revolution, the Birkenstock brand is a pioneer in health-focused footwear thanks to anatomically shaped cork footbeds that mold to the wearer’s feet more with each use. Because these sandals are built to last, they rarely go on sale — but Rue La La is discounting the brand’s most popular styles during its Presidents Day sale.
Right now, you can save up to 50 percent on Boston clogs, Arizona sandals, and more of the brand’s popular travel shoes during this limited-time flash sale. With some styles as low as $80 — and with spring just around the corner — we can’t think of a better time to stock up. A word of caution, though: We’re already seeing the most common sizes fly off shelves, and this sale won’t last beyond Presidents Day.
Women’s Boston Narrow Suede Clog
Rue La La
These fan-favorite Boston clogs are versatile enough for year-round wear. Featuring super-soft ribbed suede uppers and matching gold-toned hardware, these mustard clogs can be worn alone or paired with fuzzy wool socks on chillier days.
Women’s Arizona Leather Sandal
Rue La La
The waxy, faded leather straps on these Arizonas will only get better with each wear. On sale for 20 percent off, these sandals come with silver hardware buckles, textured outsoles, and soft, suede-lined footbeds.
Women’s Glenda Suede Sandal
Gilt
These chic Glenda sandals are comfortable, yet undeniably adorable, making them perfect for date nights. They are made with anatomically shaped footbeds, supportive EVA soles, a slight platform wedge, and an adjustable ankle strap for added stability. The star of the show, however, is the wide woven textile strap that has contrast stitching, giving these sandals a beachy-boho vibe.
Men’s Arizona Birkibuc Sandal
Rue La La
These men’s Arizona sandals are made with the brand’s patented Birkibuc material, a synthetic faux leather that looks and feels just like nubuck leather. Complete with brass buckles, a roomy toe box, and anatomical cork footbeds, these classic Arizona sandals capture everything we love most about Birkenstock.
Women’s Mayari Birko-flor Sandal
Rue La La
Love the look of Arizonas, but need some added support? These Mayari sandals, now $30 off, have a third strap on the big toe to securely hold your foot in place while you’re walking. The sandal straps are slightly thinner than those of Arizona slides, giving them a more feminine look that pairs well with skirts and dresses.
Women’s Gizeh Narrow Birko-flor Sandal
Rue La La
Heading somewhere warm this season? Take these metallic Gizeh sandals with you. The resort-ready slides come with a shiny silver upper and matching silver buckle that’s sure to turn heads on the beach. (Psst: They’re also on sale in gold).
Women’s Boston Soft Footbed Suede Leather Clog
Rue La La
Channel Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year with these suede Boston clogs. The rich mocha color easily pairs with just about anything in your wardrobe, and the arch-supporting cork footbeds are what Birkenstock is famous for.
Women’s Madrid Birko-Flor Narrow Sandal
Rue La La
These Madrid sandals have a narrow shape and thick, fashion-forward foot strap for a dressier vibe than other Birkenstocks on this list. Don’t let the shiny patent black leather fool you, though. They’re plenty comfortable thanks to the roomy, rounded toe box and molded insoles.
Women’s Gabriela Narrow Leather Sandal
Rue La La
Take your footwear rotation to new heights (literally) with these Gabriela leather sandals. On sale for 23 percent off, the platform leather sandals have a subtle wedge heel that adds two inches of height without compromising your stability.
Women’s Sahara CC Narrow Birko-Flor Sandal
Rue La La
Instead of buckles, the dual straps on these athletic Saraha sandals are secured with hook-and-loop closures for faster, easier tightening. Suited for low-impact hikes, city walking tours, or leisurely outdoor activities, these active sandals are an impressive 50 percent off for a limited time.
Women’s Arizona Birko-Flor Sandal
Rue La La
These rose gold Arizonas are the ultimate statement sandals. Featuring an EVA sole, cork-latex footbed, and metallic copper buckle straps, the fashionable slides are currently $25 off. If rose gold isn’t your style, Rue La La has a yellow-gold version on sale, too.
Women’s Arizona Split Leather & Suede Sandal
Rue La La
Right now, save $30 on this remixed version of the Arizona (while supplies last, of course). Featuring a “split” black leather buckle strap at the back and a black suede buckle strap near the front, these Arizonas are great for those looking to add a little edge to their sandal rotation.
The G90 BMW M5 made its debut in 2024, and it seems a facelift version is already in the works. The first spy images of the upcoming BMW M5 facelift recently surfaced online, revealing some interesting details.
It appears that the M5 facelift will adopt the Neue Klasse design philosophy. This is evident from the flat-ish front fascia. The car will also get redesigned LED headlamps and a slimmer and wider kidney grille. The updated M5 will feature slim wraparound LED taillights and the signature quad exhausts.
Apart from the design overhaul, BMW will continue to offer the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as the current model. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid delivers 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque.
The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic and an all-wheel drive system, allowing the 2.4-tonne sedan to sprint from 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. The M5 has a floor-mounted 14.8 kWh battery pack that gives it an electric range of 25 miles.
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