Tag: News

The first debate between Biden and Trump since 2020 was filled with awkward stumbles, insults, and lies. Here are the highlights.

• House Democrats don't want to talk about Joe Biden's bad debate performance.
• A lot of that is because of political self-preservation.
• Democrats who have publicly made an issue of Biden's age before have suffered greatly as a result.

Rep. Tom Suozzi really didn't want to be there.

As the New York Democrat waited for an elevator to whisk him up to the second floor of the Capitol, Suozzi was cornered by a gaggle of reporters who wanted not just his appraisal of President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance the previous night, but whether the congressman thought the 81-year-old president should continue to be his party's nominee. "That's beyond my pay grade," Suozzi replied. "That's not up to me."

The congressman had caught a lucky break: The elevator doors behind him were opening up, and reporters can't follow lawmakers into elevators without their consent. I was on board, headed down to the basement. Suozzi slowly backed in, apparently unaware of the direction of the elevator. "We're headed down," I told him as the doors closed on us.

"I just needed to get the fuck out of there," said Suozzi. "I'll take the stairs."

Friday morning votes are typically a sleepy affair, but this wasn't a normal Friday morning. Because Biden's campaign had pushed for the earliest general election debate on record, Congress happened to be in session, and Democratic lawmakers were being forced to answer for a performance that had clearly sent many of them into panic mode.

Roughly half of House Democrats did the prudent thing: They kept their mouths shut and avoided saying anything, either by directly declining to answer questions or insisting that they really needed to keep talking to an aide walking with them. One House Democrat, who I won't name because I can't prove it, seemed to be pretending to be on a call, dangling his iPhone slightly below his ear while sipping a coffee.

Others took the Kamala Harris route, frankly acknowledging Biden's weak performance while broadly standing behind Biden. "I don't think it was his best performance," Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California said bluntly. "Being a debater is different than being president."

Just a few were willing to express in public what they're surely feeling in private — that Biden's poor showing against former President Donald Trump is prompting a lot of "soul searching," in the words of Rep. Jared Huffman of California.

"I think there's a lot of processing that I and many of my colleagues are doing, but it wasn't a good night," said Huffman, adding that he does not want Biden to do another debate and that he was also still "processing" whether he believes Biden should be the party's nominee.

"I don't know. I don't know what happens next. I truly don't," said Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio when asked if he's entertaining the idea of Biden not being the nominee. "You know, I think the President and his team are gonna huddle up and have a conversation, and we'll see what happens."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Friday that he stands behind Biden, and other senior Democrats — including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jim Clyburn, the man who arguably delivered Biden the nomination in 2020 — broadly did the same. Rep. Robert Garcia, a Biden campaign surrogate who traveled to the debate on Thursday, was left insisting to a large circle of skeptical reporters that Biden simply "had a raspy voice."

Despite the best efforts of the Capitol Hill press corps, no one publicly declared that Biden needed to go, despite widespread reports that they're harboring deep concerns behind closed doors.

That's because they've seen what happens to people who have made an issue out of Biden's age before.

Rep. Dean Phillips waged an entire primary challenge to Biden based on the premise that he's too old to carry on and that his colleagues know it. The Minnesota congressman ended up being marginalized by the party, and his political career may be effectively over at the end of his term. In 2019, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro directly attacked Biden's age and memory at a Democratic primary debate. He's been essentially locked out of the top echelons of the party ever since.

"The first Democratic politician to call for Biden to step down, it's going to end in their career," Democratic strategist Paul Begala said on CNN on Friday morning. "They may be right in the eyes of a lot of Democrats, but if you're the first one through the door, you're going to get shot. And look, I think they all know that."

Democrats who want to see Biden step aside are essentially facing a collective action problem. If they were to band together and declare that Biden needs to step aside, they may be able to have an impact. But any individual lawmaker who feels that way may be confronting political oblivion if they do it on their own.

Plus, political incentives and partisanship may simply drive them back into Biden's corner. To admit that the president needs to step aside as the party's nominee would be to cave to long-running GOP attacks on the president.

On Friday morning, Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas capitalized on the moment, announcing that he would put forward a resolution calling on Biden's cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment and remove him from office.

It's the exact sort of thing that may send Democrats running back into Biden's arms.

• A Tesla driver said Autopilot mistook train tracks for a road outside Sacramento.
• Local police shared a post on Facebook urging Tesla drivers to stay "vigilant" when using Autopilot.
• It's the second recent incident where Autopilot steered a Tesla toward train tracks.

A Tesla owner says he ended up in the middle of an active train track after Autopilot mistook it for a road, a California police department said in a warning to other drivers.

The alleged incident happened outside Sacramento. Police didn't share the driver's name or the condition of the car.

Woodland Police Department in California issued the warning on Wednesday in a Facebook post reminding Tesla drivers to stay "vigilant while using Tesla's Autopilot feature."

In the warning, police said the driver had given them a statement that his car had driven onto the tracks when Autopilot was engaged. The police said they hadn't verified what happened and that they were still investigating.

The post included a list of reminders for Tesla drivers using Autopilot, including to stay alert and keep their hands on the wheel. The police also said to regularly check surroundings in self-driving mode and noted that Autopilot is "not a replacement for attentive driving."

Woodland Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

The reported California incident is the second in two months with drivers saying a Tesla in Autopilot mistakingly drove onto railway tracks. The last incident occurred on May 8 and almost resulted in a freight train crash, the driver said, according to a report from NBC.

A video of the incident showed the vehicle driving down a foggy road toward a moving freight train and swerving right before it collided. The driver told NBC he took responsibility and said he had become complacent with the technology, the report said.

Tesla describes Autopilot as a set of advanced driver-assistance features meant "to make driving safer and less stressful," according to its website. It notes that none of the features make the vehicle "fully autonomous or replace" the driver.

For years, Elon Musk has been saying that self-driving cars are imminent and once said Tesla Autopilot is 10 times less likely to crash than the average car.

But the transition hasn't been as seamless as Musk has suggested. Tesla recalled over 2 million vehicles in December due to concerns over Autopilot. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified in an April report more than 200 front-end crashes when Autopilot was engaged, 13 of which it said were fatal.

Tesla did not return a request for comment.

• Medical professionals are turning body bags into cooling baths to treat heat-related illnesses.
• Immersing patients in cold water quickly reduces body temperature and can prevent serious damage.
• Fire trucks and ambulances in Phoenix now carry these immersion bags as standard equipment.

This summer, medical professionals will use body bags to save lives. They're turning them into portable cooling baths to treat people with heat-related illnesses.

Last year was the hottest summer on record, with places like Phoenix reaching over 110 degrees for 31 consecutive days. There were 2,302 heat-related deaths in the US, alone, and temperatures this year could be even worse, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

To treat heat-related illnesses, emergency medical professionals in Phoneix started using modified body bags called "immersion bags," The New York Times reported. They've been working so well that they're now standard equipment for the city's fire trucks and ambulances, according to The Guardian.

Quickly submerging a heat stroke patient in icy water is one of the most effective ways to quickly bring down the body temperature.

When a person's core temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or above, the body has difficulty cooling itself down. This can cause permanent damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.

"The sooner you can get the body cooled closer to baseline, the quicker you can resolve the symptoms as well as prevent some of the more severe complications," Sam Shen, a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University, told Business Insider.

Because time is so critical, medical responders will typically "cool first, transport second," meaning they will try to drop the patient's temperature to below 102.2 °F before moving them to the hospital, according to national EMS guidelines.

Since finding a suitably sized tub outdoors is difficult, some first responders have started using these leak-proof body bags as a makeshift ice bath instead.

First responders across the country are using ice-filled body bags

Several years ago, Shen had an 87-year-old patient with heat stroke. Grant Lipman, who was Shen's colleague at the time, had a background in wilderness medicine. He suggested placing the woman in a body bag filled with ice.

"It was a kind of improvised solution but based on a known technique," Shen said.

It worked well and was novel enough that Shen, Lipman, and other colleagues wrote up the treatment in a 2020 paper. Just a year later, medical professionals in Washington used the method during a heat wave.

That same year, doctors from the University of Kansas School of Medicine also started training EMS professionals to use water from fire hydrants in cooling bags. In a study, they profiled five patients who received the ice bath treatment. In one case, it only took eight minutes to effectively drop the person's body temperature.

During the last couple of years, emergency responders and doctors in Arizona, California, and Texas have also used body bag cooling baths for patients with severe heat-related symptoms.

Patients are closely monitored inside the bag

In the past, some medical professionals feared that dropping body temperature too quickly could lead to other complications, like stroke. That's why patients need careful monitoring during the treatment.

The treatment involves putting the person in the bag and submerging them up to their armpits in an ice-water slurry. Professionals monitor their vital signs and body temperature then remove them and dry them off once they're out of the danger zone. It typically takes less than 15 minutes.

Shen said there are a few reasons why the body bags make an ideal container for an ice bath in the field. "It's inexpensive. It's accessible," he said. And the medical professional can still see and touch the person in the bag. "It's just a convenient way to still monitor the patient while they're immersed in the water solution."

Some actors spend years working toward career milestones like landing a leading role in a movie or earning an Oscar nomination.

June Squibb spent three decades.

The 94-year-old star of the action comedy "Thelma" has been honing her craft since 1959, when she made her Broadway debut in "Gypsy." It wasn't until 1990, after three decades of working as a stage actor, that she made her film debut at 61. Another two decades after that, Squibb became one of the oldest people ever nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the 2013 Alexander Payne film "Nebraska" at 84.

The fact that it took 10 more years after that for Squibb to become a bona fide leading lady as the title character in "Thelma" doesn't bother her — she was never explicitly working toward these milestones in the first place.

"I mean, I knew she was the leading role," Squibb told Business Insider. "But it doesn't mean that much, really. It doesn't change how I prepare, or what I do when I'm working. It's all the same."

The film, which is written and directed by Josh Margolin — and loosely based on his own grandmother, Thelma Post — follows an older woman who falls for a phone scam and mails away $10,000. When her family and the police fail to help her get it back, Thelma takes matters into her own hands, zipping across Los Angeles on her friend's two-seater scooter on a journey for revenge.

The film is a fitting vehicle for Squibb's versatility as an actor, allowing her to showcase both vulnerability and unhinged glee in a role that's not often written for nonagenarian characters. With reviews already praising her star turn and suggesting she should have been leading movies for much longer, Squibb is happy to oblige.

"I guess there will be a point where I will just sort of feel that I don't want to do it anymore," Squibb told BI of planning to continue acting. "I haven't reached that. I do want to do it."

For the latest interview in Business Insider's "Role Play" series, Squibb reflected on her collaborations with Payne, how a guest spot on "Glee" led to one of her closest friendships, and why she doesn't have any regrets about her film career.

On fighting to audition for 'Nebraska'

You got your first Academy Award nomination for Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," and that's been called your breakout role. But you had been working in film for almost 25 years at that point. Did it ever feel bizarre to have people call that role a "breakout" when you'd done so much before?

[Before "Nebraska"] I did a film called "In and Out." I had a very small role in it but it was very funny, and I got the biggest laugh in the film. All at once, a lot of people knew who I was.

But I think the biggest thing [before "Nebraska"] was "About Schmidt." I have to thank Alexander Payne because both ['"Nebraska" and "About Schmidt"] I did with him, and they have made a tremendous difference. And I think "About Schmidt," I don't know — it made me legitimate. It somehow threw me into being a legitimate film actress.

What was it like playing opposite Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt?"

Jack was a gentleman and never made me feel lesser than him. Everything that we did together was on a level of peer, period. It really was. And I give that credit to him.

I didn't always even know what I was doing, and he could have come in and made that difficult, but he did not. In fact, it was just the other way. There was such respect from him through the whole period.

"Nebraska" has such a strong ensemble cast, but you steal every scene you're in as Kate, who seems like such a treat to dig into as an actor. After working with Payne on "About Schmidt," what did your audition process look like for "Nebraska?"

Strangely enough, both times — "About Schmidt" and "Nebraska" — they didn't want to see me, believe it or not!

The first time they felt, I think, they were trying to get people from LA because they knew they were shooting in Omaha, but my agents were insistent that they at least let me do a tape for them or something. So finally they did, and Alexander told me when he got it, he said, "I knew that you were the role. I knew you were it."

And then we came to "Nebraska," and again, [my agents] see Kate and they start pushing. And the casting director, who knows me very well, says, "Oh, Alexander loves June, but we just don't think she's right for this." He had in his mind that sweet little lady from "About Schmidt," and that's what he thought. After much nattering from agents, they said, "Oh, put it on tape." So they sent me the script, and I put one or two scenes on tape.

And again, Alexander said to me, "My God, June, I had no idea you could do this." He said, "You were Kate."

So neither one! Isn't that funny? Because we have a great relationship, and I've worked twice with him, and they've made tremendous differences in my career, but neither one was a set thing. People feel that after "About Schmidt" he probably asked me to do "Nebraska." No, he didn't. He thought I couldn't — thought I wasn't right for it.

On becoming besties with Chris Colfer through 'Glee' and working with Adam Sandler

You've done a lot of television, but there's one guest spot I have to ask about: "Glee." You played a retired Broadway legend and belted out Madonna and "Cats" with Chris Colfer. What was it like returning to your theater roots on television?

It was wonderful because I met Chris, and we are now close friends. He's like a member of my family. And it was funny, because he wrote that episode, and they wanted me for it. And I'm so glad that I said yes to it, because it opened my whole relationship with him from that time on.

I loved doing it. I had never sung much on film. I had certainly sung an awful lot onstage, but there's a difference — it's so technical… So that was interesting to me. And it was fun. All the young people, oh God, we were dancing and singing all over the place.

You wear some very memorable T-shirts in "Hubie Halloween." Tell me a bit about working with Adam Sandler on that film.

He is such a leader. He is a real leader. He takes responsibility for everybody on his film set, and that's admirable. I mean, because there has to be a leader. It's usually the director.

But with him, because of his position, he became the leader, and everybody had such a good time. I think that surprised me in a way. I mean, not that you don't enjoy your time shooting, but this was almost like a party all the time. And I think he knows everybody so well. That was the first time I had worked with him, but most everybody else had worked with him before and knew him very well.

On family dinners with Will Forte and the future of her career

You've had so many fun and notable costars over the years. Who was the most fun to hang out with on set, or on the awards circuit?

Oh, Will Forte, with "Nebraska." He is such fun. He's so bright, so clever, and we got along beautifully. After we finished shooting, we would have dinner together about every month.

We would gather up whoever we were talking to from the crew or the cast, and I would bring my son, and he would bring his girlfriend of the time. But it was just such fun. I loved him. I still love him. I saw him not terribly long ago. He has two little girls now, so it's grown. His wife and two little girls, we had brunch together.

Has there ever been a moment that you remember turning down a role, or regretting doing so?

No. I don't turn something down lightly, so it takes me some time. But once I've done it, I feel I've done the right thing.

On the flip side, was there ever something you were going for and didn't get that still sticks with you?

I don't think in film. I don't think I've ever had my heart set on something in film that I didn't get, or that I wasn't handed. Stage, yes. Because I went through a lot of time onstage where I felt there was a role I should have done, or should have been able to do.

As you look toward the rest of your career, do you plan to keep working for as long as you want to?

I guess I am. I don't know the answer to that. I sometimes wonder, and I have said to my agent, "How much longer am I going to be doing this?" And they say, "Well, people still want you to work. People still want you to do things."

There's one or two things in the future now. I don't know that I will do them, but I don't know that I won't either.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

"Thelma" is in theaters now.

• A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired a new missile towards a moving sea target in the Pacific.
• It marked a first for the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile.
• The JAGM faced earlier testing challenges, but it is considered key to boosting the lethality of US attack helicopters.

A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new missile in the Pacific earlier this week, striking a moving target vessel and marking a first for the weapon.

The test is a notable moment in the development of the precision missile, which faced struggles in its initial testing.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit announced the strike exercise on Friday, revealing that two days earlier, an AH-1Z Viper "fired a live AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), striking a towed moving training vessel during a training mission at sea." The training occurred in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Okinawa.

A video shared by the unit showed the test, beginning with preparations and the crew loading ammunition onto the attack helicopter.

Then, the AH-1Z flies off from Okinawa Air Base toward the Philippine Sea, where it fires the JAGM at a moving sea vessel. The JAGM then hits the target, destroying it on impact.

During this week's exercise, the crew of the AH-1Z also fired other weapons, including a hail of bullets from the door gun, at other moving targets, such as something that looked like a fast boat, before returning to base.

According to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, "this EXPO strike launched the first live JAGM from an AH-1Z in the Indo-Pacific region, and employed a variety of munitions against a high-speed towed target."

The JAGM is a precision-guided munition able to be used against both stationary and moving land and sea targets. Determined to be an upgrade from other missiles, like Hellfire and Maverick, the weapon's initial development and testing was slightly troubled, including a year-long delay for full-rate production approval and several failed operational tests.

It achieved initial operating capability with the Marines in 2022.

The Marines' initial tests in 2019 went south when two missiles fired didn't reach their targets. And the Army's first trials with the JAGM featured a host of problems, including munitions missing their targets and failing to detonate. Across the board, both the Marines and the Army have said that they were able to resolve these issues in subsequent testing.

The JAGM features a dual-mode seeker and guidance system providing precision strike and "fire and forget" capabilities, meaning the launcher doesn't need to intervene or dictate the missile's flight towards its target once it's been fired. The JAGM can also strike multiple targets and features better precision strike capabilities in varied weather conditions.

When the Marines achieved initial operating capability with the weapon, Col. Vasilios Pappas, the Marine Corps H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter program manager, said that "incorporating systems such as JAGM on the AH-1Z is essential in keeping the platform at the forefront of warfighting capabilities."

• Some people are experiencing "tipping fatigue" as more businesses request tips for more products and services.
• But customers are pushing back, even as some workers say they're relying on tips more than ever.
• Is it OK to simply not tip in some cases — even when you're asked to? Here's what experts say.

Tipping culture appears to be spreading everywhere you look — and some customers are sick of it, wondering when it's OK to simply not tip.

After all, these days, when you make a purchase at a coffee shop, convenience store, or even a self-checkout kiosk, you might be prompted on the checkout screen for a tip.

While some customers might be ignoring these prompts in a bout of tipping fatigue, others might just be wondering what the unspoken rules are these days.

Their frustration is clear: Roughly 59% of US adults have a negative view of tipping (a decrease from 66% in 2023) and more than one in three think tipping culture has gotten out of control, according to a Bankrate survey from June.

"People are being asked to tip in contexts where they have not traditionally been asked to tip, and they're being asked to tip larger amounts in those occupations where they are used to leaving tips — and it's that felt social pressure that's irritating people," said tipping expert Michael Lynn, who is a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

Business Insider talked to tipping and etiquette experts to figure out exactly when you can forgo a tip without making a faux pas.

'Take it as a suggestion, not an obligation'

During the pandemic, people began tipping more generously, which set a new precedent for how much some workers expected to earn from tips. Now, as the world adjusts to a post-pandemic normal, some businesses have continued relying on tips to bolster their workers' wages. 

The ubiquity of checkout stations with tip prompts also comes from the growing number of businesses that have adopted consumer-facing point-of-sale systems, like Toast or Square, over the past several years. 

Thomas Farley, a New York-based etiquette expert known as Mister Manners told Business Insider that those factors don't necessarily translate into the expectation that customers should also tip more. 

"Just because the screen in these point-of-purchase or over-the-counter-type transactions provides you with that suggestion, you should take it as merely that: a suggestion and not an obligation," Farley said. 

You can skip the tip at self-checkout kiosks …

We know to tip for the service we receive, but what if we're providing the service ourselves?

"The thing that really just blows my mind is that people are being asked to tip for self-service kiosk and checkout lines," Lynn said. "That's the one that surprises me the most because it's not clear who's receiving those tips."

If you're ringing up your own items, don't worry about tipping, he says.

… and skip tipping for takeout and counter service, like coffee

If you're picking up your own food, you can likely skip the tip, too. (Food delivery, of course, is different when it comes to tips.)

"If you don't want to leave a tip for your takeout order, it's just sitting there on the counter and you grab it, you've already paid for it and you're out, you're just going to grab it and go," said etiquette expert Avery Johnson of The Southern Academy of Etiquette. Still, she notes you can tip 10% or more on carryout if you had special requests, like extras, for example.

Lynn also skips the tip on takeout — and in counter-service situations, like getting a cold brew and a pastry at a coffee shop. 

Don't feel pressured to tip for a sweatshirt you just bought

Tip prompts that pop up when you're making retail purchases are where the rules of tipping etiquette might get a little blurry, Farley said.

Say you landed tickets to see the biggest concert of the year, and you want to buy a $100 sweatshirt to commemorate the experience. You pay a visit to the stand selling concert merch where the salesperson needs to pull down the sweatshirt you picked from a rack with a pole. When you go to check out, the screen prompts you for a tip on the transaction. 

Customers who have never tipped for this type of transaction before might wonder if they should fork out a few more dollars here. 

Farley said that even in these types of scenarios, customers aren't expected to tip. "It's challenging to have a transaction, especially if somebody smiles, and they're pleasant, and, you know, they, provide nice service, but there is still no obligation to do so," he said.

… or a tipping on meal for which you already paid gratuity 

Farley said the most unexpected tip request he's ever received was at a sit-down restaurant where the menu had already indicated that a standard gratuity fee of 20% would be included in the bill. 

When the server handed Farley the final bill, though, he was hit with a prompt for another 20% tip by the card reader.

"I was very confused," Farley said. When he asked the waiter why there was a second charge, he said the server told him the 20% gratuity charge was for the whole staff to split, but 20% prompt on the card reader was specifically for his service that night. 

"The service was not 40% service, the service was 20% service, but I was stuck into paying 40%," Farley said. 

If you're worried you might find yourself in this situation, Farley said you can ask the restaurant to waive the initial gratuity fee. "If you feel strongly about it, and you feel that burden shouldn't be on you, restaurant owners that I've encountered, and have read interviews with, will say that for any consumers that push back and request that that charge be removed, they will comply."

Otherwise, he suggested "do your homework" on a restaurant's tipping policy, so you can avoid a potentially awkward encounter. 

• Rupert Murdoch has cut the price of his three-floor New York City apartment to $28.5 million.
• The media mogul, 93, listed the property for $62 million in 2022.
• Photos show inside the penthouse, which has 360-degree views of Manhattan.

Rupert Murdoch, the 93-year-old billionaire media mogul, has spent years trying to find a buyer for his nearly 7,000-square-foot penthouse in New York City, steps away from the Flatiron building and Madison Square Park.

Now, in his latest bid to shift the property, he's selling it for $28.5 million, more than half its original listing price.

The former chair of the Fox Corporation and News Corp., who married his fifth wife, Elena Zhukova, earlier this month at his private vineyard in Bel-Air, California, briefly listed the three-floor apartment for $72 million in 2015. But in 2022, he apparently listed it in earnest, asking for $62 million.

In the months since, the listing price has steadily dropped. After briefly being taken off the market in December 2023, the mega-apartment was re-listed in April for $38.5 million, nearly half its original price tag. Two months later, it's been slashed a further $10 million.

The apparently unsellable apartment may very well be a thorn in Murdoch's newlywed bliss — although, not a huge thorn perhaps, given Forbes' estimates the Murdochs have a net worth of $19.7 billion.

Here's a sneak peek at the $28.5 million penthouse apartment he just can't seem to sell.

Rupert Murdoch bought the five-bedroom, six-bathroom penthouse before it was even finished.

After calling it quits with his third wife, Wendi Deng, in 2013, Murdoch was on the lookout for a new bachelor pad.

In their divorce settlement, Deng, who was married to Murdoch for 14 years, kept the Fifth Avenue triplex the couple bought for $44 million in 2005, New York Magazine reported.

Murdoch decided to purchase two apartments at One Madison Square, a luxury condominium at the start of Madison Avenue, built in 2011. He purchased the building's three-floor penthouse and a slightly smaller unit on 57th floor in 2014.

According to Curbed, Murdoch initially lived in the smaller apartment — if you can call 3,300 square feet small — as the penthouse wasn't completed at the time of the sale.

The penthouse sprawls across three floors, connected by a winding staircase.

The apartment was constructed by architect Jose Ramirez, who specializes in luxury interior design, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Per the listing, the first level has a somewhat open-plan layout, comprised of a double-height "Great Room" connected to a 586-square-foot terrace overlooking Manhattan, a dining room, kitchen, library, and bathroom.

A spiral staircase and elevator connect the first floor to the second, which houses two bedrooms with en suites and staff quarters.

Another staircase and elevator go up to the third floor, which has two more bedrooms with en suites and an expansive primary suite.

Shortly after purchasing it, Murdoch seemingly had second thoughts and briefly listed the penthouse for $72 million.

Less than a year after buying the penthouse pre-completion, Murdoch briefly put it back on the market for a whopping $72 million, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2015.

Around the same time, Murdoch bought a $25 million townhouse in the West Village.

Murdoch changed his mind again five months later, taking the penthouse off the market and, instead, putting the townhouse back on, Curbed reported.

Murdoch might be calling it quits with his penthouse, but he isn't over NYC yet.

Murdoch indicated he was ready to sell the penthouse when he relisted it in 2022, leading some publications, like Curbed, to question if the Australian nonagenarian was done with the Big Apple, where he's had a base since the 1970s when he bought The New York Post.

If Murdoch had been looking to move out of NYC, he would've had plenty of secondary homes to fall back on.

As Architectural Digest reports, the Murdoch family has a "staggering" real-estate portfolio, which includes an Australian ranch, a $28.8 million California vineyard, and an apartment in the affluent Mayfair neighborhood in London.

However, suspicions Murdoch was truly calling it quits with NYC were quashed last year when The New York Times reported he bought a seven-bedroom apartment on the 27th floor of a historic building overlooking Central Park for $35.2 million.

He's also far from the only ultra-rich homeowner struggling to sell their pricey digs.

Unless he finds a buyer prepared to shell out $28.5 million for the penthouse or is willing to give it yet another price cut, Murdoch is stuck with it.

But he's not the only one who can't seem to sell a lavish property at the moment. As BI's real estate reporter Alcynna Lloyd previously reported, a number of celebrities and ultra-wealthy homeowners—particularly those with property in NYC — are finding themselves in similar positions to Murdoch.

Kenny Lee, a senior economist at StreetEasy, told Lloyd that a slowdown in demand is at the crux of the current real-estate slump. It's even led some wealthy homeowners to auction off or rent their pricey digs, options Murdoch may have to consider if he truly wants the penthouse off his hands as soon as possible.

• The first three seasons of "Bridgerton" and its spinoff "Queen Charlotte" have produced 32 main couples.
• Kanthony and Queen Charlotte and King George are some of the show's most popular couples.
• Business Insider ranked all the couples based on their chemistry.

"Bridgerton" and its spinoff series, "Queen Charlotte," are filled with romances, but only a few couples have great chemistry.

Every season of "Bridgerton" focuses on one main couple — Daphne and Simon in season one, Kate and Anthony in season two, and Queen Charlotte and King George in the "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" spinoff. While these couples are the most developed in their respective seasons, there are also background couples with amazing rapport, like Brimsley and Reynolds, the Mondriches, and Eloise and Theo.

"Bridgerton" season three brings a burgeoning couple to the foreground: Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and his childhood friend Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

These love stories help "Bridgerton" capitalize on the cultural resurgence of the romance genre: the romance-novel industry is booming, and rom-coms are back on screens in a big way.

With "Bridgerton" season three out now, Business Insider has ranked all the main couples from "Bridgerton" and "Queen Charlotte."

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the first three seasons of "Bridgerton" and the first season of "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."

32. Daphne Bridgerton and Lord Berbrooke

Season one of "Bridgerton" follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the fourth Bridgerton child, on her journey to find the love of her life. Before finding her husband, Daphne has to get past Nigel Berbrooke (Jamie Beamish), who is determined to marry her for her status despite being much older than her and her lack of interest.

This is one of the season's most uncomfortable pairings. Suffice to say there was zero chemistry in this relationship, and it was a relief that it did not end in marriage.

31. Lord and Lady Danbury

In "Queen Charlotte," young Lady Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas), who is a respected member of society in the main "Bridgerton" series, is trapped in a sexually abusive relationship with Lord Herman Danbury (Cyril Nri).

Herman is much older than his wife, and it is implied that they married when she was a child. While this was more common in the 18th century, when "Queen Charlotte" is set, their relationship was an incredibly uncomfortable watch.

The only reason they are not last is because Agatha truly cares for Herman and defends and supports him throughout the show. She hates him but her feelings toward him are more complicated than that one emotion.

30. Lord and Lady Featherington

The Featherington family is another major family in London's high society, led by Lord Featherington (Ben Miller) and Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker) in "Bridgerton" season one. However, Lord Featherington is a reckless gambler who squanders the family money.

There seems to have been love between them at some point, but time and secrets have clearly broken down whatever they had and left them bitter.

A clear example of this is when Portia finds out that her husband is dead in the season one finale. Instead of grieving the loss or asking what happened, she rushes to discover if her money is missing.

29. Prudence Featherington and Jack Featherington

In "Bridgerton" season two, Lady Portia Featherington schemes to pair her daughter Prudence (Bessie Carter) with her nephew Jack Featherington (Rupert Young), the new head of the family, so that she can keep control of their family home.

Lady Featherington succeeds in entrapping Jack in marriage but he has little affection for his cousin Prudence. Although they get along, their relationship is very awkward.

28. Lord and Lady Ledger

Lord Ledger (Keir Charles) and Lady Vivian Ledger (Katie Brayben), the parents of fan-favorite character Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), appear in "Queen Charlotte." We only get a few scenes with them together, but it is very clear they are not a match. 

Though they stick together in the miniseries, Lord Ledger openly criticizes his wife and has an affair, which suggests he doesn't have much love for Vivian.

27. Lord Samadani and Francesca Bridgerton

"Bridgerton" season three surprised audiences by giving a central story to Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd), a character who was mostly forgotten in the first two seasons.

In this season, she makes her debut and quickly becomes the Queen's favorite of the season. However, Francesca struggles with the pressures of finding love, the social season, and the Queen's obsession with her love life.

In episode three, the Queen introduces Francesca to her friend, Lord Samadani (David Mumeni). Lord Samadani and Francesca are a polite pair, but there is no real connection between them. Lord Samadani loves his big family, while Francesca wants to escape hers.

Thus, it is no surprise that Francesca leaps at the first man she gets along with to get away from Lord Samadani.

26. Marina Thompson and Sir Philip Crane

In "Bridgerton" season one, Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker), a distant cousin of the Featheringtons, comes to stay with Lady Featherington and her daughters so she can find a husband. Marina is secretly pregnant so Lady Featherington tries to marry her off before the scandal is revealed.

At the end of season one, Marina does find a husband even after her secret pregnancy is exposed. In the season finale, Sir Philip Crane (Chris Fulton), the brother of Marina's secret lover, Sir George Crane, shows up to tell her that her lover has died while fighting in Spain. However, Philip offers to marry Marina in George's place, and she eventually accepts.

In episode four of season two, we get a glimpse of their relationship after marriage, and they seem quite happy together. They don't seem to share many interests or chemistry, but Philip ensures Marina and her twins are looked after. They seem like a much more amicable pairing than most couples on this list.

25. Cressida Cowper and Jack Featherington

Before Jack Featherington gets paired up with his cousin, he tries to woo Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), the popular mean girl of London high society (also called The Ton).

Jack's charm makes it appear that they're compatible, but it is later revealed in season two, episode four, that Jack only cares about Cressida for her family's wealth.

24. Prudence Featherington and Harry Dankworth

We never see how Prudence Featherington and Harry Dankworth (James Phoon) meet, but they are a married couple in season three. 

However, it seems for most of the season, Prudence does not like Harry. She brushes him away at every turn, hates having sex with him, and is generally annoyed by his presence and lack of wealth. Meanwhile, Harry adores Prudence and often states that he will do anything for her.

It is unclear what changes, but Prudence seems to become more affectionate with Harry by the season finale. We may see their love grow in future seasons.

23. Lady Danbury and Adolphus

Lady Agatha Danbury has a third chance at love in "Queen Charlotte" when she meets Queen Charlotte's brother, Duke Adolphus (Tunji Kasim). The pair have some sweet, affectionate moments, but it's clear Agatha is still reeling too much from the pain of both of her previous relationships to commit to this new romance.

22. Benedict Bridgerton and Tessa

Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), the second eldest Bridgerton sibling, has only pursued casual flings so far in the show.

In the second half of "Bridgerton" season two, Benedict has a casual relationship with Tessa (Emily Barber), a life model and budding artist at his art academy.

We don't see much of them, but they seem to be a good match, even though Benedict is not looking for anything serious.

Though Luke could muster sexual tension with a door, we don't see enough of this couple to place them higher.

21. Benedict Bridgerton and Madame Genevieve Delacroix

Benedict's first relationship in "Bridgerton" is with Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale), the town's dressmaker. In season one, episode five, Benedict meets her at a party and within moments they start making out. This was a fleeting relationship, but the attraction between the two was palpable.

20. Lucy and Henry Granville

In "Bridgerton" season one, Benedict befriends artist Henry Granville (Julian Ovenden) and his wife Lucy Granville (Sandra Teles).

While we don't see a lot of Lucy and Henry, they seem like a couple who love each other very much, even if they are not in love with each other. In episode seven, Henry explains to Benedict that their marriage is for show.

In reality, Henry is in love with Lord Wetherby (Ned Porteous) and Lucy enjoys the privileges of being married to the artist, including having affairs herself during a party in episode five. Overall, the couple seems happy and supportive of each other.

19. Daphne Bridgerton and Prince Friedrich

Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma), the nephew of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), was another suitor for Daphne in "Bridgerton" season one.

This pairing was amicable and it's possible to imagine that if not for the existence of the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), they may have had a long, happy life with lots of children. The prince was a perfect gentleman and even willing to skirt convention by inviting Daphne to the boxing match in episode four.

However, one thing this couple lacked was passion. In most of their interactions, Daphne was either looking for the duke or thinking about him, and thus, she would never be truly happy settling for the prince. That being said, the prince deserved better, and it would be nice to see Queen Charlotte carry through with her comment in the second season's finale and introduce Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) to Friedrich.

18. Cressida Cowper and Lord Debling

Lord Debling (Sam Phillips) catches the eye of two rivals in season three, Cressida Cowper and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Cressida sees Lord Debling as a means of escaping her unloving family, so she initially lies about liking nature to win him over. Eventually, they have one honest moment, bonding over their difficult relationship with their families.

But before anything can develop between them, Lord Debling disappears after episode four.

17. Penelope Featherington and Lord Debling

In season three, Penelope Featherington, the youngest Featherington child, finally pursues her own romance instead of watching from the sidelines. This leads her to Lord Debling, another man who becomes a social outcast, because he is a vegetarian.

They have a more honest connection than Lord Debling and Cressida. Though they have different interests, they have similar values, and both are willing to settle for a relationship that is more practical than loving. In episode three, they have great banter, and Lord Debling also risks his own life to save Penelope from a hot-air balloon.

Unfortunately, Penelope's feelings never grow deeper because she has feelings for another. Lord Debling notices and steps out of her way.

16. Colin Bridgerton and Marina Thompson

Before Marina Thompson meets Sir Philip Crane, she spends a lot of season one trying to make Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the third Bridgerton sibling, fall in love with her.

On the one hand, Marina spent most of season one trying to entrap Colin into marriage before she gives birth which means part of the relationship was based on a lie. On the other, these two do look cute together. 

However, when Luke meets a married Marina in episode four of season two, it becomes clear why their relationship would have never worked. He's still an immature boy masquerading as a man and what Marina needed was a stable husband for her children.

15. Lady Danbury and Lord Ledger

Out of Lady Agatha Danbury's three relationships in "Queen Charlotte," she had the best chemistry with Lord Ledger. From the first encounter during Lady Danbury's ball in episode three, the pair get on splendidly, and Lord Ledger is clearly trying to flirt with Agatha. In episode five, their connection goes deeper as they go on walks ("ramblings") together following Lord Danbury's death.

This couple isn't placed higher in the ranking because of how abruptly their relationship ends when Lord Ledger breaks off the affair. We'll never know whether he truly loved Agatha or took advantage of her vulnerable widow situation. But Agatha deserves better than a cheap one-night stand.

14. Benedict Bridgerton, Lady Tilley Arnold, and Paul Saurez

Season three introduces Benedict Bridgerton's third lover, a widowed woman named Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New). They are a perfect pair since they are both looking for aimless, casual fun.

Later in the season, Tilley expands their relationship by adding her other friend with benefits, Paul Saurez (Lucas Aurelio). 

There is a lot of sexual chemistry between this trio, and fans loved the fact that "Bridgerton" finally confirmed Benedict's bisexuality. But there isn't much non-physical chemistry between the throuple. 

Also, Benedict seems more interested in Paul than Tilley during their sex scenes in episodes seven and eight, but the men aren't given the opportunity for romance to develop. Meanwhile, Tilley's confession that she likes Benedict as more than a friend in the season finale seemingly comes out of nowhere since their relationship was shown to be more playful than serious.

13. Edwina Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton

In "Bridgerton" season two, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling, is on the hunt for a wife. He eventually picks Edwina Sharma, a new member of the Ton who becomes popular after the Queen gives her the biggest honor, the "Diamond of the Season" title.

The couple doesn't have the best start in terms of chemistry. From day one, it's clear that Anthony Bridgerton sees his courtship of Edwina as a chore. While Edwina is infatuated with Anthony from the start, she does not like his competitive nature.

Anthony finally sees Edwina as a person in episode three when they bond over reading.

After that, there are a few conversations where it seems they might share some interests or have chemistry, but that moment does not last long due to Anthony's love for Edwina's older sister, Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

12. Brimsley and Reynolds

In "Bridgerton," Queen Charlotte is always shadowed by her most trusty aide, Brimsley (Hugh Sachs), but we don't learn much about him until "Queen Charlotte." In the miniseries, where he is played by Sam Clemmett, we discover that Brimsley is secretly dating King George's head servant, Reynolds (Freddie Dennis).

Throughout the season, they sneak off to have sex, find opportunities to hold hands and talk about their future together. Their relationship isn't perfect because their jobs keep getting in the way. Since Reynolds has to keep King George's illness a secret, he keeps Brimsley at arm's length until the end of the season. Yet despite their fighting, they always find themselves together again.

Brimsley and Reynolds have quickly become a fan-favorite couple, and we hope the "Bridgerton" creators eventually answer what happens to their relationship after the events of "Queen Charlotte."

11. Jack Featherington and Lady Featherington

Toward the end of "Bridgerton" season two, Jack Featherington sets his sights on Lady Portia Featherington, and honestly, these two schemers are weirdly perfect for each other. Jack and Portia are not related by blood, making their relationship less unsavory than other couples on this list. Their relationship may be slightly toxic, linked together only by the scheming in season two, but when they work together, it's magic, and the actors play off each other well.

However, their relationship was doomed because Portia would always love her daughters more than anyone else, and Jack never really cared for the Featherington siblings. When the moment arrives to make that choice, after the pair's investment scam is exposed in the season two finale, Portia throws Jack under the bus. 

Portia did make the right decision to choose her family over Jack. This woman has been through a lot during the first two seasons, so we hope she finds someone better soon.

10. Lord Marcus Anderson and Violet Bridgerton

In "Queen Charlotte," older Violet Bridgerton vows that she will try to find love again after the death of her husband Edmund Bridgerton (Rupert Evans). 

Violet has a first shot at this in "Bridgerton" season three when she meets Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), the estranged brother of her closest friend, Lady Danbury. Marcus is incredibly charming. His beauty often makes Violet stutter and stare, and he relates to her grief because he lost his first wife.

But their relationship never gets a chance to shine because they have to deal with drama in their respective families. Hopefully, their chemistry can improve next season with fewer obstacles in their way.

9. Anthony Bridgerton and Siena Rosso

In "Bridgerton" season one, Anthony Bridgerton rides a roller coaster of emotions during his love affair with opera singer Siena Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett). He finds himself trapped between his duty to his family and his love for Siena.

Not only is this love born of joy rather than conflict, but in both episode four and the season one finale, Anthony is also prepared to discard his family and duty for that love. While the second season never explicitly states this, it is likely Anthony was adamant about finding a wife and fulfilling his familial duty because of Siena's rejection. 

This initially made us rank this couple higher than Anthony's love match with Kate in season two. But on further examination, Anthony's feelings for Siena were entangled with his desire to escape his life and duty. This is why he tries to rekindle his romance in episode four when he believes he must flee the country after his duel with the Duke of Hastings.

Anthony cares a lot for Siena but doesn't truly see her, so their breakup is inevitable.

8. Will and Alice Mondrich

For the first two seasons, Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) are couple goals. Completely supportive and honest in all their endeavors, Alice often challenges her husband for his betterment.

They are nothing more than a happy couple minding their business in a town where everyone is involved in a scandal or two. 

This changes in season three when they become nobility and have their first proper conflict. Alice wants to embrace their new roles but Will is stubborn and still wants to run his Gentleman's Club that he built up in the previous season.

In episode six, Will spontaneously gives in and sells his club. While Will seems supportive of his wife for the rest of the season, he is never truly happy about selling his club. The season did not give enough space to address this conflict. Will and Alice won't rise up our ranking unless this is resolved.

7. Eloise Bridgerton and Theo Sharpe

Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch) is arguably a more believable enemies-to-lovers storyline, or rather rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, in "Bridgerton" season two. On her hunt for Lady Whistledown's identity, Eloise meets Theo, who works in Whistledown's printer shop. 

While the pair first duel through mocking jabs at each other, they quickly form a friendship through their shared interest in politics. Their relationship is not as sexual as the others on the list, but the flirting mockery worked because you could tell they weren't arguing just for the sake of arguing.

Unfortunately, their love is cut short by the Queen and Penelope's meddling.

6. Philipa Featherington and Albion Finch

Phillipa Featherington (Harriet Cains), the final Featherington daughter, quickly finds a lover in the first season after Albion Finch (Lorn Macdonald) courts her. 

In season one, episode four, the odd pair bond over cheese, and if that doesn't spell couple goals, I don't know what does. In the following seasons, they continue to be one of the most loving couples in the entire show.

From what we've seen in the first three seasons, this pair is one of the most perfect matches in the show. However, their lack of visibility, makes it hard to match up their chemistry against some of the other couples.

Honorable mention: Violet and Edmund Bridgerton

Before we get to the top five couples, it is worth mentioning that Violet and Edmund Bridgerton may be the best couple in the show that we never get to see. Edmund appears in one flashback in episode three of the second season, but you can sense their love for one another in the way Violet talks about him throughout the show.

This is a one-sided retelling, so you can't completely determine the chemistry between the parent Bridgertons, but it is undeniable that they had a love like no other, and we are begging for more flashback scenes.

5. Francesca Bridgerton and John Stirling

Though "Bridgerton" season three was about Colin and Penelope, Francesca and John Stirling (Victor Alli) stole the hearts of many fans.

In episode three, Francesca tries to escape the chaos of the ball and stumbles upon John, the Earl of Kilmartin, standing alone in the back garden. The pair immediately click in the most unusual way, connecting over their quiet, calm energy. In fact, there are a few comical scenes when they flirt by saying nothing at all.

This pairing showed that chemistry is not only about sexual tension, grand displays of affection, or even steamy sex scenes. True chemistry is when a pair can match each other's vibe and embolden one another to step outside their comfort zones.

The only reason Francesca and John are not higher on the list is that the finale leaves multiple clues that her true love might be someone else.

4. Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton

We finally get some progress with Penelope and Colin's relationship in season three. Previously, Penelope has been obsessed with Colin, but Colin only sees her as a friend and publicly mocks the idea of courting her.

Things change in season three when Colin realizes his feelings for Penelope have always been romantic, and they finally marry.

Coughlan and Newton have natural chemistry, which makes you believe that the characters are obsessed with each other. Penelope and Colin have one of the best sex scenes of the series in episode five, showing the perfect mix of pure adoration and lust for each other. 

And once Colin is onboard with marrying Penelope, he is truly obsessed with her.

However, fans have complained that their relationship was rushed this season. Plus, they're not able to fully connect until the season's end because they both hide their true selves to avoid putting each other off.

Now that all secrets are laid bare, we can hope to see better intimacy between the pair in season four.

 

3. Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton

The original winners of this ranking were Simon Bassett, the Duke, and Daphne Bridgerton. There are enticing, passionate looks between them throughout season one, even when they're not courting each other.

We see their chemistry tested multiple times and somehow get stronger. Also, while season two was a tad more drama than romance, the main hook of the first season was the sparks between Daphne and Page.

What sold it for us was actually their dance at the end of the first episode (picture above). The love in those looks was so clear, and it is no wonder that some fans thought the two actors, Dynevor and Page, were actually dating in real life. This set an astronomically high bar for future romances. But future seasons have allowed other couples to take the top rankings in our list.

2. Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton

Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma may be one of the best relationships in the main "Bridgerton" series.

There was clear attraction between them from their first meeting. Has a man ever been so infatuated with a woman as when Anthony sniffs the air around Kate?

But it was hard to say they were truly in love until the end of the first season because they spent more time bickering than giving longing stares, and they both let Anthony's courtship with Kate's sister, Edwina, go on a little too long.

Now married, Kanthony is stronger than ever and there is no competing with their chemistry in season three. In almost every scene, Anthony and Kate are seeking out a moment to talk to or even touch each other. Every other scene, Anthony is declaring his love in the most extra way possible.  

They also communicate a lot better and warmly support each other throughout the season compared with season two. 

They enjoy the kind of marital bliss we are yet to see from earlier "Bridgerton" couples and it is so gratifying to watch.

1. Queen Charlotte and King George

Dearest reader, Queen Charlotte and King George are the winners of this "Bridgerton" couples ranking.

Their love story in "Queen Charlotte" is one of the most sophisticated and developed romances in the Bridgerton franchise. Corey Mylchreest and India Amarteifio, who play young Charlotte and George, have impeccable chemistry from their first encounter. Even when they're fighting, it is hard not to see passion and love in their eyes every time they look at each other. 

The scene in episode five when Charlotte and George finally confess their love is one of the most poetic and beautiful confession scenes from "Bridgerton." The scene in the series finale where the older Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and King George (James Fleet) are under the bed clearly shows that the passion and chemistry continue for their entire lives.

Many relationships in this ranking are sexy, inspiring, or pleasing to watch, but Charlotte and George's love story is the only one that left audiences in tears at the end. And that's why they deserve the chemistry crown.

• London retailer COS, which is owned by H&M, has been expanding in the US.
• Its sustainable, luxury pieces are often ideal for work attire. 
• I decided to compare COS and Zara's professional clothes.

Like clockwork, a handful of "it girl" retailers capture a generation's attention every few years.

In the early 2000s, Hollister, American Eagle, and Abercrombie & Fitch were the only places cool girls shopped. In the 2010s, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing people wearing Madewell or Urban Outfitters clothes.

Today, Zara, H&M, and Aritzia have become the go-to stores.

Zara and H&M often compete as two fast-fashion brands catering to millennial and Gen Z shoppers. But as Zara has leaned into clothing for young professionals in recent years, it's finding a new competitor in another H&M Group brand: COS.

COS makes minimalist, sustainable clothes for professionals

The London-based retailer COS has been part of the H&M Group since 2007. It's almost like H&M's more sophisticated, socially conscious, and luxurious older sister, as its pieces are minimalist and sustainable by design.

As Katie Reeves, the managing director of COS North America, told Glossy, COS often appeals to a mature buyer who has a bit more to spend than the H&M buyer.

"They're typically professionals," she said of COS customers. "They work or dabble in creative fields. They reside in metropolitan cities. They appreciate trends, but they're not defined by them. Their wardrobe is also a collection of pieces they wear and return to now and forever."

In 2022, the brand found global success by partnering with three wholesalers, including Nordstrom in the US, to bring its clothes to a larger audience.

And in 2024, COS expanded again by opening a flagship store in Mexico, according to H&M Group's annual report. COS has 47 brick-and-mortar stores worldwide and is available in 38 online markets as of 2024.

"Professional" isn't part of Zara's brand ethos. However, its parent company, Inditex, said on its website, "Zara's designers respond instinctively to their changing needs, reacting to the latest trends and constant feedback to deliver new ideas for everyone in the right place and at the right moment."

Part of that responsiveness has been its expansion into professional attire, as was clear when it released its workwear edit in 2023.

Given that they approach the professional fashion market differently, I visited COS and Zara to compare their business-casual clothes. I focused on outfits that would work for most business-casual office environments in the summer.

Zara didn't quite work for me

I headed to each brand's location in Lower Manhattan, popping into Zara first.

As I wandered through the store, I noticed that much of what I would consider work attire, like blazers and trousers, were arranged on hangers next to more casual clothes, giving the impression that the "professional" clothes were designed to be worn in various settings.

Versatile attire rather than strictly professional clothes makes sense with Zara's brand mission. But I found that a lot of the work-leaning pieces looked like the idea of what someone would wear to work rather than an actual go-to work outfit.

For instance, I saw several sets arranged in the store on hangers and mannequin displays, with one half of the look appearing work-appropriate while the other didn't, like this cropped blazer and coordinating shorts.

I could see myself wearing the $89 blazer with a pair of high-waisted pants, but the $45.90 shorts wouldn't work for many business-casual office environments.

Likewise, I tried on a matching blazer and skort, which cost $89.90 and $45.90, respectively, after seeing the jacket and skort paired on a hanger display.

Again, the jacket was work-appropriate, but I thought I would feel uncomfortable in the office in the skort because of its length. I likely wouldn't have even considered the skort for a work look if it hadn't been paired with the blazer when I walked through the store I went to in June. The material was also thick, which I found impractical for a summery work look.

Similarly, I liked the idea of pairing one of Zara's oversize blazers, which cost $75, with a pair of $109 wide-legged pants. Still, the jacket was made of an uncomfortably thick material that I couldn't see myself wearing to multiple meetings in a day.

Meanwhile, the linen pants were see-through, and I was disappointed when I saw that a black version of the same pants was sheer, too. I wouldn't mind if a pair of trousers I wore to dinner with friends were slightly transparent, but I wouldn't want to wear them to work. The $35.90 shirt I found to try on with the suit was also see-through.

I've had better luck with pants at Zara, so I was surprised the store I went to seemed to have a limited inventory.

As of Friday, its website still had ample trouser options, but based on what I saw at the store that day, I struggled to see myself building a practical and comfortable work wardrobe from Zara.

I could see myself investing in COS clothing

Before this experiment, I had never shopped at COS, so I wasn't sure if the clothes would meet my expectations in-store.

After browsing the store with racks of clothing organized by color and mannequins displayed in central areas, I selected a handful of garments to try on, sticking to neutral tones as I did at Zara.

To my delight, I loved the COS looks.

First, I tried on an $89 linen top and $120 trousers, and not only were they not see-through, but I loved the way they fit.

The pieces were comfortable but structured, and I liked that the sleeves of the button-down were a bit longer, as it gave the whole look a professional feel without me having to wear a stuffy blazer in the summer. I felt similarly about a $120 black dress with the same silhouette as the blouse.

The outfit that surprised me most was a white set with a $69 tank top and $89 shorts.

The items were a big departure from my usual style, but I loved how they looked and felt. The fabric wasn't see-through, and the ribbing elevated the look so I would feel comfortable wearing it to the office, even though it included shorts.

The COS clothes were slightly more expensive than the pieces from Zara, but the price difference felt minuscule considering the COS pieces' quality. The materials felt like they would last, so I could see myself returning to the retailer to build a capsule wardrobe for work.

Overall, I think COS lived up to its mission of dressing professional, creative buyers, and Zara's catch-all of creating items for every occasion fell a little flat for me when it comes to work clothes.