City: New York City and Tel Aviv

Year founded: 2019

Total funding: $64.31 million

What it does: Agora is a financial software firm that helps real-estate investors process payments, keep track of tax records, raise money, and generally organize data.

Why it's hot: The firm, which raised a $34 million Series B round in May, said it helps landlords and developers with much-needed modernization.

"Real estate is the largest asset class in the world. However, the market still relies on legacy software providers, inefficient workflows, outdated, fragmented systems, and manual, tedious work," Asaf Raz, Agora's head of marketing, told Business Insider.

"Investors expect a digital-first experience — they're tech-savvy and need access to information quickly. Firms can't work without it, and clients need a platform like Agora more than ever," Raz said.

A challenge it faces: Real-estate investors are still grappling with relatively high interest rates, which makes it harder to borrow money and scale up, and the relatively high price of materials, which makes it tougher to renovate or upgrade properties. Those market forces could make customers more reluctant to spend money on new software.

Agora CEO Bar Mor told business news site Pulse 2.0 earlier this month, however, that Agora might still appeal to customers because its suite of products could help them "enhance efficiency and save costs."

City: New York

Year founded: 2021

Total funding: $5.1 million

What it does: Arcol is a web browser-based design tool predominantly used by architects to create and collaborate on 3D models of buildings and explore their feasibility.

Why it's hot: Architects — Arcol's target audience — have traditionally relied on software design tools like AutoCAD and Revit, which require paid licenses and aren't as collaborative. Arcol has set out to solve that issue with a browser-based format easily shared and edited by anyone involved in a building project.

"These people are core to our society; they're literally building the built world, yet they hate using their tools," said Paul O'Carroll, the son of an architect and founder of Arcol. "The design tool we use to design buildings, we want to rethink for the browser to be collaborative and to be performant."

So far, demand is high. Arcol, run by a team of six, has a waitlist of over 18,000 users, O'Carroll said.

A challenge it faces: There are several other startups in the BIM, or Business Information Modeling, space. Competing with established players like Revit could take a lot of time and money, according to AEC Magazine. (AEC stands for architecture, engineering, and construction.)

Also, Arcol is currently only useful to architects during the conceptual modeling phase, and the company hopes to expand the tool to help with other stages of construction.

City: New York City

Year founded: 2018

Total funding: $11.76 million

What it does: Branch Furniture sells office products, like chairs and desks, to businesses and directly to consumers.

Why it's hot: The company's first iteration sold office furniture the old way: B2B, catering to employers outfitting a huge space who would often purchase items in bulk. After the pandemic changed how (and how often) workers occupied offices, Branch pivoted to sell to regular people — wherever they work.

"We launched our D2C business to cater to the future of work, which was definitively hybrid, both during COVID and after — and that's where we sit today," Sib Mahapatra, cofounder of Branch Furniture, told Business Insider.

Branch's ergonomic chair is a bestseller with a 4.6 rating out of five with over 6,000 reviews — it's rated among the best in its category by Business Insider, Architectural Digest, and Wired for its adjustability and sleek design.

In addition to desk chairs — in colors that range from a standard black to salmon-y orange hue called "poppy," the company also sells desks and lamps to outfit a home office. Its inventory includes meeting tables and even phone booths ($6,395) for more commercial office spaces.

A challenge it faces: Branch's products are physical, so it's been plagued by supply-chain delays. Branch is also up against competitors in the good-looking-furniture-that-is-also-comfortable arena, including Herman Miller and Steelcase — though Branch's offerings are often cheaper.

The company is also gaining ground regarding velocity, or the speed at which new products are developed and released.

"We're learning a lot about the pace of iteration in our product category," Mahapatra said. "It's definitely not software, but the benefit is that you get more time to really get things right and to iterate with purpose, and you end up being a little bit more deliberate about how you iterate the product — it just takes longer."

City: Oakland, California

Year founded: 2022

Total funding: $6.67 million

What it does: BuildCasa helps California homeowners subdivide their lots — thanks to new state laws — and then connects them with local builders who pay the homeowners for a portion of their land and then build new housing on it.

Why it's hot: The national housing crisis is particularly acute in California, which recently passed a series of laws to encourage more building. While others look to transform construction to make cheaper housing, BuildCasa uses technology instead to find more buildable lots in desirable locations like San Francisco and San Jose.

Most massive home-building companies focus on large, master-planned communities, often far from city centers. BuildCasa's vision, said its founders Ben Bear, CEO, and Paul Stiedl, CPO, is to become a large homebuilder focused instead on finding land in already desirable cities and suburbs.

The company works with homeowners to subdivide their land, creating a new, buildable lot. Those lots can then be sold to a local real-estate developer to build on, or BuildCasa can work in partnership with a local builder to erect and then sell a completed home.

A challenge it faces: New laws have simplified the process of subdividing lots, but building in infill areas still requires technical expertise and good relationships with local officials. Building on these smaller lots may be becoming easier, but it still isn't easy.

City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Year founded: 2018

Total funding: $14.68 million

What it does: Conservation Labs developed a smart water sensor that can identify leaks and wasteful water use. The H2know sensor uses machine learning to decode sounds in water pipes and translate them into insights for commercial property owners, including restaurants and hotels.

Why it's hot: The startup is at the intersection of two buzzy topics: AI and sustainability. H2know trains on thousands of hours of water pipe acoustics so that, over time, it becomes more accurate in detecting leaks and inefficient water use in buildings. Customers use that information to fix problems and conserve water, saving them money on utility bills while lowering their overall carbon footprint. Some 20% of home energy use goes to heating water.

"There's a very strong relationship between net-zero carbon emissions and water consumption," said Mark Kovscek, founder and CEO of Conservation Labs.

He added that H2know has detected leaky toilets in nearly every building in which it's installed. Some large properties are wasting 1 million gallons of water a year, he said.

A challenge it faces: H2know starts at $129, and it could be hard to convince cash-strapped commercial real estate owners to spend money to install sensors when the office market is struggling in many parts of the US.

Kovscek said the goal is to scale up to 100,000 sensors installed as soon as possible, or five times what Conservation Labs is currently on track to sell this year. To support that growth, the company needs to hire some of the "best and brightest" data scientists and engineers to further develop the machine-learning platform that underpins H2know, Kovscek said.

City: New York

Year founded: 2019

Total funding: Almost $380 million

What it does: Large general contractors use Constrafor's software to onboard and pay their subcontractors on time — sometimes before the contractors themselves get paid by the clients. Contractors can also use the software to help purchase the supplies and services needed to complete a construction project on time and within budget.

Why it's hot: There's the money raised. In November, Constrafor announced that it raised $14 million in Series A funding as well as a $250 million credit facility.

The issues the firm is trying to address are also key. Construction is booming across the US, thanks in part to President Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. The rise of AI is also leading to a corresponding increase in the construction of data centers.

The actual process of construction, however, can often be long and complicated. That's why Constrafor's role as a one-stop shop appeals to large general contractors.

"So far, everyone has been focused on just building a very, very small point solution," said Anwar Ghauche, Constrafor's founder. "We're combining multiple different workflows, multiple different departments, all on the same platform."

The main challenges it faces: Next up: Constrafor must try to convince subcontractors to subscribe and pay for its software, too.

Gauch added that Constrafor's contractor clients can face cash-flow crunches. Those can lead to delays on important projects.

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton severely damaged parts of Florida, North Carolina, and other parts of the Southeast, Constrafor launched a disaster relief effort that would allow local contractors who are part of rebuilding efforts "to overcome delays, purchase materials, and ensure timely payment for their teams."

City: New York

Year founded: 2022

Total funding: $13.95 million

What it does: Ease Capital helps private equity firms and large investors lend to smaller apartment landlords. It uses data and technology that allow the biggest players to lend $5 million to $50 million in deals that would typically be too small for them.

Why it's hot: Sophisticated private lenders usually focus on the largest apartment complexes, meaning that most apartment-building owners have to turn to banks and agencies to borrow money to purchase or refinance properties. However, current high rates have dramatically slowed bank and agency lending and the large private lenders usually won't lend for small—and medium-sized projects.

Ease uses data and technology to make it easier and more efficient for these large lenders to lend on smaller deals when the need is the highest. In 2023, the company announced a $450 million partnership with major real estate owner and asset manager Taconic Capital Partners, and has already announced multiple successfully originated loans.

CEO Charlie Oshamn told Business Insider earlier this year that the company is often seeing up to $1 billion in loan requests a month. Unlike other firms, which provide an estimated rate upfront that could potentially change over months of negotiation, Ease Capital sticks to its initial offering, eliminating the guessing game for potential clients.

A challenge it faces: Though the founding team has successfully launched other major proptech businesses, like flexible office and event space provider Convene and real-estate data firm Reonomy, it still needs to prove itself as a lender.

City: Colombia and Mexico

Year founded: 2019

Total funding: $564 million

What it does: Habi has built Latin America's largest proprietary database and utilizes AI-based pricing algorithms to facilitate transactions and financing for homebuyers and sellers. Habi also buys and sells homes, offers mortgages, and posts and publicizes listings of properties for sale.

Why it's hot: The company operates in Colombia and Mexico without centralized MLS. MLS, or multiple listing services, are databases designed to help real estate brokers identify available homes for sale. These systems are abundant in the US, whereas they are scarce in Latin America. Without an MLS, it means homebuyers and sellers in Colombia and Mexico have difficulty knowing which properties are available for sale, their prices, and their listing and pricing history.

By gathering and sharing information on more than 20 million homes, Habi has addressed a critical need in these countries' real estate sector, establishing itself as an authority on housing in the region.

"We've become a household name for low and middle-income sellers and consumers and brokers in Mexico and Colombia," Brynne McNulty Rojas, CEO and cofounder of Habi, told Business Insider.

A challenge it faces: A combination of factors, including shifting economic and political conditions, has stalled the growth of Latin America's real-estate market. To achieve the same level of ubiquity as Zillow in the US, Habi must get real-estate brokers and sellers to list their properties on its platform and entice buyers to use it.

City: Lafayette, California

Year founded: 2021

Total funding: $21.35 million

What it does: Founder Vishwas Prabhakara envisions Honey Homes as a "primary care physician for your home." For a monthly fee, a dedicated handyman will come once or twice a month to knock off "lightweight" home improvement projects like fixing a leaky faucet, installing a new ceiling fan, or repainting a room.

Why it's hot: With a cooling housing market, Prabhakara believes many homeowners are staying in their homes longer and interested in investing resources in — and enjoying — the property they currently have.

The main challenge it faces: Homeowners who already hire their preferred handymen may not be willing to pay for a service that sends new people, and bigger projects might require more specialized repair professionals. Then there's the cost and current smaller scale of the company: Subscriptions start from $295 a month, or $3,940 a year, according to the company website. The service is only available in parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Dallas, according to the site.

City: San Francisco

Year founded: 2021

Total funding: $25 million

What it does: Impulse Labs made a battery-powered induction cooktop that, unlike most of its competitors, which may require an electrical upgrade, can plug into a standard 120-volt outlet. The cooktop can boil water at lightning speeds, and sensors hold heat levels steady even at high temperatures.

Why it's hot: Impulse Labs founder Sam D'Amico said the cooktop offers a better cooking experience than gas burners while promoting more climate-friendly homes. Cooking with gas emits pollutants like methane, benzene, and carbon monoxide, which harm our health and the planet. But it can cost thousands of dollars to rewire a home for an electric induction stove. Impulse Labs' induction cooktop avoids those pollutants and the cost of home retrofits.

The battery in Impulse Labs' stove also stores enough power to make three meals if the power goes out, D'Amico said.

"One of the cheapest ways to deploy battery storage is in the appliances we have to buy anyways," he added.

The main challenge it faces: The cooktop costs $5,999. The price is high, D'Amico said, but similar to other premium appliances. The price is lower if buyers qualify for tax breaks and rebates from federal and state governments, as well as some utilities. It's also only a cooktop — not a full stove — but D'Amico said the company eventually wants to sell a suite of appliances that can be a whole-home battery solution. Impulse Labs is accepting pre-orders, with plans to ship in the first quarter of 2025, according to its website.

City: New York City

Year founded: 2020

Total funding: $43 million

What it does: Keyway uses machine learning and AI to aid institutional investors in sourcing, underwriting, and managing portfolios of properties.

Why it's hot: Companies that use AI have become commonplace today, but Keyway believes it is ahead of the pack in adopting and applying AI technology to real-estate investing.

"We were very early on in the AI game in 2020, and I think we've built a really strong backend of data with lots of APIs that allows us to integrate very segregated data very fast," CEO and cofounder Matias Recchia told Business Insider. "The fact that we built our system in a modular way also allows us to customize our product to a lot of our customers — so it's really not one solution fits all."

The main challenge it faces: New technology like Keyway can be hard to push on seasoned real-estate investors as they're used to using old-school methods like manually sourcing, underwriting, and managing portfolios.

"We're merging two cultures that are very different," Recchia said. "The real-estate industry requires a lot of proof to show them that data can really help them make better decisions. So there's a little bit of a culture shift that we're bringing to real estate as we sell them these tools and we partner with them."

City: Brooklyn, New York

Year founded: 2023

Total funding: $8.82 million

What it does: Latii is a sourcing platform that uses AI-powered tools to help North American-based architects and contractors save up to 60% by connecting with Latin American, southern European, and northern African window and door fabricators.

Why it's hot: Architects often include custom windows and doors in their designs, but hiring contractors and craftspeople overseas can cost their property-owning clients thousands of dollars. The architects who work with Latii, however, can source materials faster and at lower costs, cofounder and CEO Santiago Bueno told Business Insider.

"We're able to produce either equal or higher quality products at a less expensive rate," Bueno said.

In October, Latti announced that it had raised $5 million in seed-round funding, which it will use to expand in the Pacific Northwest, Mountain states, and the New York tri-state area.

The main challenge it faces: When working with fabricators in Latin America, challenges can arise in managing certifications, enforcing warranties, and overcoming language barriers. The region's use of the metric system can also be difficult for North America-based architects to navigate.

City: Scottsdale, Arizona

Year founded: 2020

Total funding: $713.8 million

What it does: Lessen's software allows commercial and residential landlords to track maintenance needs, connect with service providers, and buy products.

Why it's hot: In August, Inc. magazine named Lessen the fastest-growing private software company in the US, citing its $1.1 billion valuation.

The valuation preceded a major acquisition in 2023: Lessen spent $950 million to buy property maintenance management firm SMS Assist in what the Commercial Observer called the largest proptech acquisition in history.

Lessen's software is widely used, handling 3 million work orders a year across 250,000 properties, according to Fifth Wall, an investor in the firm. Lessen also launched Lessen Advantage Marketplace, which allows its landlord customers to buy materials like glass, floors, and doors and find better insurance and loan rates.

The main challenge it faces: Like many real-estate firms, Lessen faces an overall slowdown in both the commercial and residential sectors, with mortgage rates remaining elevated. One big potential client base for Lessen is office building owners and property managers, but the office market right now is struggling, with vacancies around the US at record highs.

"We typically grow hand-in-hand with our clients, serving them in additional properties and markets as they expand. So, for example, interest rates can influence growth in some areas of our business," said Michael Tanner, senior vice president of marketing at Lessen.

A dearth of tradespeople is also a challenge for the company's platform that connects them to landlords, Tanner said.

Finally, the firm competes in a crowded market of competitors offering software for landlords, including Stessa, AppFolio, TenantCloud, and more.

City: Santa Monica

Year founded: 2017

Total funding raised by the company: $1.93 billion

What it does: Metropolis uses a computer vision platform powered by artificial intelligence to enable checkout-free payment at parking facilities. After registering their vehicles on the Metropolis app, customers can simply drive in and drive out without the hassle of paying with credit cards or ticket machines.

Why it's hot: Metropolis announced its acquisition of SP Plus, the largest parking network in North America, for $1.5 billion in October 2023 and closed the deal in May 2024. The move allowed Metropolis to rapidly scale its technology and reach 50 million customers across 4,000 locations.

"We've seen success and are continuing to scale and grow because Metropolis' checkout-free experiences give people the gift of time back, so they can spend it on the things that matter the most," cofounder and CEO Alex Israel told Business Insider.

The main challenge it faces: Israel said that most of the parking payments and transactions in the world are still analog.

"We envision a future where checkout-free payments travel with you, but scaling this technology across industries is complicated — it requires remarkable proprietary technology and boots on the ground," he said.

City: Boston

Year founded: 2020

Total funding: $13.17 million

What it does: PredictAP makes real estate invoice processing simple and easy. It uses AI to code invoices quickly.

"So the accounting rules can become very complicated in commercial real estate at big companies," said CEO and founder David Stifter, describing the journey of how an invoice is processed.

He said an invoice would come in first, and someone would need to determine which accounting rules to apply. Predict AP will be useful at this stage because the AI will understand and use the accounting rules correctly. Then, it will go through the rest of the accounts payable process, a department responsible for paying vendors for services or goods at the company. Then, someone will approve it and then pay for it.

Why it's hot: Predict AP serves every corner of the real estate sector. The company said its customers are publicly traded companies that own real estate, private companies that own and operate real estate, or customers who provide services for those big companies.

The company has been able to help AP specialists and property managers face difficulties entering invoices because it takes a lot of time and effort.

"We're able to help folks with that difficult task of coding invoices and it's particularly painful in real estate where there's a lot of complexity," said CEO and founder David Stifter. He added: "Nobody wants to be typing 15-digit invoice numbers; that's not fun."

Russell Franks, the president and cofounder of Predict AP, added to his comments and noted that Predict AP could process an invoice in 30 to 40 seconds faster than the normal processing time of five to 10 minutes.

The main challenge it faces: The company shared that it is hard to find funding in this tough economy, and it is not easy to grow and expand.

City: Boston

Year Founded: 2022

Total funding: $7.97 million

What it does: Propexo's unified API, or application programming interface, helps other real-estate tech companies quickly and easily integrate with property-management systems.

Why it's hot: Real-estate tech companies use APIs to integrate with data from external sources, like lead generation systems or rent roll systems.

However, existing APIs and the technology around them are outdated.

That means companies lose time and money that could be used to develop their product while trying to integrate with these APIs, said COO Ben Keller.

Propexo's unified API improves the developer experience by making the integration process simpler, faster, and cheaper. "We're really the first engineering infrastructure product in the proptech ecosystem," said Keller.

The main challenge it faces: It's not easy to convince property managers and owner-operators to change how they've been running their businesses for many years.

In August, the Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, alleging that the property-management software company allows landlords to coordinate and unfairly keep rents high. This is causing some landlords to rethink how they handle and process information, according to trade publication Multifamily Dive.

City: Chicago

Year founded: 2020

Total funding: $4 million

What it does: Rent Butter has created an alternative tenant screening process that gives landlords a more comprehensive view of applicants' financial history.

Why it's hot: Landlords have historically relied on static credit reports and background checks when evaluating potential tenants. Doing so creates a barrier for applicants with financial difficulties early in their adult lives, as credit scores are a difficult metric to improve.

Rent Butter is trying to eliminate that barrier and change the narrative around who is a "good" candidate by providing landlords with additional information that can more accurately assess a person's financial reliability.

Their application connects to an applicant's bank account, credit history, and employment, criminal, and rent payment history to provide a detailed one-page report highlighting their financial behaviors and potential risks.

"Our whole approach is: How do we show who the person is today — not who they were seven or 10 years ago," cofounder and CTO Christopher Rankin told Business Insider.

The main challenge it faces: Rent Butter partners with landlords, rather than selling directly to consumers, which makes scaling a challenge. Most landlords already have a tenant-vetting process, so it could be hard to convince them to change to Rent Butter.

City: San Francisco

Year founded: 2021

Total funding: $22.27 million

What it does: Shepherd is a Managing General Underwriter (MGU) leveraging tech to make underwriting commercial construction insurance more efficient. It also wields data to create more informed risk selection and price recommendations, often leading to upfront and long-term savings for policyholders.

Why it's hot: Insurers partner with MGUs to provide clients with insurance, with the MGU underwriting policies for clients and selling to potential policyholders. Shepherd adapts the typical MGU model by cutting the underwriting process from weeks to hours and incorporating risk assessment tech into its platform, making it a one-stop shop for insurers and clients. By working faster and putting these services in one place, Shepherd can better serve construction companies and insurers while fostering more involved relationships.

The main challenges it faces: Both insurance brokers and potential clients have some healthy skepticism about a new model for commercial construction insurance, so it falls on Shepherd to earn their trust to gain their business.

City: Austin

Year founded: 2020

Total funding: $60.1 million

What it does: Steadily is a digital insurance company for real-estate investors that promises a "faster, better, and cheaper" underwriting experience.

Why it's hot: Steadily founder Darren Nix first encountered the outdated nature of insurance underwriting, trying to find quotes for his own rental property in Chicago.

Terrible customer service and shockingly high quotes stopped him in his tracks.

"It was like rolling back the clock to the mid-1990s," he told Business Insider. Focusing on selling insurance to real-estate investors has helped Steadily grow to about 140 employees across Austin and Kansas City, Missouri.

In November, Steadily announced it had started to actively write new business on its own insurance carrier. "Nothing says 'we believe in the product we've built' more strongly than underwriting risk as the carrier," Nix said in a statement.

The main challenge it faces: Steadily has started selling insurance to short-term-rental investors, which presents different challenges than underwriting more traditional, longer-term rentals.

The market represents significant growth — accounting for nearly 20% of Steadily's current business — but the pricing is tricker.

"The people coming in and out of those properties don't take care of them at the same level of responsibility," Nix explained. "One of the things that a host can do to demonstrate that they are a good insurance risk is to point to their Airbnb or VRBO history and show that they're a super host, they take great care of their property, they don't host ragers."

City: Medfield, Massachusetts

Year founded: 2020

Total funding: $20.35 million

What it does: Tour24 is an app that lets prospective tenants take self-guided apartment tours without a leasing agent present.

Why it's hot: In many cities, renting an apartment can be cutthroat, with open-house lines and bidding wars to nab a good unit at a reasonable price.

More than ever, people are deciding on places to live quickly — sometimes even committing before they've even seen the unit because they aren't able to schedule a walkthrough that jives with their working hours.

Tour24 allows users — who are ID- and credit card-verified — to tour apartments when leasing agents aren't available, such as on evenings and weekends.

"We are seeing that certainly millennials really prefer self-guided experience," Georgianna W. Oliver, the founder of Tour24, told Business Insider.

Oliver said many of their leasing-agency clients offer Tour24's self-guided tours as well as leasing agent-led tours and virtual tours — and have given feedback that the more options they give potential renters, the better.

"People have the options," she said. "And they really like having the options."

The main challenge it faces: Since the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individual leasing agencies have been offering some version of a self-guided tour on their own with their own video Tour24 also competes with other self-guided rental-tour apps like Rently and CareTaker.

Tour24 seems to be holding its own: The startup announced in October that it raised $5 million in a Series B round, noting that it had doubled in size in 2024 to reach 525,000 units across over 2,060 multifamily properties.

Nargis Aslan of nagi.graphy snapped a shot of a groom throwing his bride over his shoulder as they exited their outdoor wedding ceremony.

Their glee was clear in the picture, from their smiles to those of their guests cheering them on. A dog running out of frame adds to the carefree joy of the moment.

Kayleigh Taylor Photography took to the skies to capture the full scale of an outdoor wedding by a massive tree.

She snapped the photo while the guests were still standing after the bride walked down a winding aisle made of flowers. The scene looks like something out of a fairy tale, from the secluded tree in the center of a field to the bride's veil flowing out onto the grass behind her.

In Nicole Rae Photography's shot, a rainbow array of smoke bombs exploded behind two grooms as they kissed at the altar.

The smoke enhanced the existing colors in the scene, from the flowers framing them to a body of water in the distance.

At first glance, the newlyweds in Amrit Photography's shot almost look like they are walking through a snowy landscape. The bride's red lehenga pops against the pale backdrop.

The photo becomes more beautiful the longer you look at it as you take in the massive arch behind the couple and the flowers surrounding them.

Lisa Ziesing of Abby Jiu Photography snapped a shot of a bride and groom hugging in front of a pink wall in a museum. The bride held her bouquet while they embraced.

The photo was taken through a doorway, so it feels like a peek at an intimate moment between the newlyweds.

Intergenerational love between the bride and one of her family members is the star of this shot taken by Edward Winter of READYLUCK Photographers.

The bride and her loved one only had eyes for each other, grinning at each other with eyes full of emotion.

A bride and groom posed on a beach in this photo from Darren and Shamakia Williams of DSW Photography.

The couple stood against a sandy formation, and their glamorous wedding attire contrasted with the natural beauty of the beach.

Michelle Pullman of St. Chelle snapped a candid, black-and-white shot of a bride dancing in a sparkly minidress at her reception.

Her friends laughed and danced around her, and the bride moved with carefree ease.

Lynn Lewis Photography's shot of a bride and groom grinning in the woods in their wedding attire is full of romance.

But the roller skates they added to their looks become the star of the shot. The bride kicked her foot up through a slit in her dress, showing off her white skates.

Henry Tieu Photography's shot of two brides holding hands would have been beautiful in any weather, as a mountain overlooks the beach they stand on.

But the rainbow soaring across the sky above them made the photo feel like one in a million.

In Love Is Rad's shot, a groom jumps out of a hallway to reveal himself to his bride for their first look in front of a rustic building. The bride typically reveals herself to the groom in a first look, so the contrast in their photo is fun.

The couple smiled and leaned toward each other, seemingly totally focused on one another.

Fashion plays a big role in many weddings, as Samantha Clarke Photography spotlighted with this bridal portrait.

The bride stood on a staircase, and her dress cascaded behind her. Candles and flowers lined the stairs, coordinating with the bouquet the bride held in her hand. The shot oozes glamour.

Paul Williams of Ginger Beard Weddings offered a new perspective on the end of a wedding ceremony, photographing a couple from behind as they exited their ceremony.

The couple raised their arms in excitement moments after they were officially married, and the angle spotlighted the intricate setting, the red and pink flowers decorating the space, and the guests supporting the bride and groom.

A couple's mountaintop adventure elopement was the subject of this photo taken by Sean Oblizalo of Vows and Peaks Photography.

You might see a couple holding hands and gazing at each other at any wedding, but the water and snow-covered mountain behind them took the photo to another level.

The Wedding Toast snapped a shot of a couple during their wedding ceremony.

The groom adjusted his wife's necklace as flower petals flowed around them. They both wore quiet smiles, capturing the excitement of the day.

The beauty of the brides embracing in Terri Baskin Photography's shot is the focus, but the floral arch behind them makes them shine even brighter.

The flowers covering the archway created a subtle rainbow effect.

Ruby Olivia Photography documented a dance-floor kiss between newlyweds in black and white.

From their intimate embrace and their loved ones dancing around them to the groom's ring glinting as he holds his bride, the photo captures the love that fills a wedding day.

Jay told BI that elongated-shaped stones, including emerald, oval, pear, and marquise-shaped, are becoming more popular.

"Elongated shapes are great because they visually trick the eye into appearing larger," Jay told BI of their appeal.

"I've started to do a lot of pear engagement rings all of a sudden. They're kind of the next step from oval," she said. "And then I think marquise is going to follow."

Recent celebrity engagement rings match Jay's predictions. For instance, in December 2024, Benny Blanco proposed to Selena Gomez with a marquise diamond.

Diamonds will always be popular for engagement rings, but other stones are also becoming go-to's, Jay told BI.

"People are not shying away from diamonds, but I think that we're starting to see more color," Jay said.

Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are often popular for colorful engagement rings because they're durable. Jay said people are getting more creative with their tinted stones, too, particularly with toi-et-moi rings.

"Over the summer, I did a toi-et-moi where I said, 'Bring me a color that you like,' and we matched the stone, which ended up being a tourmaline, to the color of eelgrass for a client."

"We're allowing ourselves a little bit more creativity, a little bit more flexibility to get the look that we want using colored stones," she added.

"The 80s are back in a very big way," Jay said, which she said means many people are opting for "bigger and chunkier" bands.

Thicker bands are as stylish as they are practical. They are typically more stable than the thin bands popular in 2023 and 2024.

"The conversation I have with my clients is like, 'You're going to wear this for the rest of your life. While we love a dainty band now, it's going to be a headache long term,'" Jay said, adding that making a band even slightly thicker can be beneficial.

"If we can add tenths of millimeters, you're visually not going to be able to tell a difference, but structurally, it's going to be much more sound," she told BI.

Yellow gold has become common for many people's engagement bands, but Jay anticipates white gold and silver will be on the rise in the coming year.

"I think it's going to take two or three more years, but I think we are edging toward more white and silver," Jay said. "Gold is becoming…expensive."

She added that the increase in the cost of gold had led people to wear sterling silver for day-to-day jewelry, making it more likely to select a white gold, platinum, or silver band for their engagement rings to match.

Jay told BI that she's still seeing people embrace small details in their engagement rings, like hidden halos or personalized engravings.

"One of my favorite things to do is birthstones in a band," Jay said, often "discreetly" tucking a couple's birthstones into the setting.

She also told BI that these details are becoming more popular because couples design parts of their custom rings together, and the details allow the proposer to still give their partner an element of surprise in the ring.

"We're involving our partners more in this process," she said. "Maybe we talk about the shape of the stone, but they're not aware of how it's going to be set, when it's happening, or the budget."

Jay also told BI that people will invest their money into a center stone rather than selecting rings with multiple stones, which she said gives them the flexibility to reset the setting over time.

"If you ever did want to reset it, you could add side stones or put it in a chunkier setting or something like that," she said.

Jay told BI that it's also easier for people to stack other rings with their engagement and wedding rings down the road when they're simpler.

"Consider making your wedding band just a gold or platinum solid band so that you do have that flexibility in the future to stack and play with and make it a little more fun and playful," she advised.

As the episode opens, Tarek and Heather check out a three-bedroom, two-bath house in Los Angeles.

Tarek's company, Tarek Buys Houses, had purchased the 1,200-square-foot property for $430,000, which they said was on the low end for the area because the house was in disarray, filled with trash, rat droppings, and human feces.

They originally intended to sell the home to another flipper at wholesale, but because it was so dirty, Tarek and Heather would have had to invest money in cleaning it out before they could sell it to another flipper.

Instead, they decided to flip it themselves. They set a budget of $184,000 for renovations and hoped to sell the home for close to $1 million.

The large living area had an open-concept feel, though it was difficult to see the layout when Tarek and Heather first toured the property because it was covered in debris.

Tarek said in the premiere that it took his team three days and 10 trips to the dump to clean out the property.

Tarek and Heather decided to fully open the living area during the flip.

Tarek and Heather took down the wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the living area, making the space feel larger.

The space was full of light thanks to its white walls and the sliding glass doors that took up nearly a whole wall in the living room. Touches like beachy lighting modernized the space.

The fenced-in backyard offered privacy, but that was the only redeeming quality when the El Moussas worked on the project. The grass had died, and the house wasn't in great shape.

However, the El Moussas noticed that a raised patio would create a view of the area, so they decided to add it to the property.

The episode revealed that adding the patio to the home wasn't simple. The team originally constructing it built an unstable structure and burned a hole through it, to Heather and Tarek's dismay.

But the final version of the patio created an indoor-outdoor living vibe thanks to the sliding doors.

The El Moussas also added a new fence, grass, and a gravel area to the yard for additional seating.

To make the kitchen feel grander, the El Moussas decided to place the oven and gas range in the center of the space so they were visible when you entered the home.

They had to move some windows around to make the change, which ended up causing them weeks of delays on the flip.

The kitchen looked cohesive with the living room, featuring white counters, appliances, and built-in open shelves.

A window above the sink overlooked the patio the El Moussas added to the backyard.

A stone fireplace took up much of the central wall in the living room, but the dark color was dated and didn't fit the clean look Tarek and Heather were creating for the home.

The new fireplace featured vertical white brick framed by built-in shelving made of wood.

Large windows sat opposite the sliding glass doors, so light flooded the home.

When Tarek and Heather first walked through the house, they found that the primary bedroom had a bathroom attached to it, but it was accessible from the home's laundry room and kitchen as well.

The El Moussas decided to close off the bathroom and move the laundry room to a closet to make the bedroom bigger and have a true en suite.

Rather than one large window, the El Moussas added two windows framing the bed in the primary to give it a sense of grandeur.

A sliding door led the way to the en suite.

Heather and Tarek's vision for the bathroom paid off, as they were able to use the former laundry room to add square footage to the bathroom.

The walk-in shower featured a bench, and tile floors with a star-shaped pattern brought a pop of color to the room.

The wooden cabinetry also matched the shelving in the living area, giving the home a sense of cohesion.

Due to project delays, Tarek and Heather spent 12 months flipping the property in Los Angeles.

They also spent nearly $100,000 over their original budget on the renovation and invested $276,000 in the flip. Considering the carrying and selling costs, Tarek and Heather's breakeven price for the house was $793,000.

They originally listed the house for $999,999 and got an offer of $920,000.

She made her Arrowhead Stadium debut in studded $190 Ksubi shorts, a white $105 Dôen tank top, and $192 New Balance sneakers — all sold out as of November 2024.

She also sported a vintage Kansas City Chiefs jacket and a $1,305 crescent-shaped earring from Jacquie Aiche.

As the Chiefs battled the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, Swift cheered the team on from a box suite.

Her simple outfit for the occasion included $528 denim shorts with crystal detailing from Area (which have since sold out), a black long-sleeved shirt, and a leather jacket from Gant.

She also accessorized with a $9,250 diamond choker and $1,795 Louboutin boots.

Her Chiefs pullover, for example, was a light-gray shade that didn't stand out in the audience. Her plaid skirt was also understated.

The most interesting aspects of her outfit were the accessories. Swift wore a $598 Mejuri ring with a red stone in the middle and a $35 handmade hat from a local Kansas City artist.

For a game in October 2023, Swift arrived wearing a red, white, and black jacket covered in Kansas City logos. The $130 piece, which is now sold out, was the work of Wear by Erin Andrews.

Though the jacket wasn't part of her flashiest outfit, Swift undeniably left her mark on the sports anchor's clothing business.

"I started screaming and freaking out and singing all my favorite Swiftie songs. And then yeah, we restocked, and we sold out. And thank you, thank you, Taylor Swift," Andrews told Seth Meyers during an appearance on his show.

Swift paired the outerwear with a $3,190 Balenciaga corset and sold-out Prada boots.

Swift paired a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt from Ellie Mae Studios with a black pleated skirt and loafers.

As usual, she added an assortment of jewelry to elevate her look, including Cartier's $13,400 Juste un Clou necklace. She also wore the $3,600 Heavy Belcher bracelet and the $1,050 Enamel Miniature Medallion from Foundrae, as well as Jacquie Aiche's $5,775 evil-eye bracelet and $4,675 7 Diamond Kate Smooth Bar bracelet.

Swift completed her look with a $21 custom friendship bracelet featuring an 87 in a sweet nod to Kelce, who wore a red plaid shirt after the game that coordinated with Swift's gameday look.

Rather than wearing team gear, Swift arrived at the sporting event in a white varsity jacket from Gant's collaboration with Kilo Kish.

The high-fashion piece featured stars and other shapes in the Chiefs' signature red, matching Swift's winter beanie and lipstick.

The jacket, which retailed for $1,800, is now sold out.

She was photographed wearing a vintage, leather Chiefs jacket — a fan said her parents sold it on eBay for $169 — and black shorts from Agolde.

Other pieces included $2,195 Louboutin boots, a $3,900 Dior saddle bag, and a $630 belt from The Row. But it was her gold and diamond accessories that stole the show.

Swift wore $575 Louis Vuitton earrings, a $4,475 Chanel necklace, a $3,150 Louis Vuitton ring, and a $4,150 ring from Retrouvai.

She attended the holiday Chiefs game alongside her brother Austin, who was dressed as Santa Claus.

Though Swift wasn't in costume, she was dressed with holiday spirit. To complement her Santa hat, which was embroidered with Kelce's jersey number, Swift wore an $895 bomber jacket from Guest in Residence, which has since sold out.

She also sported a now-sold-out Hill House skirt, $35 Sheertex tights, and heeled Prada loafers.

The base of Swift's look for the 2024 Super Bowl — which the Chiefs won — was all black. She paired Dion Lee's crochet corset top with Area's $695 crystal slit jeans and $1,195 suede ankle boots from Christian Louboutin.

Swift also wore a red Chiefs bomber jacket from WEAR by Erin Andrews, which cost $129. Her accessories also nodded to the Chiefs, like Judith Leiber's red football clutch. The bag is not available in red online, but brown, gold, and pink versions cost $3,995 on the brand's website.

Her $3,325 necklace from Stephanie Gottlieb featured an 87, a nod to Kelce's jersey number. She also wore a diamond tennis choker from the brand, which cost $7,995.

Swift adorned herself with other red jewelry, including two rings from Shahla Karimi, Retrouvai's $4,550 Ruby Magna ring, and The Last Line's $695 diamond-studded Heart Twist earring, which is sold individually.

She also turned to Shay Jewelry for several red pieces, including a $6,800 necklace, the $5,600 Ruby Eternity Band, and a $19,950 bracelet. Jacquie Aiche's $7,150 Sophia Diamond Chain Pavé Ear Cuff and $715 Pavé Diamond Letter Mini Hoop completed her look. Swift wore a "T" hoop, naturally.

Swift's Super Bowl ensemble was simple, but her accessories filled the look with team spirit.

Instead of wearing a sweatshirt or jersey with the Chiefs logo, Swift donned Stella McCartney's $2,400 belted teddy coat for an away game in Wisconsin. The red color was perfect to support the Chiefs.

The rest of Swift's look was black, including her Louis Vuitton mini wrap skirt, which retails for $3,400. She also wore a black mock-neck top with Cartier's Agrafe Herringbone Twisted necklace atop it. The $27,250 necklace featured gold and diamond detailing, matching Swift's $1,400 linked tennis earrings from Vrai.

Stuart Weitzman's $995 thigh-high Vidaland boots completed her ensemble.

The $1,875 off-the-shoulder Sunday corset and $1,010 Meghan kilt from Vivienne Westwood featured a plaid pattern with maroon detailing that subtly nodded to the Chiefs.

Vivienne Westwood also designed Swift's $1,270 Grace boots and $590 Belle Heart-Frame Jacquard bag.

She didn't hold back on her jewelry for the game, wearing over $46,000 worth of it with the look, including her Cartier necklace and $5,680 custom diamond TNT bracelet from Wove that Kelce gave her as a gift.

Jacquie Aiche designed Swift's bracelets: the $4,675 Seven-Diamond Kate Smooth Bar bracelet and the $5,250 evil-eye bracelet. She also wore various rings, including Shahla Karimi's $3,490 Cloud Offset Pear ring and two custom-made ruby-studded rings from Effy Jewelry.

Glitter freckles from Fazit completed her ensemble.

Swift's look for the game between the Chiefs and the Bengals was simple: black pants, a belt, and a black top.

But a white-and-black varsity jacket designed by Jeff Hamilton brought a pop of team spirit to her look. The jacket featured an assortment of patches, including the "KC" arrowhead logo on the front and back, the NFL logo, and a football helmet. Swift's jacket also said "Chiefs" in red lettering.

Her statement jacket was almost identical to a Jeff Hamilton jacket Kelce wore to arrive at the Chiefs game on Christmas 2023, just a week earlier.

Kelce and Swift's jackets were custom, but Hamilton sells a similar jacket for $850 on his website.

After Kelce and his teammates won the 2024 AFC Championship, Swift joined him on the field to celebrate. There, fans got a closer look at her red and black outfit.

It included a $695 red sweater from Guest in Residence, $2,830 earrings from Wwake, a $6,250 diamond ring from Jacquie Aiche, and $35 Sheertex tights.

But the gold, diamond-embellished tennis bracelet from Wove seemingly had the most sentimental value to Swift.

The brand's founder, Kendall Junck, previously told Business Insider that the bracelet was part of a jewelry collaboration with pro golfer Michelle Wie West, who is friends with Kelce.

She said that when West reached out to gift Kelce some of the pieces, he requested matching bracelets with the letters "TNT" for Taylor and Travis.

Swift's oversize 1995 Salem shirt hit her mid-thigh, allowing her to wear it as a dress. The red piece featured the Chiefs logo and the team's name.

Swift did not reveal where she bought the shirt, though Kansas City business Westside Storey, which sells souvenirs and curated vintage items, told BI it was selling the same piece a week before she was spotted wearing it.

Swift paired the top with Giuseppe Zanotti's $1,650 Frannie boots and Louis Vuitton's Coussin bag, which retails for $4,800.

She wore several high-end jewelry pieces, including Louis Vuitton's $625 My LV Chain earrings. Swift also stacked two necklaces, Vitaly's $120 Shimmer Chain and Melinda Maria's $118 Julian Loves Diamonds Necklace 16, which features diamondettes.

Swift attended the Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills in December 2023 wearing a $250 vintage sweatshirt, which said "Chiefs" in large letters and featured the team's logo on one sleeve.

She bought the sweatshirt from Westside Storey in Kansas City. The store's owner, Chris Harrington, told BI he initially thought her purchase was fraudulent.

Swift dressed up the casual sweatshirt by pairing it with a $2,100 leather miniskirt from Khaite, which she wore backward, Larroudé's $500 Kate Hi boots in black leather, and GANT 240 Mulberry Street's $1,700 tailored coat in black.

She also added Mejuri's Heirloom Ring, which costs $648, and Mazin Jewels Open Rivet Ring, a $64 piece.

Swift attended the playoff game in a custom red jacket made by Kristin Juszczyk, a designer married to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

Kristin made the oversize puffer jacket using one of Kelce's jerseys, as she documented in a TikTok, so it featured his number, 87, on the front and sleeve, as well as his name. She also embroidered "Chiefs Kingdom" onto the jacket.

Swift focused her look on the jacket, pairing it with a black top, Paige's $249 Gemma pants, and $1,395 Christian Louboutin combat boots.

She also wore Anine Bing's Waylon belt, which retails for $200 but is out of stock, and carried the $525 Ilda Bag from Manu Atelier.

Swift seemed to signal she was fully stepping into her WAG era at the season opener in September, arriving at Arrowhead Stadium in an all-denim look.

She paired a denim version of Versace's Medusa corset, which retails for $1,325, with $174 mom shorts from Grlfrnd.

Swift also wore Giuseppe Zanotti's $1,650 burgundy thigh-high Frannie boots. The pricey shoes were more affordable than her Louis Vuitton side trunk bag, retailing for $3,950.

An assortment of high-end jewelry completed Swift's ensemble, including her TNT bracelet and a 1970s-inspired coin necklace from For Future Reference. The brand's founder, Randi Molofsky, previously told BI that the brand collaborated with Swift's stylist on the look.

"We were so lucky to work directly with Taylor's longtime stylist, Joseph Cassell Falconer, on last night's look for Taylor," he said. "He came to us specifically for the vintage coin necklace because he really had a vision of that bold, glam '70s style to pair with the denim-on-denim and over-the-thigh boot."

The priciest element of her outfit was a $29,100 ring from Retrouvai, which she paired with Howl's $4,800 Ruby Cocoon ring. Lizzie Mandler's $13,200 three-row Cleo bracelet sat on her wrist while she wore EF Collection's $895 diamond and prong chain earrings and the $590 Love Explosion Starburst Charm earrings from Three Stories Jewelry in her ears.

Swift wore $66,970 worth of jewelry for the look.

Swift then arrived at a Chiefs home game in a red-and-black checked Versace blazer and skirt that cost $3,350 and $1,695, respectively.

The blazer sat on her shoulders, showing off the $34.99 Victoria's Secret corset Swift wore as a top.

She also chose Versace accessories for the look, including the $1,650 Medusa 95 Leather Knee High Boots and the $2,190 Medusa 95 Small Tote Bag.

Swift's standout jewelry piece for the game was the gold Tambour Watch from Louis Vuitton she wore on her wrist. It retails for $54,000, and Kelce has a coordinating timepiece.

But the Ruby and Diamond Heirloom Bezel Ring from Retrouvai she wore on her hand was nearly as pricey at $32,970. She complemented the ring with Effy Jewelry's $2,167 Ruby Royale Ruby and Diamond Crossover Ring.

The luxurious look was stylish and sleek, making her stand out in the stadium filled with sports fans.

There was no missing Swift when she arrived at Arrowhead Stadium over the weekend.

She wore a vibrant red coat with a faux fur lining from Charlotte Simone, plaid Sheertex tights, and a vintage Chanel bucket hat in black.

Her outfit also included $1,595 Manolo Blahnik boots and a red Tods handbag.

The outfit was fashionable, festive, and perfect for a winter game.

Skims previously opened pop-ups and placed its merchandise in stores like Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman. However, the business is expanding with a new flagship store in a multi-story building formerly home to Versace.

Skims tapped designer Rafael de Cárdenas to transform the Fifth Avenue space to fit the brand's monochromatic, modern aesthetic.

It officially opened on December 11, and the brand celebrated the opening with a star-studded launch party at the store on December 12.

"From the brand's inception, we envisioned physical stores as an integral part of our business model," Skims CEO Jens Grede said in the same press release shared with BI. "The success of our pop-ups and partnerships with trusted retail partners allowed us to refine our approach and learn what truly resonates with our customers."

"This flagship store is the culmination of those learnings, offering an unparalleled experience where customers can fully immerse themselves in the world of Skims," Grede added.

Kardashian and Grede told Women's Wear Daily that their New York flagship is just the beginning; they already plan to open other stores in places like Los Angeles and Charlotte.

Skims was easy to spot as I rounded the corner onto Fifth Avenue. Sandwiched between Longchamp and Cartier, the storefront's cream stone exterior already looked consistent with the neutral tones Kardashian gravitates toward for the brand.

I had to squint to see the small Skims logo sitting between the second and third floor of the building, while arched windows on the first floor gave me a glimpse inside the space — including a peek at a large sculpture sitting in the entryway.

When I arrived a little after 11 a.m., around 40 people were gathered in line to get into Skims, even though it opened at 10. Two security guards and a Skims employee periodically let groups of people in.

As I looked through the window, I didn't see too many people, so it seemed like the line was designed to prevent the store from becoming overwhelmed with customers.

I only had to wait about 10 minutes before I was ushered inside.

When I walked inside, I found that the store was divided into distinct rooms, each spotlighting different Skims products and collections.

A massive statue of a woman greets you inside the first room, which has beige tile floors and matching curved walls. The statue depicted a naked woman, though its arms were cut off, and she had no head or feet.

De Cárdenas shared on Instagram that Vanessa Beecroft designed the 15-foot sculpture, which almost looked like a modern cross between Michelangelo's David and the Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch.

Two large cream platforms framed the statue, each topped by a large leafy plant. Between the statue and the plants, I could barely see the merchandise lining the room's walls.

Once I made my way around the statue and planters, I saw shapewear, bras, and underwear in varying flesh-colored tones — the products for which Skims has become best known — displayed on racks.

Mannequins cut off at the thighs sat above the racks on shelves, wearing items most people associate with Skims, like bodysuits and underwear.

The mannequins were diverse in shape, which is true to Skims' offerings. Its clothes come in sizes XXS through 5X.

A stairwell with curved detailing sits between the display rooms positioned in the front and back of the building.

The beige tones and curved design reminded me of the clips of Kardashian's home in her "73 Questions" video with Vogue from 2019.

The stairwells are mostly empty, with the exception of groups of five mannequins wearing Skims merchandise.

When I visited the store, the Skims workers wore matching pale-purple sweatsuits.

At least one Skims employee was in every display room to help shoppers, though I saw two to three in most of them.

While there, I also saw two different Skims employees mopping the floors with Swiffers. They paused their efforts whenever a shopper walked by their cleaning path.

In the back room on the first floor, mannequins acted as decor, as 24 of them were displayed on the back wall.

The back room had a lot more merchandise than the front room, attracting more foot traffic from shoppers, though it kept up the sleek aesthetic. Clothes hung from racks on the walls, and rounded storage drawers were pushed together to serve as platforms for additional merchandise and mannequins.

The neutral theme continued in the back, but there was some subtle holiday season decor if you looked for it. Christmas lights wrapped around the mannequins and sat next to gifts wrapped in sheets.

Skims is known for its muted-toned products, but it does sell colorful items, like the red and pink pieces in its holiday shop.

However, I noticed that the brand's colorful merchandise was arranged to be mostly out of sight. Everything in the front room was neutral-toned, and the more pigmented pieces in the back room sat mostly on the sides of the room that you couldn't see when you walked into the space.

The second and third floors were laid out similarly to the first, though clothes were the focus in both the front and back display rooms instead of plants or sculptures taking up space.

I also saw a checkout counter on each floor, so shoppers didn't have to wait in one line.

It was fun to see Skims pieces in person as I walked around. I like online shopping for its convenience, but it's helpful to feel the fabrics before making a purchase.

The upper floors featured more present decor, a myriad of Skims products, and more headless mannequins, which were diverse in shape and color.

It was helpful as a shopper that many of them were positioned on raised platforms, as I could see the clothes from all angles as I walked around the store.

The store seemed to have every piece from the Skims and Dolce & Gabbana collaboration, including a $698 sleep set.

Skims' beloved slip dresses were in the same room.

Skims started selling menswear in 2023, and it became the official underwear of the NBA, WNBA, and USA basketball shortly after.

The menswear room at Skims was arranged similarly to the back room on the first floor, with mannequins displaying underwear on the wall and raised platforms.

The mannequins of men didn't have as much diversity in shape as the women's mannequins did, but they were diverse in color.

As I wandered the store, I understood why Skims only let small groups in at a time. Shoppers were taking their time looking through the merchandise and chatting with employees about sizes and variations of dresses or shapewear.

There was a line for the dressing rooms, too. I heard an employee telling a shopper she could wait on some couches until her name was called for her turn to try on some items.

In the years since its creation, Skims has become a modern, stylish, and sophisticated yet accessible brand.

Everything about the Skims store felt true to that brand, from its contemporary architecture and artistic additions to its wide product selections.

Even the mannequins arranged throughout the store seemed to speak to Kardashian's vision for the company, as they were both practical and aesthetically pleasing, much like Skims' products themselves.

And if the line outside the store was any indication, the store is likely here to stay.

The star wore an Elie Saab gown that had a semi-sheer bodice made of crisscross red designs atop see-through lace fabric.

The bright red skirt contrasted with the patterned bodice.

The Kaufmanfranco minidress had quarter-length sleeves and a high collar.

A plunging neckline flowed from Swift's neck to her navel.

The flowing J. Mendel dress had a low neckline that was accented by silver straps on the front, back, and side.

A slit in the skirt added to the look.

The singer chose another Elie Saab dress for the 2013 awards ceremony.

The black gown had sheer cutouts on the shoulders and legs, and a gold belt broke up the column style.

The navy Hervé Léger by Max Azria gown had a plunging neckline with a sparkly trim.

The Reem Acra dress had a simple white skirt, but it was offset by an intricately designed off-the-shoulder bodice.

The elegant gold and sheer patterned top scooped into a low neckline. 

Swift sparkled in the black minidress, which was designed by Zuhair Murad. 

Black gems sat atop sheer fabric, and a fringed trim completed the gown.

The bright red dress, created by Swift's costume designer Marina Toybina, had a low neckline and a flowing cape. 

Sparkly, built-in shorts gave the look a performance flare.

The polka-dot bra top had a small cutout in the center and coordinated with the high-waisted pencil skirt.

The skirt featured a slit up the center.

The Sass & Bide ensemble consisted of a white skirt and a peplum birdcage top.

The neckline of the top was low-cut, and it was connected by two black strips of fabric.

The halter neckline of the Balmain jumpsuit mirrored two cutouts in the center of the garment.

The wide-legged pants gave the ensemble a retro look.

Swift paired the low-cut nightgown with a matching, lace-trimmed robe.

Swift, pictured with her model and then-close friend Karlie Kloss, stunned in a sparkly black bra and matching high-waisted underwear.

She wore a black, lace nightgown that had a long train over the look with high heels.

The Zuhair Murad dress consisted of a white skirt and one white sleeve, while the bodice and one sleeve were made of sheer fabric with sparkly, silver patterns on it.

Jimmy Choo pumps completed the ensemble.

A zipper ran down the lace-covered Julien Macdonald dress, creating a dramatic slit.

The neckline featured zig-zag straps.

At BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2015, Swift wore a silver bodysuit with sheer panels.

Silver tassels flowed from the trim and from her wrists.

The top of the gold dress, designed by Jessica Jones, was made of sheer fabric. Gold sparkles sat atop it, creating a deep V that flowed all the way to Swift's navel.

The layers of gold tulle in the skirt moved as Swift danced. 

The bodysuit Swift wore while she performed alongside Tove Lo had sheer cutouts on the stomach and chest.

Sparkle-covered fabric made up the rest of the garment, which was trimmed with tassels.

The Versace two-piece consisted of a strapless orange crop top and a high-waisted, hot-pink skirt.

The skirt had a waist-high slit that revealed built-in pink underwear.

She stunned in a black Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture gown that had a plunging halter neckline and a thigh-high slit.

A gold Jimmy Choo purse, a gold choker, and gold Giuseppe Zanetti heels completed the outfit. 

The black Saint Laurent jumpsuit had a halter neckline, semi-open back, and it was entirely covered in sequins. 

The custom Louis Vuitton minidress was made of silver snakeskin fabric and had leather accents on the top of the dress.

The center of the dress had daring cutouts, while the trim of the skirt had tiers of ruffled fabric.

Louis Vuitton gladiator heels completed the ensemble.

The Julien MacDonald dress was almost completely transparent, with only thin stripes of sparkly, black fabric providing coverage.

A cutout in the stomach and dramatic slit in the center of the dress added to the daring look.

The black Atelier Versace bodysuit had long sleeves and was covered in intricate, geometric patterns.

She paired the look with a black bra, high-waisted black underwear, and a fringed skirt.

The star's custom Versace dress took over 800 hours to make.

The gown had a dramatic cape, feather detailing, and a striking thigh-high slit.

While walking in New York City in 2018, Swift paired a sheer black top with an exposed sports bra, short printed skirt, and heels.

The Balmain dress had a disco-ball effect, as it was made of small panels of shiny silver fabric.

Matching thigh-high boots complemented the short dress.

The star wore an off-the-shoulder black Versace dress to celebrate the 2019 Golden Globes.

The sparkly dress was made of sheer fabric, had tie detailing on the bodice, and featured a daring thigh-high slit.

While performing songs from "Lover," Swift wore a gold corset top with sparkly purple bottoms that showed off her legs.

She paired the look with gold boots.

The sparkly green Julien Macdonald dress was asymmetrical, as one side had a skirt that flowed all the way to the floor while the other exposed a shorter layer of fabric. 

Dramatic thigh-high boots completed the look.

The bodysuit was covered in gold sparkles and coordinating tassels flowed from Swift's waist. 

She wore matching boots with the look.

Swift performed in a see-through Sarah Regensburger catsuit, which she gave a shiny edge by wearing a silver Greta Constantine bodysuit beneath it. 

She paired the form-fitting look with Black Louis Vuitton boots.

Oscar de la Renta designed her halter minidress, which had strings of diamonds hanging loosely across her arms, and more rows of jewels swooped across her body.

She paired the look — which is one of her most daring of all time — with red lipstick and sparkling sandals.

The sleeveless garment had a V-shaped neckline embellished with diamonds and a crystal star print across its bodice.

Swift's outerwear — a feathered cardigan — was also daring.

The Michael Kors dress stood out with asymmetrical detailing.

The sparkly, black gown had a high neckline, one long sleeve, and a long skirt.

A diamond-shaped cutout added dimension to the bodice, as did a daring slit on the skirt. 

Sparkly Aquazzura shoes tied it all together.

The black ensemble consisted of a low-cut bodysuit and a high-waisted chainmail skirt.

Sparkly gems made up the chainmail pattern, and the large holes between them showed off Swift's legs.

She paired the statement gown with black open-toe Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and an updo.

The set was custom-designed by Michael Schmidt Studios for the video, which featured Swift performing as a burlesque dancer.

A bikini-style top and high-waisted bottoms made up the bulk of the ensemble, and both were bejeweled with gems in shades of blue.

The outfit also featured sparkly arm pieces that acted as cape.

The gold jumpsuit from The Blonds had a plunging, halter neckline and fitted pants, as well as a belt that cinched at the waist and gave way to the eye-catching open back.

Subtle sparkles embroidered into the fabric accentuated the ensemble's red-carpet feel.

Gold Giuseppe Zanotti shoes completed the look.

Roberto Cavalli designed the deep-blue set Swift wore to the 2023 Grammy's.

The long-sleeve, high-neck top was cropped high on Swift's chest, while the high-waisted skirt hugged her figure before flowing into a train. Both the top and skirt were adorned with sparkles that shimmered as she walked the red carpet. 

The asymmetrical piece has one mesh sleeve, one pant leg, and a sparkling red snake design from top to bottom.

The form-fitting piece is covered in sequins and beaded fringe. She wears it with fishnet tights, a matching garter, and Louboutin boots.

Swift's Versace dress for the VMAs had an asymmetrical, halter neckline.

A curved stripe adorned with gold hardware split the form-fitting bodice and framed a slit on the skirt, which cut all the way up her thigh. 

The gown also featured an open back, and Swift paired the look with layers of necklaces and strappy black shoes. 

After the VMAs ceremony, Swift swapped her Versace ball gown for EB Denim's Polka dress. 

The scoop-necked dress had a corset bodice made of panels of different hued denim. The pattern continued on the short skirt, which had a frayed hem. 

Sparkly heels and a coordinating purse completed Swift's after-party ensemble. 

Swift and Kelce attended a taping of "Saturday Night Live" in October 2023, where Swift introduced her friend Ice Spice as a performer on the show.

Swift donned a black corset top from Versace for the evening. It featured gold detailing on the thin straps and cut up on the sides, revealing a hint of Swift's midriff.

She paired the daring top with black trousers and a checked coat from Gant.

Swift paired the Stella McCartney top, which had long sleeves, a white collar, and a gold patch, with knee-high boots from Prada.

Swift attended the London premiere of Beyoncé's film alongside a slew of other celebrities. She wore a custom Balmain gown for the event.

Silver, reflective embellishments adorned the dress from head to toe, and a floral appliqué sat on the side of the bodice. A dramatic slit on the skirt completed the glamorous gown, which Swift wore with black heels. 

To celebrate turning 34, Swift wore a black minidress from Clio Peppiatt. 

The entire dress had sparkles on it, and it was embroidered with the iconography of a night sky in silver thread, including a moon, clouds, and stars. 

Open-toe black pumps, a faux fur jacket from Anine Bing, and a bejeweled silver bag completed the celebratory ensemble.

In January, Swift attended the Golden Globes in a form-fitting green dress made of a metallic fabric. Gucci designed the piece.

The gown's subtle sweetheart neckline added a hint of drama, while the back was open aside from thin strips of fabric connecting the two sides of the bodice.

Swift became the first artist to win album of the year at the Grammys four times at the 2024 ceremony, and she did it wearing a custom Schiaparelli dress. 

The white dress had a strapless, straight neckline. Ruching on the bodice gathered on Swift's hip, contrasting with the thigh-high slit just below it.

A sweeping train flowed out behind her, and Swift accessorized the look with black shoes and gloves. 

Swift donned a Dion Lee corset top to support Kelce at the Super Bowl. The top was crocheted, and it had an open weave on the lower portion of the top, creating a see-through pattern.

She paired the semi-sheer top with black jeans from Area, which had a slit on each leg encrusted with gems. 

A Chiefs jacket and jewelry that nodded to Kelce completed the look. 

Swift kicked off the Europe leg of her Eras Tour on Thursday in Paris. 

She updated her setlist to incorporate songs from "The Tortured Poets Department" and revealed new designer outfits for most of the show.

Swift completed "The Tortured Poets Department" section with a performance of "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" in a custom, two-piece set designed by Vivienne Westwood. 

On Sunday, Swift wore a sparkly bra top, which Vivienne Westwood said was "gunmetal"-colored on Instagram, with matching high-waisted briefs. Swift paired the set with a shiny tuxedo jacket with tails and custom Christian Louboutin shoes that she changed into onstage.

Swift also wore black, white, and silver versions of the set during her Paris shows.

Swift returned to Arrowhead Stadium on September 5 to support Kelce as the Chiefs took on the Baltimore Ravens. 

She attended the game in another Versace Medusa corset top, donning a denim version of the look she first wore in the fall of 2023 that scalloped on the sides to reveal a panel of Swift's skin. 

Swift paired the corset with Grlfrnd's denim shorts, thigh-high maroon boots designed by Giuseppe Zanotti, and Louis Vuitton's Side Trunk bag. 

Over $60,000 in jewelry elevated Swift's glamorous WAG look, including the TNT bracelet she has often been spotted wearing in recent months. 

Swift arrived at the VMAs in a Dior dress, which featured a form-fitting bodice and open skirt in a yellow and black plaid pattern. 

The bodice's straight neckline was accented by black straps and a zipper that cut down the center of the garment. A choker made of the same patterned fabric complemented the ensemble. 

The skirt belted at Swift's waist was open, revealing black shorts.

She also opted for black accessories, pairing the dress with over-the-knee boots from Stuart Weitzman and open-finger gloves that flowed past her elbows and featured crisscrossed cutouts. 

Vivienne Westwood designed the Sunday corset and Meghan kilt Swift wore to the Chiefs game on October 7.

The corset top had off-the-shoulder sleeves, while the ruched mini-skirt featured a slit on one thigh. 

Swift paired the maroon and gray set with Vivienne Westwood's Grace boots, which were black and hit just below her knee. 

She also wore $46,000 worth of jewelry with the look and carried a Belle Heart-Frame Jacquard bag from Vivienne Westwood. Faux, sparkly freckles from Fazit tied the glamorous look together.

Swift chose a $1,700 lace corset top from Gucci for her date night with Kelce. The top featured a sweetheart neckline and a tan base.

The corset's black detailing coordinated with her $195 RTA mini-skirt and her $1,720 Louis Vuitton ankle boots.

A $2,498 Ralph Lauren trench coat and a $4,400 Dior Saddle bag completed her daring but elegant ensemble.

Several celebrities have been spotted wearing pieces from Retrouvaí over the past few years, from Suki Waterhouse to Oprah Winfrey.

Founder Kirsty Stone launched Retrouvaí in 2016, putting nostalgia and sentimentality at the core of her fine-jewelry brand.

Celebrities gravitate toward Retrouvaí's one-of-a-kind pieces, like the $32,970 ruby and diamond heirloom bezel ring Taylor Swift has been spotted wearing to Chiefs games.

The brand also offers more affordable luxury pieces, like its $1,930 tiered signet rings or $347.50 stud earrings.

Stars also incorporated pieces from the luxury brand Shay Jewelry into their streetwear and red-carpet looks throughout the year, like the $5,600 diamond pinky ring that Bella Hadid was spotted wearing over the summer or the $6,800 ruby solitaire necklace Taylor Swift wore to the Super Bowl.

Shay Jewelry was founded by the mother-daughter duo Ladan and Tania Shayan in 2003 in Los Angeles.

The brand's pieces exude luxury, with details like diamonds and other glitzy precious gems. However, by putting them on butterfly-shaped pendants or heart bezel rings, the brand's collection can be styled casually or for fancy occasions.

The brand's pieces are a hit with high-fashion lovers like Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber because of their one-of-a-kind feel.

Diamonds have been a girl's best friend for decades, but Anita Ko makes them feel fresh with modern designs like the $5,125 diamond lotus double piercing earring designed for people with multiple piercings in one ear.

If you want a sentimental holiday gift, Anita Ko also has a variety of personalized pieces, like a diamond initial necklace that retails for $1,950.

David Yurman has been a jewelry industry staple for years with its artistic approach to jewelry design.

Still, it seemed to become even more popular in 2024, with sorority hopefuls frequently name-dropping the brand in their "RushTok" get-ready-with-me videos.

The brand's $495 classic cable bracelet is among its most-loved pieces, as is the $295 crossover ring. You can also splurge on delicate, luxury pieces from David Yurman, like its $18,900 pavé crossover three-row bracelet.

The brand also has an expansive men's collection, so it's a great choice if you're looking for matching "his and hers" pieces for the holidays.

Jenny Bird's jewelry is more affordable than some of the other retailers on this list, but thanks to its whimsical and chic designs, it is as beloved by celebrities as any of the high-end pieces stars loved this year.

For instance, Reneé Rapp wore the $118 gala ring during her May 2024 Coachella performance, which she paired with the $138 chunky doune hoops.

As of December, the most expensive piece on Jenny Bird's site was $350.

The retailer, founded by its namesake Jenny Bird in 2010, also sells sunglasses, jewelry cases, and other accessories, including pencil cases and hair clips. So, it's a good one-stop shop if you have several people to holiday shop for this year.

Known for its stylish gold jewelry, Gorjana makes both affordable pieces — starting at just $25 — and fine jewelry if you're looking to buy someone in you're life something special.

The brand has humble origins, as Gorjana and Jason Reidel opened it in 2004 from their apartment. Now, the retailer has dozens of brick-and-mortar stores and a bustling online shop.

Its pieces are easily giftable, as you can find high- and low-end versions of similar silhouettes, like the $58 alphabet necklace and $310 diamond alphabet charm necklace. Its pieces with personal touches, like a $70 birthstone coin necklace, are popular with buyers, too.

You're probably familiar with Catbird's forever bracelets, but the brand's dainty jewelry has become a consumer favorite thanks to collaborations with stars like Phoebe Bridgers and Jenny Slate.

Catbird is a good choice if you take a playful approach to your jewelry because its pieces are designed to be customized. For instance, you can pair its $110.40 gold heart charm holder and $86.40 birthstone charm on one of its six signature chain styles, creating a unique necklace.

You might also want to shop at Catbird if you're looking for more affordable diamond pieces, like the brand's $308 sweetheart necklace.

Named for its founder, Sophie Bille Brahe specializes in classic diamond jewelry with a Scandinavian twist, as the brand shared on its website.

Most buyers would consider its pieces a splurge, as its collection ranges from a $330 pearl ear cuff to a $58,500 diamond tennis necklace. Rihanna was spotted in a version of the necklace in May.

The brand also crafts bespoke pieces, including engagement rings, for shoppers looking for custom jewelry this holiday season.

Jennifer Zeuner Jewelry focuses primarily on accessible gold pieces, but she also makes fine jewelry with delicate diamond detailing.

Zeuner founded the brand in 2005, creating simple pieces that are made to be layered and worn together.

Dozens of celebrities have recently been spotted in her pieces, from Taraji P. Henson in a $123 pair of hoop earrings and Taylor Swift in the brand's $154 Tasha earrings.

Zeuner's pieces start at $45 and max out at $1,880.

Cartier is a go-to for celebrities like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for luxury jewelry. Silicon Valley professionals such as Jack Dorsey have also gravitated toward Cartier watches.

It's becoming more popular with non-famous buyers, too, as sales for Cartier pieces increased by 11% on The RealReal, according to a study from the brand.

Cartier's $7,350 love bracelet is among its most popular pieces.

Los Angeles-based brand Jacquie Aiche has been on the jewelry scene for over 15 years, but it seemed to skyrocket into fame in 2024 as stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Behati Prinsloo stepped out in its pieces.

In addition to colorful statement pieces like the $3,440 heart ring, Jacquie Aiche also makes playful body jewelry like the $965 diamond finger bracelet and a $39,875 body chain.

If you're looking for jewelry with personality, Jacquie Aiche is the place to go.

Ellie Misner designed "The Little Mermaid" actor's strapless white dress.

The form-fitting bodice gave way to a structured, curved peplum that floated behind her. Strands of pearls and oversize sequins hung from the peplum, almost making Bailey look like a moving chandelier.

Delicate jewelry completed her chic outfit.

The model's leopard-print look from Dior consisted of a short-sleeve jacket that belted at the waist, shorts, and a pageboy hat.

She wore the jacket open, adding a daring edge to the ensemble.

However, Dunn's black elbow-length gloves, black heels with bejeweled straps, and crisscross necklace felt disconnected and pulled focus from the rest of the outfit.

Rihanna went into Christian Lacroix Haute Couture's archives for her Fashion Awards look, wearing an eye-catching furry coat from the brand's FW2002 collection.

The blue jacket buttoned at her waist and sat slightly off of her shoulders, revealing the black bustier she wore beneath it and an array of delicate necklaces on her neck. Her large hat matched the jacket, and the Fenty creator completed her look with black tights, heels, and a purse.

A$AP Rocky also sported blue, wearing a loose-fitting navy suit with a white shirt and a shiny red tie.

Goulding arrived at the Fashion Awards in a cream puffer coatdress from Moncler Genius.

It had a ball gown silhouette, with the zipper neckline falling over Goulding's shoulders and the skirt cascading to the floor.

Although the twist on a ball gown was creative, the fabric felt more suited to a walk through the snow than down the red carpet. The jacket also resembled Hilary Duff's igloo dress in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie."

The individual pieces of Jonas' Prada ensemble — from his oversize, textured jacket and green turtleneck to his slim-fitted black pants — were all solid choices for the Fashion Awards.

However, the gray jacket swallowed Jonas' torso, and the fit of the pants and tight turtleneck made it look even bigger. The outfit would have been more successful if Jonas stuck to one fabric or fit.

Ora went for a grunge look for the Fashion Awards, walking the red carpet in a loose-fitted suit from Primark.

Her double-breasted gray jacket sat atop a striped shirt and a pink tie, which she paired with black pants.

Ora completed the look with bleached hair and eyebrows and an assortment of chunky jewelry.

Ridley wore Miu Miu from head to toe, pairing a crepe red crop top with a gray skirt embellished with florals.

A black belt cinched her waist and coordinated with her black shoes.

Both the top and skirt were beautiful, but they didn't help each other shine. Each piece might have worked better in a monochromatic look.

Ashley arrived at the Fashion Awards in a custom Prada dress.

The pale-pink dress had a straight, strapless neckline and a bow on the center of the bodice. A floor-length train flowed out from the bow, showing off the mini-balloon skirt that ended above Ashley's knee.

The dress was elegant and timeless, and Ashley's updo with baby bangs added to the look's Audrey Hepburn-esque grandeur.

Coughlan showed off her mastery at playing with volume and silhouettes on her press tour for "Bridgerton," but her Gaurav Gupta gown for the Fashion Awards was a rare miss for the actor.

The dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, and the base was made of black velvet. A voluminous blue skirt puffed out from the sides.

The first fold of the skirt cut at Coughlan's ankle, and if it had ended there, the dress would have been great. But another layer of fabric pooled out and flowed onto the floor, making the whole look feel imbalanced.

Chan's dress was designed by Christopher Kane for Self-Portrait.

Much of the long-sleeve, floor-length dress was made of a semi-sheer, white mesh, contrasted by architectural ruffle patches that followed the curves of Chan's hips and chest.

The fabrics sparkled as Chan walked the red carpet for a dynamic, eye-catching look.

During a visit to the "Fixer Upper" stars' famous restaurant in Waco, Texas, in February 2022, I ordered the classic Farm Breakfast, which consisted of two eggs, tater tots, bacon, a side of fruit, and a biscuit served with strawberry butter.

I liked the meal, but the biscuit blew me away. The crumbly pastry instantly melted in my mouth when I took a bite, having the soft texture I look for in a biscuit. The strawberry butter took it to the next level by adding moisture and a subtle sweetness to each bite.

It was one of the best biscuits I've ever had, which is saying a lot, as I grew up in the South. As I left the restaurant, I regretted only eating one.

The recipe for "Jojo's Biscuits" is available on the Magnolia website, and since I don't know when I'll be able to go to Waco to get my pastry fix again, it seemed only fitting to try to make them myself.

I'd heard the recipe, which makes about 20 biscuits, was difficult to make, which made me apprehensive because I'm an inexperienced baker. 

For me, baking usually consists of adding ingredients to a box mix, so making biscuits from scratch was intimidating. But I was up for the challenge since there was a chance of tasting something even vaguely similar to Magnolia Table's breakfast treats.

You probably have most of what you need to make "Jojo's Biscuits" in your kitchen cabinet:

• Self-rising flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salted butter
• Eggs
• Buttermilk

The recipe says to whisk the self-rising flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl.

The entire recipe ends up in this bowl, so I recommend using the biggest one you have available. 

It's also a good idea to have a full bag of flour on hand, as you'll need more of it toward the end of the recipe.

The three sticks of cold butter used in the biscuit recipe need to be cut into 1/2-inch pieces or grated before they can be added to the dry ingredients. I'm not that comfortable with a grater, so I decided to just slice the butter.

I used a baking scraper to measure out my butter sticks, as the one I have has ruler marks on it.

As I sliced up the butter, I laughed to myself thinking it was no wonder I liked "Jojo's Biscuits." Who wouldn't like a biscuit with three sticks of butter in it?

Before making the biscuits, I had never used a pastry blender, so I ordered one on Amazon for the occasion. 

Joanna's recipe instructs that the butter must be cut into pea-sized chunks, so I made sure to press into each chunk of butter, combining it with the flour mixture.

Because it's sticky, chunks of butter got stuck in the pastry cutter every few times I pressed it into my bowl full of ingredients.

I used a knife and my fingers to push the butter back into the bowl, continuing to combine it with the flour.

I got nearly everything down to pea size, but I struggled to find every slice of butter at this step because much of it had slipped toward the bottom of the bowl. I wish I had used a spoon to make sure I was splitting all of the butter in the bowl evenly.

The next step of the recipe is to stir two beaten eggs into the mixture using a wooden spoon.

I mixed my eggs together before I started combining my dry ingredients, so it was easy to grab them and mix them in. 

After that, it was time to add buttermilk, again using a wooden spoon to stir the ingredients together until it created "a sticky mass." The recipe notes that you should add an additional teaspoon of buttermilk one at a time if the mixture doesn't have the right consistency. I ended up having to add one additional teaspoon to my dough before it seemed right. 

Stirring everything together was definitely the most challenging part of the recipe because the dough was firm, thanks to all the butter. My arm started to get sore, and I had to take a few breaks as I stirred.

I also thought I was done once or twice, and then realized there was loose flour at the bottom of the bowl that hadn't been incorporated into the mass. I think if I had a bigger spoon, I might have had an easier time mixing it all together.

I was excited to see my dough coming together, as it had the consistency and shape I was hoping for. 

After it's prepared, the dough must chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight. I let mine sit for about 45 minutes, pre-heating my oven to 400 degrees a few minutes before I took it out of the fridge.

Once the dough chilled, it was time to press it out with my hands and cut out biscuits.

According to the recipe, the dough is supposed to be pressed into a round about 14 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. I measured my dough to ensure it was the proper length across, but I wasn't as consistent with making sure the slab was the same height all the way across.

Before I removed my dough, I thoroughly floured my workstation and my hands, as the recipe instructed. 

Because the dough had become sticky as I stirred it together, I could tell this step would be important. I was glad I applied a lot of flour to my work surface, as I didn't have any issues with my dough sticking as I cut out my biscuits. 

Joanna's recipe calls for a floured, 2 3/4-inch round cutter to cut out the biscuits from the dough.

Because I'm not an avid baker, I don't have cookie cutters or rounds around the house — but I do have wine glasses. I measured one of my glasses, and it happened to be the exact size Joanna recommended. I knew my love of rosé would come in handy someday. 

I made sure to thoroughly flour the rim of the glass before I pushed it through the dough, and it worked like a charm. I was left with beautiful, round biscuits. 

I put my biscuits on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper, nestling them together as Joanna's recipe instructs. I typically make cookies when I bake, so I was surprised the biscuits were supposed to touch. 

To make the egg wash, I combined one egg with buttermilk and brushed the mixture on top of the biscuits. 

Once every biscuit had been lightly coated, it was time to pop them in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. 

As I put them in the oven, I was worried I had done something wrong because the recipe had been so easy to make. Sure, it was time-consuming to stir everything together, but it wasn't challenging otherwise.

I pulled my biscuits out when the crust had turned a golden brown, and I was immediately met by a scent I can only call buttery.

It was warm and inviting, and based on both the aroma and the look of the biscuits, I was optimistic I had actually pulled the recipe off. 

I let the biscuits cool for about five minutes before I took a bite.

My mouth watered as I bit into the flaky treat.

The biscuits had a soft interior surrounded by a crumbly crust, just like the delectable pastry I had tasted at Magnolia Table. They were sweet, but I could tell they would taste just as good with jam as they would with bacon, as is ideal for a breakfast carb.

As I soaked up the flavor of the pastry, I knew that if I had strawberry butter within reach, I would have felt like I was back at a counter seat in Waco. 

Although all of the biscuits were delicious, some of them were thicker than others because I had not been as diligent as I should have been when pressing out my dough round. 

It didn't matter this time around since I was only making the biscuits for myself, but if I make the recipe for a group, I wouldn't want anyone to get a smaller biscuit than someone else. 

I definitely recommend taking your time shaping the dough and cutting your rounds if you try this recipe.

And because they're best when you take your time with the biscuits, they took me a few hours to complete, especially because the dough needed time to chill in the fridge.

That wasn't a problem here, but I could see that being annoying if I wanted to make this recipe for breakfast and woke up hungry.

Next time I wanted to have them for breakfast, I would probably let the dough chill overnight, as it would make serving the biscuits for breakfast or brunch nearly stress-free.

You might immediately associate Jojo's biscuits with breakfast, but I think they'd be the perfect substitute for the rolls or cornbread that people often serve at a holiday dinner. 

In fact, Joanna often serves her biscuits with her sausage gravy. You could swap her recipe for the gravy you typically serve with turkey on Thanksgiving for a savory and sweet pairing. 

Plus, you can save any leftover dough for a second batch of biscuits for a delicious brunch later in the week. It's a win-win. 

De Vries, 62, and Goed, 60, met in 2011 in Holland, where they still live today. She caught Goed's eye when she was out to dinner with friends; they've been an item ever since.

De Vries works in administration at a university, while Goed, who has two daughters, is partially retired but still does some work in the business sector.

Before he proposed in August 2023, Goed consulted de Vries' daughter, Chloe Crouch, 27, because of her close-knit relationship with her mother. De Vries raised Crouch on her own, as Crouch's father died when she was just 11 months old.

Crouch is also the founder of the wedding planning company Chloe Crouch Events, so her insight was even more valuable to Goed.

"He was asking me all those little things, like what kind of engagement ring," Crouch told Business Insider. "It was also not only my job as a wedding planner to advise but also a bit like his daughter. And I know my mom very well."

Of course, de Vries said yes when Goed popped the question.

De Vries and Goed got married in Zakynthos, Greece, at The Cotton Beach Club on August 31.

They invited just 35 people to the event and held a bigger reception in the Netherlands a week later.

It was a no-brainer that Crouch would plan both wedding celebrations.

She told BI she designed it with an "old-money aesthetic," as she wanted the wedding to feel luxurious and classic with touches like a cigar bar.

When she married Crouch's father, De Vries didn't have a big wedding with a classic gown. So she knew she wanted the traditional white dress the second time around.

"It was my day with my husband-to-be, and I thought, 'I'm gonna do what I want,'" she said of her decision to wear a traditional wedding gown.

She went shopping with Crouch, Goed's daughters, and a friend to find the perfect dress. It was especially exciting for Crouch and de Vries because they had been big fans of "Say Yes to the Dress" throughout Crouch's teen years.

When she started shopping, de Vries didn't have an exact idea of the type of dress she wanted, though she was pretty set on not wanting a strapless or fitted dress.

De Vries said her loved ones encouraged her to try on several dresses with different silhouettes and designs, leading her to a Made With Love Bridal gown.

With its strapless, form-fitting silhouette, the dress was everything de Vries thought she didn't want.

But she fell in love with it, as did her entourage.

"She loves glitter and glamour," Crouch said of her mother. "I saw the dress with the pearls and glam, and I was like, 'This is her.'"

The gown retailed for $3,100 in the US as of November.

The form-fitting dress had a semi-sheer base and was covered from head to toe in pearlescent beading and delicate lace.

The beading created a subtle crisscross pattern, shimmering as de Vries moved.

The gown was cinched at the waist and flowed into a subtle train at the hem. The fabric was light, perfect for an island wedding.

The corset bodice featured a strapless, sweetheart neckline.

The boning was visible through the slightly sheer fabric, elevating the look. The pearl detailing also stood out against the material.

De Vries paired her dress with pearl-covered shoes that coordinated with the gown, delicate dangly earrings, and a heart-shaped necklace. The shoes were from Athens, which was a fun way to incorporate the destination into her look.

She wore her hair in a twist for the ceremony with natural but glamorous makeup.

Osima Bridalstudio, whom de Vries knows well because she frequently works with Crouch, styled her hair and makeup.

Made With Love Bridal is based in Australia, where Crouch's father was from. She and de Vries lived there until her father's death.

"It's got a little connection with Australia, so it made it even more like, 'Yes, this should be it,'" Crouch said of what the gown's origins meant to them.

Although it wasn't what she initially imagined, de Vries said the dress was perfect for her.

"I just love that dress," she said. "I thought it was fantastic."

De Vries didn't show Goed her dress before the wedding. She told BI she joked with him throughout their engagement that she would wear a "cupcake dress."

So when he saw her real dress, he was overwhelmed and emotional by how beautiful de Vries looked.

"He was in shock," Crouch said, adding that his emotional reaction to seeing de Vries made her cry. "It was like I had to cry because he was crying so much."

Crouch decorated the ceremony space with white and green florals, covering the seating with large umbrellas to keep guests comfortable.

A massive floral arch served as the centerpiece of the decor.

The House of Artz provided florals for the nuptials.

Because Crouch planned the event, she was working the wedding day in addition to being a bridesmaid.

"At some point, I had to give it away to someone else because I had to walk down the aisle with my mom," she said. "I was still like, 'OK, you come here, you do this,' but as soon as I was with my mom and we walked down the aisle, I was like, 'OK, I'm a bridesmaid for the first time in my life.'"

The duo said Crouch was emotional as they walked down the aisle, while de Vries was full of joy.

A friend of de Vries' was their officiant, which was in line with the intimate feel of the wedding.

"It was all the people who actually make our life happy," she said of the destination wedding's attendees.

She also said that lightning struck at the moment they said "I do," adding a dramatic flair to the nuptials.

"I'm a big cry girl," de Vries said. "If it's a movie where somebody cries, I totally go over the top crying. But it didn't happen."

Instead, she was gleeful throughout the day, soaking up the experience.

"I thought it was a magical day," she said, from getting ready with the girls to the ocean-view ceremony.

"I just enjoyed every second of it," she added.

She didn't wear a different dress for the reception, as more and more brides do.

However, she did change her hairstyle from the updo to a more relaxed, swept-back style to set the tone for the party.

Crouch arranged for her mother's 35 guests to dine at one estate table following the ceremony. To make it feel intimate, she framed the area with gossamer drapery.

Crouch said one of the highlights of the day was seeing the wedding come together as she had planned for two people she loves so much.

For instance, Crouch used personalized silk ribbons tied around wine glasses instead of traditional place cards.

She also played with levels in the decor, pairing ultra-high, tapered candles with shorter bouquets.

Studio Spruijt provided stationery for the nuptials.

"It was easier because I know her," Crouch said. "I know what she likes. I know what she dislikes."

Crouch also lived with her mother during the wedding planning process, which made putting the event together even simpler. But it was their close bond that truly made it a breeze.

"The majority of my life, we've been together just the two of us," Crouch said. "It was just us. So we've got a really good bond with each other. We can say whatever we like to each other."

"For me, the wedding planning process was the easiest ever," she said.

"It was a party from beginning to end," de Vries said.

"It was just fantastic," she added. "I had no stress. I was so happy."

She credits Crouch's planning as one of the main reasons she was just joyful on her wedding day.

Eline Nijburg Photography documented the wedding day, sharing clips of the event on social media after the event.

Nijburg posted a TikTok video of de Vries during the ceremony, where she was laughing and speaking to Goed. The video immediately took off, amassing over 30 million views as of November.

De Vries hopes the video encourages other brides to wear whatever they want on their wedding day.

"Just go with what you want," de Vries said. "Because people tell you, 'Oh, you're 60 years old. Why would you wear that type of dress?' Why not?"

She said the same applies to people who question if brides who have been married before should wear white.

"Go with what you think is pretty," de Vries advised. "It's your day and not somebody else's."

"You have to be comfy and happy with what you're wearing," she added.

"He is very easygoing," she said. "He's a chill person."

"He's got a lot of humor and a very big heart," she added.

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