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A driver refuels a vehicle with regular gasoline at a Shell gas station in Hercules, California, May 21, 2026.David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesFor some Americans’ finances, the Iran war was over almost as soon as it began. Those with access to stocks — a majority of Americans have some, though the ultrawealthy have most — saw the S&P 500 dip about 8% when the war started, only for it to bounce 19% starting in late March, more than making up its losses. The index is now up 10.7% for the year, which if it held would make…

I’ve been writing about travel for years, and I’ll admit to being a travel addict. The moment I set foot in an airport, I smile. As a nomad by vocation, I’ve always been aware of the formative and educational value of travel: discovering new destinations opens the mind; stimulates curiosity, creativity, and our imaginations; exposes us to different ways of life; teaches tolerance; and trains us to live lightly. When in transit, you can achieve an almost Zen-like attitude when it comes to possessions and mishaps.But a different aspect of travel has been highlighted by several recent studies: Travel is…

Josh Brown, one of Wall Street’s most recognizable financial advisers, said the rise of passive investing has created demand for a different kind of product: a concentrated portfolio aimed at capturing the market’s biggest winners. The CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and CNBC contributor recently launched Porterhouse, a separately managed account named after the premium cut of steak and built to hold what he considers the market’s best opportunities. The rules-based momentum strategy, run in partnership with Franklin Templeton, favors companies with strong earnings growth and persistent share-price strength.”Everybody’s got broad equity market diversification. It costs three basis points, one…

Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot: My mother helped out with the plays at my elementary school, and in my first show, I got to play Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk. I don’t remember much, but I do remember that I got to rescue the goose that laid the golden egg (who I had a major crush on), and that pretty much sealed the deal for me.Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show: Without question, it was Michael Crawford on the original cast recording of The Phantom of the Opera. I never actually saw him perform it live—I heard the…

The oil market might face a new reality after the Iran war in which exports through the Strait of Hormuz do not return to the levels once considered normal, as shipowners now have to weigh the risk that fighting could abruptly break out in the volatile Persian Gulf. And Western commercial ships will likely hesitate to sail through Hormuz if it remains under Iran’s de facto control, especially if they have to coordinate with the Revolutionary Guard, putting them at risk of violating U.S. sanctions. It is a scenario with consequences that are difficult to foresee given the vital role…

Say what you will about the Victorian era, but no one can deny they mastered the art of pattern play. For the elite, “it wasn’t enough to use a single wallpaper in a room,” says Washington, D.C.-based interior designer and author Annie Elliott. Instead, Victorians “routinely installed one paper on the lower portion of a wall, or the dado; another above it; and a wallpaper border just under the crown molding.” Bonus points were earned for wallpapering the ceiling, too.This, of course, eventually led to wallpaper fatigue—and, in extreme cases, death. “Much of the wallpaper at that time—fabric, too—was made…

Shoppers enter and exit a Dior luxury boutique in Venice, Italy, on Nov. 16, 2025.Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesTravelers to Europe may be leaving money on the table when they buy goods there. I learned this during a recent trip to Italy. My girlfriend, who bought a pair of shoes in Venice, was able to claim a refund on the value-added tax she paid on the purchase. She ultimately got back 17 euros (US$20) on a total purchase of 155 euros (US$181). Refunds of value-added tax, known as VAT, can be worth a “chunk of money” for U.S. travelers to…

In the bridal world, crochet is back in the spotlight—recasting the traditional wedding dress as something romantic, handcrafted, and surprisingly contemporary. Across the 2026 and 2027 bridal collections, there’s been a notable emphasis on intricate savoir-faire, with designers embracing the charm of handmade workmanship, including delicate weaves, openwork textures, and crochet-effect embroideries as couture-level details.From the runways of New York Bridal Fashion Week to the collections presented at Barcelona Bridal Week, crochet emerged as a key trend, speaking to brides’ growing desire to wear gowns with a sentimental touch made to last long after the wedding. (Indeed, many of the…

Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsU.S. District Court Judge Eleanor Ross confirmation hearing, May 14, 2014, Senate Judiciary Committee – C-SpanC-SpanThe Department of Justice on Friday asked Georgia federal judge Eleanor Ross to recuse herself from a pending case involving election records, citing media reports identifying Ross as the same judge who was disciplined for attending a victory party for a district attorney’s campaign.The DOJ said that if Ross is that judge, “it creates the appearance of bias,” because the victory party would have been in May 2024 for Fulton County DA Fani Willis, who prosecuted President Donald Trump for an…

Summer is upon us, and with it the promise of tank tops, shorts, and sandals. Oh, and linen—so much linen. “Linen, for spring? Groundbreaking,” you may be saying to yourself. Which…fair! Don’t you fret, here at Vogue, we have many more ideas about what, exactly, we may be seeing this season. Be it on the streets, in cafes, at backyard barbecues, and all your other summertime occasions. Unexpected fringe? Why, yes. Blazing blasts of day-glo? Count on it. Perhaps a soccer jersey or two? Check. A sky-high heels renaissance? Why not?Not to brag, but with as much time as we…