Milanese restaurant group Sant Ambroeus has opened a coffee bar in Aspen, Colorado, where Giampiero Tagliaferri Studio has filled the space with vintage Italian furniture.
The Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar Aspen draws references from the Alpine design found across the popular ski town, as well as the heritage of the brand, which was founded in Milan in 1939.
A retro atmosphere in the coffee bar is created by faux fur, green marble and walnut wall panels
Milan-born, LA-based designer Giampiero Tagliaferri aimed to combine the two, creating a cosy and intimate space that nods to the glamour of midcentury Italian design.
“As a Milanese myself, and a Sant Ambroeus regular, I felt an immediate connection to this project,” he said. “I hope the space will become a staple for Aspen locals and visitors; a refuge where one can go in the morning for an espresso and croissant, or stop by for a quick lunch or a delicious hot chocolate after a day on the slopes.”
Designer Giampiero Tagliaferri drew references from Alpine interiors and midcentury Italian design for the interior
The designer selected a variety of vintage pieces by famous Italian designers to populate the coffee bar.
Le Bambole sofas by Mario Bellini are upholstered in dark green velvet, while 1950s curved plywood chairs by Carlo Ratti accompany the small cafe tables.
A series of 1970s wall sconces add to the nostalgic atmosphere in the space, which is exaggerated further by Mongolian lamb faux fur panels affixed to the walls between sections of mirror and walnut.
Richly veined Verde Alpi marble also clads portions of the interior and forms the snaking bar countertop that’s fronted with grooved concrete.
Vintage furniture pieces sourced for the space include green velvet Le Bambole sofas by Mario Bellini
Built-in bench seating with yellow corduroy covers runs along one side of the cafe, following the dark flagstones that span the length of the narrow room.
Additional seating is positioned in the window overlooking E Hyman Avenue, a block away from the Shigeru Ban-designed Aspen Art Museum.
Additional seating is tucked below the window of the Sant Ambroeus location in Aspen
The Aspen location joins several Sant Ambroeus outposts in New York City, including a spot in the expanded Sotheby’s auction house, as well as those in the Hamptons and Palm Beach.
Israel has sent elite troops into Gaza as its ground invasion of the territory ramps up.
Herzi Halevi, chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces, said its “best soldiers” were in action.
They will be tasked with clearing the Hamas’ labyrinth of tunnels and rescuing over 200 hostages.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.
Israel has indicated that it had sent elite troops into Gaza as it intensifies its ground operations against Hamas following the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Herzi Halevi, the chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said in an update posted to X, formerly Twitter, that the IDF’s “best soldiers and commanders” were now taking part in the offensive in Gaza.
Halevi said that Israel had entered the next stage of the war as it set about its goal of “dismantling Hamas, securing our borders, and the supreme effort to return the hostages home.”
Here are the special forces units that could see action in Gaza.
Yahalom Unit
One squad that will be crucial in how Israel fares in underground warfare is the Yahalom Unit, which specializes in “locating and destroying” underground and hidden tunnels as well as carrying out sabotage missions, according to the IDF’s website.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently visited Yahalom fighters, who are known as “weasels,” telling them: “I rely on you. The people of Israel rely on you,” Reuters reported.
Sayeret Matkal
Another important unit will be Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s “field intelligence-gathering unit.”
It carries out intelligence operations behind enemy lines, and, crucially, it conducts hostage recovery missions.
Modeled on the British SAS, it has a storied history, seeing action in the Yom Kippur War and both the First and Second Lebanon Wars. In the latter, it led “raids deep inside Lebanon,” per the IDF.
It is best known for its role in the 1976 Entebbe airport raid in Uganda, when its commandos saved 100 Israelis from Palestinian hijackers.
Shayetet 13
Shayetet 13 is a marine commando unit involved in ground, maritime, and airborne missions.
Its role encompasses attacking enemy marine infrastructure and intelligence.
The unit has already seen action in the conflict with Hamas, with footagereportedly showing it retaking a military post on the Gaza border following Hamas’ attacks.
Shaldag Unit
Shaldag is one of the IDF’s “most elite” squads. It’s tasked with performing many classified operations that are not public knowledge.
Video footage posted by the IDF on YouTube on October 25 appeared to show soldiers from the unit taking out Hamas militants and rescuing people in Kibbutz Be’eri.
Duvdevan Commando Unit
The Duvdevan Unit specializes in working in “densely populated civilian areas,” which could prove crucial in Gaza, where a population of more than 2 million people live in a strip of land that’s around 25 miles long and around just eight miles wide at the widest point.
Its forces go undercover among local Arab populations, according to the IDF.
One of its highly-trained specialists, Sgt. First Class Itai Bausi, 22, fought Hamas fighters with his bare hands at Supernova desert party on October 7, before he was killed, said witnesses, per The Times of Israel.
Egoz Unit
Egoz was specifically created to tackle the threat of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which Israel has been increasingly battling over the last few weeks.
Despite this, the unit now works across any region using guerrilla warfare, but it maintains a special focus on northern Israel.
Maglan Unit
Another unit that operates in enemy-held territory, Maglan’s role is to destroy “specific targets” and build intelligence. It was initially formed in 1986 as an anti-tank warfare unit, per the IDF.
Three soldiers from the unit were killed in southern Israel during the October 7 terrorist attacks, The Times of Israel reported.
Oketz Unit
Solider and dog from the IDF’s Oketz (“Sting” in Hebrew) is the IDF’s canine unit.
The unit was created in 1974 to combat a rise in terrorist attacks on Israel, the IDF says.
Israel’s ground offensive
Israel began its ground offensive on Saturday following an increased wave of airstrikes on the territory — the heaviest bombardment of the conflict so far.
Its military also dropped leaflets across Gaza City, telling people living there to evacuate.
“To the residents of the Gaza Strip: The Gaza governorate (Gaza City) has become a battlefield. Shelters in northern Gaza and Gaza governorate are not safe,” read one leaflet in Arabic, per The Telegraph.
An explosion seen from the southern Israeli city of Sderot.
ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images
Israel has repeatedly claimed that Hamas militants utilize civilian buildings as bases and storage areas, while also building tunnel complexes beneath them to faciliate their operations and transport equipment.
The key to the offensive for Israel will be clearing this “spider’s web” of tunnels that lie beneath the territory, say the IDF.
IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said earlier this month that Hamas had built “a network of tunnels from Gaza City and under Gaza City” down to Khan Yunis and Rafah, turning the strip into “one layer for civilians and then another layer for Hamas.”
“These aren’t bunkers for the Gazan civilians to have access to when Israel is striking. It’s only for Hamas and other terrorists so that they can continue to fire rockets at Israel, to plan operations, to launch terrorists into Israel,” he added.
‘Waiting to get punched in the face’
Israeli soldiers march toward a possible ground fight with Hamas in Gaza
Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Fighting in the densely populated streets of Gaza and in Hamas’ labyrinth of tunnels could help level the playing field between the two sides, however, as it may diminish the impact of some of the Israeli forces’ technological advantages, The Associated Press reported.
“I usually say it’s like walking down the street waiting to get punched in the face,” John Spencer, a former US Army major and the chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, said, per The AP.
In such situations, those defending “had time to think about where they are going to be and there’s millions of hidden locations they can be in. They get to choose the time of the engagement — you can’t see them but they can see you,” he added.
More than 1,400 Israelis have died since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks, and over 200 Israelis were taken hostage and abducted to Gaza. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll is now over 8,000, as a result of Israel’s relentless bombing of the enclave, The AP reported.
Herding dog breeds are wicked smart and originally bred to round up and protect livestock. These high energy breeds will keep you on your toes In addition to herding livestock these breeds were bred for intelligence and working closely with humans.
Some of the most popular pet herding breeds are:
The most popular smallest herding dog breeds are:
The American Kennel Club (AKC) currently recognizes 32 herding dog breeds in the Herding Group. The AKC organizes dogs into groups based on the jobs a particular breed was originally bred to perform. Initially part of the Working Dog group, a more specific grouping for herding breeds was created in 1983.
Herding dog behavior
Instinctually, herding dogs are driven to control livestock by gathering and protecting them, so these dogs flourish working on farms. Some herding breeds, such as the Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, flourish at protection work, such as Schutzhund, and various police work roles like narcotics detection and cadaver searches.
Key traits of herding dog breeds:
high energy
highly intelligent
loyal
athletic
active
protective
fun to train
industrious
very responsive to their handlers
Training is a must for herding dogs, and they’ll need to go beyond basic obedience skills, especially since they tend to nip as part of their instinctual behaviors. You need to work to minimize this tendency from the outset. Bored herding dogs can often be a behavior challenge and may start to herd children or even adults without solid training and proper outlets for their instinctual drive. Also called stock dogs, they are sensitive to sound and especially movement, so they may chase wildlife and even cars; therefore, training and adequate and appropriate stimulation and engagement are key.
Since herding dogs’ needs are best met by giving them a job, they do best in an active family with time to devote to meeting their mental and physical needs. But even if your working dog doesn’t have a flock to tend to, he can still get his genius groove on with mental/physical activities you can try in your backyard or with a class/group.
The best activities for herding dog breeds:
The American public came to love smart and family-oriented herding dogs like Lassie, the Collie and Rin Tin, the German Shepherd Dog. More recently we fell in love with Chaser, behavior psychologist John W. Pilley’s Border Collie, who knew over 1000 words! Today these brainy and spirited dogs are part of many families.
Herding dog breeds make great companions, but they’re not couch potatoes, spa day divas or walk-around-the-block dogs: herding dogs require a lot of mental stimulation and physical activity to thrive emotionally, physically and behaviorally. Herding is in their DNA, so finding your stock dog a job will keep you both active and happy for the long haul.
The way Boomers and Millennials are spending can inform investment decisions, Bank of America analysts say.
Travel, healthcare, and housing are attractive buys, as Boomers spend big in those areas.
Apparel is risky, considering its target demographic, Millennials, are increasingly cash-strapped.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.
We’re in the middle of a “Boomer boom,” as the wealthier older generation of Americans spends big on a wide range of goods and services.
Millennials, meanwhile, are spending less as they struggle through a tough macro environment—and there’s a playbook to trade off the differences in economic fortunes between the two demographics, according to Bank of America.
In a note published Friday, BofA analysts wrote that investors should go “long Boomer stocks” and “short Millennial stocks.”
There are a few things that make Boomers strong consumers today. For one, they’re much more insulated from the effects of rising rates compared to other generations. That’s because Boomers have generally saved more, and they’re being rewarded via higher yields on their savings accounts. Meanwhile, many older Americans also already own a home and aren’t exposed to eye-watering mortgage rates of around 8%.
Big changes in government spending and a massive wealth transfer from the public sector to consumers and corporations decades ago also benefitted Boomers when they were in their prime, Bank of America says.
Specifically, they’re spending a lot on health care, entertainment, and home improvement. Millennials on the other hand are spending less as they deal with higher interest rates. When they are shelling out, they’re spending more on housing and apparel, but are generally more strapped for cash.
Importantly for investors, these trends hold clues about which sectors to pay attention to.
According to Bank of America data, Boomers and Traditionalists are the only groups increasing consumption right now, which should make the sectors that they’re investing in attractive to investors. Millennials, meanwhile, are likely to further tighten their purse strings, shining a light on what parts of the consumer sector could struggle.
Boomers have a lot more leisure time, and a lot more money, and stocks in sectors like travel, healthcare, and housing will be beneficiaries of that.
“Travel was cited as the top priority for discretionary spend (85%) among the 50+ age group,” the analysts wrote, citing AARP data. “Cruise lines are heavily exposed to Boomers, accounting for ~40% of travelers.”
Boomers are also likely to spend a lot of money on housing and healthcare owing to their changing lifestyles. That means more senior homes and more personal care services. Bank of America highlights stocks in luxury housing like Toll Brothers, as well as Welltower, a real estate investment trust that operate senior housing communities, and which the analysts say is best positioned to capture the wealth of aging Americans.
Home improvement stocks also look to be winners, as boomers will probably hold on to their low-interest home loans instead of selling their house, meaning they’ll put more money into home renovations as they age.
Millennials, meanwhile, are skint as borrowing costs shoot up and wealth accumulation gets stymied by a historically unaffordable housing market.
The plight of the younger cohort flashes a sell signal for the apparel sector, a major spending category for younger Americans.
“Even as overall spending has held up, clothing spending has decelerated in recent weeks,” analysts wrote. “We think this is partly explained by the discrepancy in wealth and consumption between the age cohorts.”
BofA analysts see the largest risks for retailers in the womenswear clothing business, given that their target demographic tends to be Gen Z and Millennials.
This year Apple launched new iPhones , and if you are as excited as I am about this. Your next question on mind is “Which headset should I get for my brand new iPhone that would allow me to make it more productive?” For this answer I took the liberty of analyzing a couple of headsets that can help on getting the more of your new iPhone. Main brands will be analyzing will be Poly (Plantronics), Jabra, EPOS (Sennheiser), and Shokz, well known brands , each with its unique technology and with the best active and passive noise canceling on productivity headsets.
Jabra have done their homework with the EVOLVE 75, this headset has Active Noise canceling speakers, which eliminate the background noise for listening. microphone boom arm that can be clipped on the headband when you use it for music only. It has 100 ft. range using the USB Bluetooth dongle that comes with, amazingly it gives you up to 15 hours of battery life when fully charged after 3 hours. My favorite part of the EVOLVE 75 would be the docking station that comes with, making it easy to set up, plug, charge, and use with a very clean and neat style. Another benefit of the EVOLVE 75 would be the compatibility with most of soft phones and virtually compatible with any desktop, laptop either PC or Mac. You can read more about the Evolve 75 HERE
Poly, formerly known as Plantronics offers the second generation of its Focus headset now with a better noise canceling microphone technology known as Acoustic Fence that it consist of microphones facing the user and one to the outdoors with the main purpose of eliminating all the background noise like loud fans or leaf blowers. Coming with new f Advanced Digital Hybrid Active Noise Canceling (ANC) that can be graduated depending on the outdoor noise. The smart sensors on the headset allows to answer calls or pausing streaming like music by putting the headset on or off. The discrete microphone boom arm comes with muting feature that allows to mute the microphone by bringing it up and unmuting bringing it down and can be worn on either side. Can be used virtually on any Windows or Mac computer, Poly Lens is available for both platforms. More details on the Voyager Focus 2 can be found HERE
Jabra just launched its second generation of their Earbuds with the latest technology from the Evolve2 family. The Jabra Evolve2 Earbuds offers an impressing talk time of up to 8 hours in a single charge before storing it back in the case to charge it again, giving a total of up to 33 hours of talk time with one single charged case. The new improvement on the earbuds can be found on the design, being more comfortable than before, the new Active Noise Canceling feature that allows the user to block most of the noises around him/her by simply pressing one of the earbuds or by using the Jabra app on the cell phone or Jabra Direct on the computer. Hearthrough technology can be found, allowing the user to hear thru the earbuds and avoid to taking them off. Another improvement found on the Evolve2 Buds is that the Link 380 Bluetooth adapter now goes inside the case, allowing to transport all together in one package and with that avoid loosing it, and now the user can choose if want to use either earbud or both without compromising performance, huge improvement from previous generation. Get yours HERE.
Plantronics has the Voyager 5200 for the “Road Warriors”, people that are always on the move and they need a reliable and ergonomic headset. The Voyager 5200 has the WindSmart technology, that as its name says, clears the audio in the microphone in windy days. 7 hours of talk time is standard, or can get up to 9 days on standby. Best of this headset is the “whispered alerts” that gives you Caller ID when a call comes in, you can just say “answer” or “ignore” without taking your cell phone out of your pocket. Compatible with any laptop/desktop on Windows/Mac OS. Click HERE for more details on the Voyager 5200.
Poly offer the new Voyager 4310 UC as an affordable wireless headset with an extraordinary talk time. The 4310 covers one ear, designed with a comfortable paddled headband and with a big speaker with enough power to give a rich sound quality without compromise. The bendable microphone boom arm comes with the well know Acoustic Fence technology that works great specially if people are walking as it will block lousy noises of the background like wind, loud blenders or crying babies for people working from home. The 4310 headset is PC and Mac compatible thanks to its included BT700 dongle and the headset comes with voice over USB that allows to use the headset as a corded headset on the computer if the BT700 dongle is not on hand without compromising performance on the microphone on all the UC platforms in the market. To learn more of the Voyager 4310UC click HERE
Next on my list, EPOS give us the Adapt 660 UC with and amazing noise canceling microphone, Active Noise Canceling Ear Cups, with a battery time of up to 30 hours with one full charge and 15 days of battery on standby. Coming with it the USB dongle so can be used with your computer for soft phone applications. The comfortable ear cups are easily fold able for traveling and can be stowed away in its hard travel case, offering a 2 year warranty, making it a nice contender in my review, The Adapt 660 UC comes with a 3.5 mm cable so can be used by virtually any device with a headset jack. More features and details on the SEPOS Adapt 660 UC can be found HERE
Poly offers its new Voyager Free 60+ earbuds as an alternative for people wanting a good performance earbud compatible with their iPhone and with all their UC platform in a more discrete and comfortable wearing style. The Free 60+ case allows you to carry both earbuds and the USB-C dongle as well in one package, besides the carrying case offers a touchpad OLED screen that allows you to check pairing status, battery and adjust volume as well. The case comes with a USB-C to 3.5mm jack cable that allows to be used on old devices with 3.5mm jack or if traveling by plane to use with the 3.5mm jack on the plane. You can find hybrid and adaptive Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and can be controlled from the case as well. You can learn more of the Free 60+ HERE
Shokz offers this new headset with bone conduction technology featuring open-ear design, this means that the headset broadcast the sound by the bone on the top of the ear directly, allowing the user to be able to hear the environment, this is a nice alternative for people in the need of a headset but with issues of having something covering the ear like a headset or not wanting to get something inside the ear canal like earbuds. The Shokz OpenComm 2 offers a discrete microphone boom arm and can be used with your iPhone and computer thanks to the included Bluetooth dongle. It comes with IP55 water-resistant rating, so can be worn without worries when working out or jogging. To learn more of the Shokz OpenComm 2 click HERE
Jabra recently launched the new Evolve2 55 as an alternative for people looking for wireless headset with Active Noise Canceling and Jabra’s respectable quality without breaking the bank. The new redesigned headband now offers a more comfortable wearing for a whole day use. The Evolve2 55’s microphone boom arm comes with four microphones with an advanced chipset that allows it to do the speech separation algorithm that translates in separating the users voice from the background creating the best voice performance required for calls on your iPhone or on your computer as it comes with the Link 380 dongle to be used with your computer and all the UC platforms as its certified for all the mayor platforms. Integrated 360 degree busy light is noticeable when engaged on a call from any angle. Learn more of the Evolve2 55 UC HERE
Jabra gives us the Evolve2 75 headset as a Bluetooth Class 1 headset compatible with your iPhone and your computer as it comes with the Link 380 and this headset comes with fully adjustable Jabra Advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that allows the user to graduate this feature depending on the outdoor noise. Another feature included is that this can be used as a boom less microphone headset as the boom arm offers 2 settings, on Discrete Mode with the boom arm hidden the user can make calls and speak freely as the integrated microphones will detect and follow the voice, on Performance mode with the boom arm out the microphones will follow the users speech with a crystal clear sound quality, designed and certified for all UC applications and mayor platforms such as Microsoft Teams. You can learn more of the Evolve2 75 HERE
The Border Collie is the Swiss Army Knife, the Everything Bagel of the dog world. Whatever you need him to do, he can do with ease, then ask what is the next job on your to-do list. Although considered by many authorities to be the world’s most intelligent breed, nobody calls the Border Collie low maintenance.
This is a lot of dog to deal with in a medium-sized package. Not every Ford driver can handle a tanked-up Maserati, and not every casual pet owner can keep a Border Collie content and engaged. Here are seven fun facts about this super dog.
Border Collie history
The Border Collie originated in the Border country between Scotland and England, where the shepherds’ breeding selection was based on cooperative stock sense and the ability to work long days on rugged terrain. This selective breeding developed the unique working style of the Border Collie gathering and fetching the stock in a wide, sweeping manner, then controlling it with an intense gaze known as “eye,” and a stalking style of movement. As the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard states, “Breeding based on this working ability has made this breed the world’s premier sheep-herding dog, a job the Border Collie is still used for worldwide.”
Versatility, thy name is Border Collie
Border Collie experts and the AKC standard agree that this breed “is, and should remain, a natural and unspoiled true working sheep dog.” Not only is the Border Collie a superior herder of livestock, but he has proven himself a formidable competitor in such performance events as obedience, agility, rally, dock diving and tracking. About the only activity the Border Collie has not perfected, or even pretends to be good at, is that of a lazy couch potato.
Due to the breed’s working heritage, Border Collies are demanding and energetic. They do best in households that can give them plenty of exercise and play, with humans or with other canine companions.
Because of their great need for mental stimulation, many Border Collies will develop problematic behaviors in homes that are unable to meet these requirements. To cure their boredom, Border Collies are notorious for chewing holes in walls and furniture, digging and other destructive activity. Border Collie clubs and rescue groups advise that anyone considering the breed first make sure they can provide the exercise needed as a suitable outlet for the Border’s high energy and great stamina.
A working Border typically runs many hours a day, using his personality and intelligence to control challenging livestock. The breed becomes distressed and frustrated if left in isolation, ignored or inactive. They can be motion sensitive and may chase moving vehicles and bicycles, behavior that can be corrected with appropriate training. Border Collies will also express their strong desire to herd by herding small children, cats and dogs.
Show vs. working vs. performance
Border Collies that come from dog show bloodlines will look the most alike, as their breeders are producing dogs that meet a written standard that describes the ideal Border Collie in size, silhouette, head and body shape, and overall appearance. Those from working bloodlines will display the least uniformity, as it is the dogs’ stamina and herding ability that are most highly prized, and physical looks are of little importance. Border Collies from performance bloodlines, bred to excel in agility, rally and other dog sports, will lie somewhere in between.
More than black and white
While the vast majority of Border Collies seen are black-and-white, the breed comes in all colors, combinations and markings. The AKC standard states that “All colors are to be judged equally with no one color or pattern preferred over another.” You’ll find Border Collies in tricolor, chocolate, blue and blue merle, and red in all shades from copper to blond.
Border Collies also come in two coat lengths. Close-fitting, dense, weather- resistant double-coats are required in both, but the more common rough coat variety has feathering on the forelegs, chest and haunches, while the smooth variety has a short coat over the entire body, usually coarser in texture than the rough.
Border Collies in the media
Few breeds have been seen more often on TV and in movies than the Border Collie, and that visibility has certainly played a big role in their popularity. Besides Borders in many dozens of TV commercials, we remember Bandit from the TV series Little House on the Prairie and Shep, the star of the British children’s show Blue Peter. Border Collies to star on the big screen included Nana in Snow Dogs, Fly in Babe, Jessie in Animal Farm, Raffles in the animated Rover Dangerfield, and Mike in Down and Out in Beverly Hills.
Celebrities cross over to the Border
Not surprisingly, plenty of actors, singers, musicians and sports figures are passionate about their Border Collies. The star-studded list includes James Dean, Anna Paquin, Tiger Woods, Dierks Bentley, Jerry Seinfeld, Ethan Hawke and Jon Bon Jovi.
French interior design Studio FB and the co-founder of fashion brand Frame, Erik Torstensson, have designed a California-informed store for the brand in London.
The store’s concept draws from the brand’s Californian origins as well as European influences, which is reflected in the lighting, furniture and materials.
Studio FB designed a minimalist store for Frame
“The Californian universe with these modernist architectures with a free plan, skylights and the opening of spaces to the outside was our inspiration basis,” Studio FB told Dezeen.
“We imagined this new concept design layout as open as possible, which can be compared to a gallery.”
The store is arranged round a large central pillar
To create a greater connection with the street, the studio redesigned the facade by adding a curved, full-height glazed wall, which was set behind the original piers.
“We designed a long-curved glass like a contemporary insert which contrasts radically with the classic London pillars preserved,” said the studio.
The studio aimed to create a gallery-like atmosphere
Within the store, the studio aimed to mimic the atmosphere of an art gallery with a polished concrete floor serving as a base for a central pillar constructed from stained birch wood veneer.
The store’s rails were custom-designed with a distinctive hand-moulded abstract-shaped end-piece serving as the highlight
With in the fitting room, the ceiling, walls and doors were upholstered in fabric by textile company Kvadrat.
Custom-designed rails were created for the store
“The rounded central wooden element was designed as a sculptural object, which gives a residential feeling from the 50s,” the studio explained.
“The backspace invites the cabins and lounge area becomes more intimate all-in fabric and brings sophistication to the space. Pieces of furniture and artwork sublimate the atmosphere,” the studio continued.
“The general atmosphere is similar to an art gallery with raw materials such as concrete on the floor and white walls.”
The stores changing areas have fabric walls
FB Architects and Torstensson worked together to acquire artwork and collectable design pieces to reinforce the gallery atmosphere.
“It was a thorough process to ensure the most unique response possible to Frame,” said the studio.
“Erik had a precise vision of his brand, so we exchanged a lot together on many artistic fields to build the brand’s architectural DNA.”
A sculpture by Serbian visual artist Bojan Šarčević crafted from wood and limestone sits in the display window. Also in the store are two original 1950s Gio Ponti stools, crafted from wood and textiles.
The store was decorated with wall-mounted fixtures designed by French lighting designer Jean Perzel, as well as geometric fixtures created by French architect Pierre Chareau, to create a soft and gentle lighting ambience.
Artworks feature throughout the store
Torstensson used AI as a sketching tool to design custom objects for the space, such as large brutalist stone tables and chrome custom-made sculptures that were then realised by architecture studios including Bucktron Studio Sweden.
“I’ve been learning and expanding my skills with AI for the last year, it creates a superpower when it comes to speed, as it allowed me to generate the visual concept at a greater pace and scale,” said Torstensson.
“This creates exciting results and provides a new outlook on design. I simply use it to visualise my initial ideas in greater detail in order to bring my ideas to life.”
Our experts answer readers’ personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess personal loans). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
If you need money to cover an expense or make a purchase that you don’t have enough cash to immediately afford, you may consider taking out a personal loan. You can use a personal loan for debt consolidation, medical expenses, and home improvement projects, among many other purposes.
When shopping for a personal loan, you’ll find there are two main types: secured and unsecured. Secured loans are backed by collateral, such as a house or a car, that the lender can take if you don’t pay. Unsecured loans don’t require collateral and typically come with higher interest rates than secured loans. Most personal loans are unsecured, and the best personal loans offer a variety of term lengths and other features.
Compare the Best Unsecured Personal Loans
LightStream Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
4.75/5
Perks
0.50% discount on regular rates with AutoPay
Regular APR
7.99% to 25.49% (with AutoPay discount, rates vary by loan purpose)
Loan Amount Range
$5,000 to $100,000
Pros
Competitive APR
Approval decisions should come shortly after applying
Loans can be funded the same day
Wide range of borrowing amounts and terms
No fees
Cons
Only available to people with good credit
No pre-approval option
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000
Loan term lengths range from 2 to 12 years
Apply online and you’ll receive a response shortly during business hours.
Receive your funds as soon as the same day
Loans are made by Truist Bank, member FDIC
PenFed Credit Union Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
4.5/5
Perks
No early payoff penalty, origination fee, and hidden fees
Regular APR
7.99% to 17.99%
Loan Amount Range
$600 to $50,000
Pros
Wide range of loan amounts
Low minimum APR
No origination fees or prepayment penalties
Coborrowers allowed
Cons
Need to be a member to get a loan
Late fee
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $600 to $50,000
Term lengths between one to five years
Loans originated by Pentagon Federal Credit Union
SoFi Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
4/5
Perks
0.25% AutoPay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount
8.99% to 25.81% (with all discounts)
Loan Amount Range
$5,000 to $100,000
Pros
High maximum loan limit
Unemployment protection
No fees required
Competitive APR
Cons
High minimum credit score requirement
High minimum loan amount
No in-person support
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000
Loan term lengths range from 2 to 7 years
Usually receive your money in a few business days after your application is approved
Unemployment protection if you lose your job during your loan repayment, allowing you to apply for a three-month forbearance, up to a total of 12 months
Loans are made by SoFi Lending Corp.
Payoff Loan™
Insider’s Rating
3.5/5
Perks
The minimum rate for loan amounts above $15,000 is 11.75% APR
Regular APR
11.52% – 24.81% APR
Loan Amount Range
$5,000 to $40,000
Pros
Competitive interest rates
No prepayment or late fees
Low minimum credit score requirement
Cons
Origination fees
Slow access to funds
Limited loan purpose
Not available in all states
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $40,000
Loan term lengths range between 2 to 5 years
Origination fee anywhere between 0% and 5%
Won’t be able to get a loan from Happy Money if you live in Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, or Nevada
Can only use for credit card debt consolidation
Loans made by one of Payoff’s lending partners
Wells Fargo Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
3/5
Perks
Relationship discount of 0.25%
Regular APR
8.49% to 24.49% (with relationship discount)
Loan Amount Range
$3,000 to $100,000
Minimum Credit Score
Undisclosed
Pros
Large maximum loan amounts
Discounts for current customers
Established brick-and-mortar lender
No origination fee or prepayment penalty
Cons
Significant late fees
History of mismanaging customer information
No online applications for non-customers
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $3,000 to $100,000
Term lengths range from 1 to 7 years
Rate discounts to customers who have a checking account with the bank and who make their loan payments automatically through that account
Non-customers must apply by visiting a branch and talking with a banker
Loans made by Wells Fargo, member FDIC
Upstart Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
3.25/5
Perks
You can prepay your loan at any time with no fee or penalty
Regular APR
5.20% to 35.99%
Loan Amount Range
$1,000 to $50,000 (borrowers in four states are subject to higher minimum loan amounts: Massachusetts: $7,000, Ohio: $6,000, New Mexico: $5,100, Georgia: $3,100)
Pros
Small minimum loan amounts
No prepayment penalty
Quick loan fund disbursement
Cons
Only three and five year terms
Potential for high origination fees
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $50,000. However, borrowers in four states are subject to higher minimum loan amounts: Massachusetts: $7,000, Ohio: $6,000, New Mexico: $5,100, Georgia: $3,100
Loan term lengths are either 3 or 5 years
Can have origination fees up to 8%
Considers employment and education history when making loan approval decisions
Loans are made through one of several Upstart-powered bank partners
Unsecured Personal Loan Frequently Asked Questions
An unsecured personal loan is a loan that you don’t need collateral to receive. With some other types of loans, like auto loans or mortgages, you need to put up a car or house in the event you don’t pay the loan back.
You can borrow as much with an unsecured personal loan as you can qualify for and afford to repay. A $100,000 loan is typically the most you can get.
It depends on the lender. Some lenders have high minimum credit scores for their loans, while others are more generous with their minimums. On our list of the best unsecured installment loans, a great option for borrowers with bad credit is Upstart, which has a minimum requirement of just 600. To get a loan with bad credit, take a look at credit unions and secured loans.
Yes, you can get an unsecured loan without collateral. Unsecured loans are granted on the basis of the borrower’s creditworthiness and not backed by any assets. Secured loans are loans that are backed by collateral, such as an automobile or a home, that the lender can seize in the event the loan is not paid.
LightStream has some of the lowest unsecured personal loan rates in the market, provided you have a good enough credit score to qualify for them. While the high end of its APR range is still competitive, you may get a better rate with a credit union if you have a lower credit score.
LightStream also doesn’t charge any fees — unlike some of the other lenders on our list. If you can qualify for an unsecured installment loan loan from the company, it’s a great choice.
Watch out for: No loan preapproval. Borrowers looking to shop around for rates to get the best deal won’t be able to get a rate from LightStream without going through the full application process. The complete process may temporarily lower your credit score, as LightStream will conduct a hard inquiry to make an approval decision.
PenFed has the smallest minimum loan amount of any of the lenders on our list at $600. This is great for borrowers who only need a bit of cash to tide them over.
The credit union has no origination fees or prepayment penalties, and co-borrowers are allowed. Co-borrowers can help you get a better rate or qualify if you otherwise would not have.
Watch out for: Membership requirements. While you need to be a member to get a loan, eligibility requirements are fairly lax. Members of the military and employees of qualifying organizations will be eligible. But if you don’t qualify, you can join by simply opening a savings account with a $5 minimum deposit.
SoFi has a high maximum loan amount of $100,000, so if you need to finance a large expense, you’re in luck. However, its minimum loan amount is $5,000, making it a poor option for borrowers looking for just a bit of cash to tide them over.
The company also offers unemployment protection, meaning you’ll receive forbearance if you lose your job during your loan repayment. This unique feature provides for as much as 12 months of forbearance that you apply for in three-month increments.
Watch out for: High credit score required. To get a no-collateral loan from SoFi, you’ll need at least a 680 credit score. This puts the company out of reach for some borrowers. For those with lower credit scores, consider one of the other companies on our list of the best unsecured loans.
Happy Money’s Payoff loan is an excellent choice for debt consolidation, as the company designs its personal loan offerings specifically for this purpose. It’s easier to qualify with worse credit. You need a minimum credit score of 640 to be eligible for a Payoff personal loan, which is toward the lower end of the fair range of scores.
Unfortunately, you will pay an origination fee between 0% to 5% with Happy Money. Some of the other lenders on our list don’t charge these fees.
Watch out for: Limited loan usage. While a Payoff loan is an excellent choice for consolidating debt, that’s the only reason you can take out a loan from the company. If you have a different loan purpose, such as wedding expenses or home improvement, you can’t get financing from the company.
Wells Fargo is the best brick-and-mortar lender on our list, with about 4,700 locations throughout the country. If you value in-person support, it may be a great choice for you.
You can also borrow as much as $100,000 with the lender, making it a solid option for borrowers looking for large sums of money.
Watch out for: History of controversies. Wells Fargo has been at the heart of numerous scandals over the past several years, including creating fake bank accounts to meet sales goals, predatory lending practices to minorities, and overcharging customers on home and auto loans.
Upstart is the best lender on our list for borrowers with poor credit, as it has a minimum credit score of just 600. This makes it accessible to borrowers who have shakier credit histories. It also funds its unsecured loans the next business day after approval.
The lender also caters to borrowers looking for small unsecured loan amounts, with a minimum of just $1,000.
Watch out for: Hefty origination fees. Upstart’s personal loans can have origination fees up to 8%, which will take a big chunk out of your overall loan proceeds. You can avoid those fees with some of the other lenders on our list.: Best brick-and-mortar lender
Other Unsecured Personal Loan Lenders We Considered
Best Egg Personal Loan. This lender has higher starting rates and maximum rates than most of the other lenders on our list. Additionally, its maximum loan amount is just $35,000.
Discover Personal Loans. Discover also has a low maximum loan amount of $35,000, making it not the best option for borrowers looking to finance expensive purchases. The company also charges up to $39 in late fees.
Avant Personal Loan. While Avant is a good option for borrowers with bad credit, it charges multiple types of fees and has high minimum and maximum APRs.
Rocket Loans Personal Loan. You can only choose between a three- or five-year repayment term length with Rocket Loans. Other companies on our list offer you more options for repayment.
Whether you’re interested in taking out a $5,000 loan or a $100,000 loan, finding the right provider can help with your loan approval experience. We’ve compared each institution’s Better Business Bureau score to give you another piece of information to choose your lender. The BBB measures businesses based on factors like their responsiveness to customer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices. Here is each company’s score:
With the exception of Wells Fargo, our top picks are rated A+ by the BBB. Know that a high BBB score does not ensure a positive relationship with a lender, and you should keep researching and talking with others who have used the company to get the most complete information possible.
Wells Fargo is currently rated an F by the BBB due to government actions against the business and a failure to respond to 14 complaints. Most recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in December 2022 ordered Wells Fargo to return $2 billion to customers and pay a $1.7 billion penalty for legal violations involving auto loans, mortgages, and deposit accounts. The bank illegally charged fees and interest penalties on auto and mortgage loans. Additionally, it misapplied payments to those loans for many customers.
If you’re uncomfortable with this history, you may want to use one of the other personal loan lenders on our list.
How to Qualify for an Unsecured Loan
There are several factors that go into qualifying for an unsecured installment loan, including your credit score, income, and credit history.
Generally, you’ll need a credit score in the mid-600s to get a no-collateral loan. Some lenders, like Upstart, will accept borrowers with lower scores. However, when you have a lower credit score you’ll often pay a higher interest rate.
In addition to a solid credit score, you’ll need proof of your employment and ability to repay to determine eligibility. Lenders will check your debt-to-income ratio to ensure you haven’t borrowed more than you can feasibly pay back.
We rate all personal loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is a weighted average that takes into account seven different categories, some of which are judged more heavily than others. They are:
Interest rate (20% of rating)
Fees (20% of rating)
Term lengths and loan amounts (15% of rating)
Funding speed (15% of rating)
Borrower accessibility (15% of rating)
Customer support (7.5% of rating)
Ethics (7.5% of rating)
Each category’s weighting is based on its importance to your borrowing experience. Rates and fees have the most direct impact on the overall cost of your loan, so we weigh those the most heavily. Customer support and ethics are still very important parts of the borrowing experience, but do not directly tie to a personal loan’s terms, so they have less of an impact on the overall rating.
Ryan Wangman was a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans. He is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). In his past experience writing about personal finance, he has written about credit scores, financial literacy, and homeownership. He graduated from Northwestern University and has previously written for The Boston Globe. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services here >>
Elias Shaya is a junior compliance associate on the Personal Finance Insider team based in New York City. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Elias is the point person for the loans sub-vertical and works with the editorial team to ensure that all rates and information for personal and student loans are up to date and accurate. He joined Insider in February 2022 as a fellow on the compliance team. Elias has a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the CUNY College of Staten Island. Prior to joining Insider, he volunteered at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he worked with the biomedical engineering department. In his spare time, Elias enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling to visit his family in Lebanon, and spending time with friends.
The S&P 500 has become more volatile in recent years, according to research firm DataTrek.
That’s partly to do with bad luck and partly to do with unexpected events impacting the market.
The bigger factor is the massive growth of big tech stocks that make up more and more of the S&P 500.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.
Stocks are a risky investment, but huge intraday swings and relentless volatility seem to have only grown more frequent and intense in recent years.
There are a number of factors that seem to have amplified volatility in large cap stocks, but according to DataTrek, the gains haven’t necessarily increased in tandem with the risk.
“The S&P 500 has become noticeably more volatile over the last +60 years, but returns have not increased commensurately,” DataTrek said in a note published Thursday. “A combination of factors has caused the shift, but Big Tech’s relative overweight is driving this trend now. We still believe US large caps are the most productive equity investment, but having a realistic view on volatility is important.”
“From 1958–1979, the standard deviation of daily returns was 0.72 percent. It rose to 0.89 percent from 1980 – 1989, and has been even higher since 2000, at 1.13 pct,” the analysts added.
Here’s why the research firm sees higher risk in the stock market today than in past eras.
Big tech concentration
Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla, Meta—the famously dubbed “Magnificent Seven” stocks have been responsible for most of the gains in the S&P 500 this year, which has masked what’s happening in other areas of the market.
“The S&P 500 is now heavily weighted to Big Tech, and this group exhibits both higher valuations and price volatility than the average company,” Data Trek researchers said in the note.
Last month, Apollo Management’s chief economist Torsten Sløk said, “If you buy the S&P 500 today, you are basically buying a handful of companies that make up 34% of the index.”
Which goes to say that the S&P 500 is far more sensitive to the price movement of these seven stocks, which are themselves highly sensitive to events like the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes and other macro disturbances. This means that big swings in a handful of names can drive much of the price action in the broader index.
Unexpected developments hit harder
Another explanation is that the market in recent years has had an outsized reaction to unanticipated developments relative to past eras.
“Unexpected events simply hit stocks harder than they used to,” DataTrek’s note said. “Last year’s aggressive series of Fed rate hikes created as much volatility as the 1973–1974 oil shock.”
And as to why the market is “twitchier” now compared to before, Data Trek researchers say that anything from online trading to higher corporate debt levels could be the reason why.
Two years ago, the black swan event of the pandemic drove the rise of online trading that collided with excess savings from federal stimulus checks. This sparked the “meme-stock” craze, in which stocks like GameStop saw double digit intraday gains and losses over the course of weeks.
Markets have also been reacting harshly to Fedspeak in the last 18 months, and investors are on edge as they wait for any signals of what the central bank could do next.
Bad timing
The final explanation? Bad luck.
“Perhaps the 2000s have just been unlucky, with the 2008 Financial Crisis and 2020 Pandemic Crisis both hitting during this period,” DataTrek said. “We would classify 2008 as “user error” (bad policies and resultant speculative excess), but 2020 was legitimately a bolt from out of the blue.”
No one could have predicted the pandemic, and two market crashes in the same decade—in 2000 and 2008—are outliers in market history in terms of their magnitude.
