This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

US consumers have been “cord-cutting” — or canceling their pay-TV subscriptions in favor of internet-delivered alternatives — since 2010.

The number of pay-TV subscribers dropped a record 3.4% year-over-year (YoY) in 2017, and the rate of decline is expected to accelerate further in the coming years. As a result, traditional media companies will continue to see their most important revenue stream erode. To compete in the shifting media landscape, traditional media companies' business strategies must satisfy two goals: extract as much revenue from pay-TV as possible before the opportunity to do so fizzles out, and taper reliance on pay-TV-related revenue along the way.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence will look at how big media companies are refining their strategies to meet the aforementioned goals and mitigate the impacts of cord-cutting that are detrimental to their business. We also discuss current consumer behavior trends that are simultaneously driving the growth of streaming platforms (like Netflix) and decline of linear TV, as well as actionable insights on how companies can respond.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• As consumers flee linear TV, they're spending more time on digital video services with ad-free and ad-lite viewing experiences. 
• Media companies are responding by becoming less reliant on pay-TV revenue by launching their own streaming services. 
• Traditional networks are also increasingly seeking M&A opportunities to gain the resources, talent, and technologies necessary to compete with streaming giants.
• More media companies are beginning to experiment with airing fewer commercials per hour to enhance the linear TV viewership experience. 

 In full, the report:

• Explains the decline in US pay-TV subscribers in recent years, and how significantly this decline has diminished the viewership and ad revenue of top TV networks. 
• Outlines the top factors that consumers look for when deciding to subscribe to a streaming service. 
• Details the top recent M&A deals between media companies, and describes how they've positioned those involved to better compete against streaming giants like Netflix.
• Provides direction on how to best approach cutting ad loads on linear TV, and explains why experimenting with airing fewer commercials could be beneficial for viewership.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >>Purchase & Download Now
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The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you've given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of cord-cutting.

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• Amazon said its thoughts are with the crew killed after one of its cargo planes crashed outside Houston, Texas, on Saturday.
• Two bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the Boeing 767 cargo jet.
• Police posted a video of the debris, which stretches for a mile along Trinity Bay.
• Captain Sean Archuleta has been named as one of those on the cargo flight.

Amazon said it is mourning a "terrible tragedy" after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane crashed into a bay outside Houston, Texas, on Saturday, killing three people on board.

Police said they have recovered two bodies after the Boeing 767 cargo jet, operated by Atlas Air Worldwide, went down on its approach to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. A third person is presumed dead.

In a statement on Twitter, Amazon's SVP of operations, Dave Clark, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the flight crew, their families and friends along with the entire team at Atlas Air during this terrible tragedy. We appreciate the first responders who worked urgently to provide support."

Business Insider has contacted Amazon for further comment.

Read more: Pilots working for airlines that transport packages for Amazon are not happy — and many are considering quitting, a survey found

In an update on Sunday evening local time, Chambers County Sheriff's Office said they had recovered the aircraft's black boxes, which will provide information as to why the aircraft apparently nosedived into Trinity Bay during its journey from Miami.

Footage shows debris strewn across a mile-long stretch of water. Chambers County Sheriff's Office posted a video of the crash site, which was left exposed after the tide was pushed south on Sunday.

On Saturday, local TV station FOX 26 Houston posted video of the aircraft while the tide was in. Debris, including a wheel was visible. Sky News has an image showing part of Amazon's logo.

The National Transportation Safety Board is already examining wreckage from the accident.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said on Sunday that investigators have secured a video of the crash from a local jail, which shows that plane descended in a "steep nose-down" position.

Captain Sean Archuleta has been named as one of those on board the cargo flight. He is survived by his wife and two children.

SEE ALSO: An Amazon Air cargo jet crashed in Texas, presumably killing 3

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NOW WATCH: Apple forever changed the biggest tech event of the year by not showing up

• Kate Hudson has wowed fans with her rendition of "Shallow" from "A Star is Born."
• The hit won an Oscar on Sunday night for best original song, but Hudson's version was somewhat different to that of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
• Hudson belted out the hit while doing pilates, and according to Gaby Noble of Exhale Pilates in north London, it's her perfect form that made it possible.

Kate Hudson may have watched the Oscars from home this year, but that didn't mean she didn't share an insight into how she was getting ready.

The actress, who was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000 for her role in "Almost Famous," shared a video on Instagram of her performing a rendition of the "A Star is Born" hit, "Shallow."

Unlike Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's version, however, Hudson belted the song out while doing pilates on a Cadillac machine. 

"Gearing up for my in-living room Oscar performance," she wrote. "Apologies to @ladygaga and @iammarkronson for the lyrics."

"Shallow" won the 2019 Oscar for best original song on Sunday.

Read more: Here's the complete list of the 2019 Oscar winners

In her video, the actor and co-founder of activewear brand Fabletics is performing an exercise called a six-count frog with leg springs.

Pilates aside, many of Hudson's celebrity peers have expressed their amazement at her singing.

"Let me produce ur debut record," Katy Perry commented on Instagram.

"OMG! I thought that was Lady Gaga singing while you did pilates but it was YOU! Insane voice, gurl!" added Hilary Swank.

"You should absolutely be singing... but not only at pilates, make an album!"

Hailey Bieber wrote: "Didn't think it was possible for me to be more of a fan, and yet here we are..."

While Hudson's fans may have been wowed by the incredible power of her vocals, her long-time trainer Nicole Stuart seemed less impressed.

"Are you going to focus?" Stuart asked the star.

"This is impossible," she continued, while trying to get Hudson to squeeze her heels together.

"I think I hit the note," Hudson said.

"Why don't you hit the proper form, and then hit the note?" Stuart replied. 

Reformer pilates differs from regular mat-based pilates as it uses resistance in the form of springs, and actually, it could just be that Hudson was making her body work harder by singing at the same time.

According to experts, it's Hudson's perfect form that is allowing her to sing at the same time.

"Her abs are drawing in and she's breathing deeply while she's moving so she's able to do it," Gaby Noble, the founder of Exhale Pilates in north London who has previously trained Harry Styles, told INSIDER.

"She has a strong connection to all her powerhouse points: pressing through her palms, connecting to her shoulder blades, keeping her chest open and abs drawn in which is giving her that openness to breathe and sing at the same time, as well as working," Noble added. 

"The exercise is amazing for stability in the pelvis and working the glutes. 

"Pilates is hard work but fun and this shows it! You can tackle or do anything when you've got pilates in your body."

Hudson's love of pilates is no secret, and she regularly posts on Instagram about it.

"Pilates makes my day better and that's just the straight truth!" she captioned one video. "Every time I finish a class I feel two inches taller, lighter, and more grounded."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There are serious health reasons why you shouldn't eat your boogers

• Apple COO Jeff Williams said Apple does not want to be an "elitist" company when asked about rising iPhone prices on Friday.
• Speaking at Elon University in North Carolina, Williams also said analysts "don't really understand the cost of what we do."
• The iPhone's steep price point has held Apple back in developing markets such as India, where Apple has a much lower market share than in the US.

Apple's COO Jeff Williams told students in North Carolina on Friday that Apple does not want to be an "elitist" company.

As reported by Apple Insider, Williams gave a short speech at Elon University followed by a Q&A session. A student asked Williams about Apple's plans to lower iPhone prices, citing a recent report which claimed the iPhone costs significantly less to manufacture than its sale price.

"The stories that come out about the cost of our products [have been] the bane of my existence from the beginning of time, including our early days," said Williams. "Analysts don't really understand the cost of what we do and how much care we put into making our products."

Read more: A short trip to India showed me just how badly Apple is screwing up in the world's biggest democracy

Williams said he's cognizant of the iPhone's climbing price point, which means it has fallen behind in key markets where consumers have less disposable income. In India for example, Apple commands just 3% of market share.

"We do not want to be an elitist company. That's not — we want to be an egalitarian company, and we've got a lot of work going on in developing markets," Williams said.

His comments come after Apple has continued to raise the price of iPhones. The average selling price of the phones has increased by nearly 27% to $793 since 2010, helped in no small part by the $1,000 iPhone X.

SEE ALSO: Apple has made some big changes in recent months — here's a look at the top new hires and moves you might have missed

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NOW WATCH: Apple forever changed the biggest tech event of the year by not showing up

• Six of the top 10 healthiest countries are in Europe in 2019, according to the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index.
• Spain knocked Italy off top spot in 2019 jumping from 6th to take number one in this year's gauge.
• The US didn't even make the top 30 and came in at 35th in the rankings.  

Europe is leading the world's health standings with Mediterranean nations atop the list for 2019 .

In new rankings, Europe takes up six of the top 10 spots with North American countries struggling. The US placed lower at 35th for 2019, five places behind Cuba which was the highest ranked non "high income" country on the list. 

Studies have suggested that a "Mediterranean diet" supplemented with foods like extra-virgin olive oil and nuts, had a lower rate of major cardiovascular events than others, giving added significance to a country's geography on the rankings. 

Asian countries improved their rankings generally with South Korea improving seven places while China rose to 52nd in the world, according to the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index.

The study took into account 169 countries and graded nations on factors like life expectancy but also penalised tobacco use and obesity. Bloomberg's rankings also considered environmental factors such as sanitation and clean water.

SEE ALSO: These are the 20 wealthiest towns in the US

10. Israel

Israel comes in at number 10 with the country's Mediterranean diet standing it in good stead within the Middle Eastern nation dropping one place from the previous rankings. Alongside great dietary trends Israel also has a comparatively high life expectancy, 82.9 years according to 2017 World Health Organisation data, the world's eighth highest.

9. Norway

The land of Fjords is the first of six European nations in the top ten and the second from the Nordic world. As of 2015, Norway had the highest number of nurses and midwives per capita in Europe, although the country has the highest drug overdose and suicide rate amongst Nordic countries for under-49s. 

8. Singapore

The tiny city-state of Singapore comes eighth in this year's rankings, dropping four places and losing its position as the healthiest Asian nation. The country has one of the highest life expectancies in the region and a well-regarded healthcare system. 

• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in the middle of a three-and-a-half-day train trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he will meet US President Donald Trump for their second summit.
• Experts say his reason for taking such a slow means of transport may be to show he is not overly reliant on China.
• Kim took an Air China plane to the first Trump summit in Singapore, which led to commentary emphasising his inability to fly himself there.
• Those comments reportedly didn't sit well with Kim.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is taking a 2,000-mile, three-and-a-half day train ride to meet US President Donald Trump in Vietnam this Wednesday, likely to save face because he doesn't want to ask China to lend him a plane.

Kim boarded his family's armored train from Pyongyang Station on Saturday evening, and plans to arrive in Hanoi on Tuesday, the day before his summit with Trump.

Kim crossed into Dandong, a Chinese city bordering North Korea, via bridge on late Saturday, the Associated Press reported. The rest of the trip will take him through southeastern China before he eventually arrives in Hanoi.

Read more:Take a tour of the closest Chinese city to North Korea — the nearest thing to the outside world most North Koreans will ever see

He passed by the southeastern Chinese city of Hengyang around Monday afternoon local time, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

According to INSIDER's calculations, the entire trip will be at least 2,000 miles long.

The specifics of his trip are not clear. Citing Vietnamese officials, The New York Times reported on Sunday that Kim will leave his train at China's border with Vietnam and travel the last 105 miles or so to Hanoi by car.

While Kim's laborious, three-day-long train ride will undoubtedly give him a good look at China's cities and countryside, experts say his reason for the journey is more likely pride than tourism.

Last year, Kim borrowed a Boeing-747 plane from the Air China, majority-owned by the Chinese state, to get himself to  to Singapore for his first summit with Trump last year.

His 40-year-old, Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-62 plane was deemed unsafe for the voyage at the time.

Kim's use of a Chinese plane last year highlighted his apparent reliance on Beijing, which didn't have any delegates at Singapore but saw its global vision dominant at the summit.

The North Korean leader did not appreciate remarks about his reliance on China last year, Cheng Xiaohe, a North Korea expert at Beijing's Renmin University, told The New York Times.

Cheng told The Times: "He does not want to show the world his heavy reliance on China by waving his hand in front of China's national flag on a Chinese plane as he did at the Singapore airport."

"Traveling by train is a forced choice."

It's not clear what mode of transport Kim will take home.

Read more:Kim Jong Un rode his personal armored train to China to spend his 35th birthday with Xi Jinping

Trump has characterized the upcoming summit as a follow-up to their first meeting last June, during which Kim made a vague pledge to work toward denuclearization. Pyongyang appears not to have made much progress on this front.

US intelligence and North Korea experts have warned that Pyongyang is unlikely to give up its nuclear arms. An intelligence report published last month said the country's leaders view nuclear arms as "critical to regime survival."

Trump has repeatedly played down hopes for any new breakthroughs with North Korea, and told the Governors' Ball on Sunday that he was "not pushing for speed" with North Korea's denuclearization.

"I'm not in a rush. I don't want to rush anybody," he said. "I just don't want testing. As long as there's no testing, we're happy."

He added that US sanctions on North Korea would remain for the time being. Beijing has been urging the United Nations to relax some of its sanctions on North Korea for months.

SEE ALSO: A Vietnamese barbershop near Trump and Kim Jong Un's next summit is offering free Trump- and Kim-style haircuts

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NOW WATCH: The US Air Force refuels combat jets in midair with a 'flying boom system' — watch it in action

• "The Green Book: Guide to Freedom," a new Smithsonian Channel documentary, aims to tell the true history behind the Negro Motorist Green Book, a pre-civil-rights-era travel guide for African Americans.
• Director Yoruba Richen said she's "not interested" in supporting "Green Book," the Oscar-winning movie surrounded by controversy.
• "At this point, everyone should know better, in my opinion," Richen told Business Insider. "It just seems like this is very retro to do it this way with a white writer and a white director."
• Richen learned of "Green Book" after it premiered in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, but was deep into filming the documentary at that point.

Oscar-winning movie "Green Book" was a focus for critics and audiences this awards season — for both negative and positive reasons — but a new Smithsonian Channel documentary aims to focus the conversation on the real Green Book, a pre-civil-rights-era travel guide for African Americans throughout the US.

"The Green Book: Guide to Freedom" documentary recounts the history of the Negro Motorist Green Book, a history that the movie — which won three Oscars on Sunday, including best picture — only briefly references.

Created in 1936 by Victor Green, a postal worker from Harlem, the Green Book originated as a guide to safe businesses in New York City that accepted African Americans. In the years that followed, it evolved into a country-spanning travel and vacation guide that ultimately included over 900 locations (only one third of which are still standing, according to the documentary).

READ MORE: 'Green Book' won the best picture Oscar after facing controversies including an anti-Muslim tweet and genital flashing

Director Yoruba Richen told Business Insider that she became attached to the documentary prior to learning that the "Green Book" movie was in development. She knew that a movie about African-American musician Don Shirley (played in "Green Book" by Mahershala Ali, who won the best supporting actor Oscar for the role) was in the works because his great niece,  Yvonne Shirley, told her. Yvonne has spoken out against "Green Book's" depiction of Shirley, claiming it misrepresents him.

It wasn't until the movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018 that Richen realized the Don Shirley film was "Green Book." At that point, Richen's documentary had been greenlit by Smithsonian.

"Green Book" tells the story of Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer at clubs in New York City who takes a job driving Shirley (Ali) during a tour through the Deep South in the 1960s. In the movie, Vallelonga uses the Green Book to navigate.

Apart from the Shirley family's disapproval of the movie, "Green Book" has been plagued by other controversies. Director Peter Farrelly apologized last month when past reports resurfaced that he repeatedly flashed his genitals in front of colleagues in the 1990s. And writer Nick Vallelonga, son of Frank, deleted his Twitter account after an anti-Muslim tweet resurfaced.

Richen said that she hasn't seen "Green Book" because she's been "extremely busy," but she's followed the criticism and she's "not interested" in supporting the movie.

READ MORE: All the winners of the 2019 Oscars

"The Green Book is one example of how African Americans, and people of color in general and marginalized groups, are advocating for us to be able to tell our own stories," Richen said. "That to me is where the problem lies, that it's a white director, a white writer, and it's a take on this fascinating character, Dr. Shirley, that's from the white perspective."

She continued, "At this point, everyone should know better, in my opinion. It just seems like this is very retro to do it this way with a white writer and a white director. If you're going to have a white writer, have a black director or at least an African-American co-writer, or something. It just seems weird to me."

The silver lining to the "Green Book" controversy for Richen is that it has provoked conversation and interest in the history of the guide, which she said had been overlooked.

"There are a lot of folks that were a part of our history and narrative that have been lost," Richen said. "If you do learn anything about the civil rights movement, it's a very narrow lens, so a lot of people have been left out."

Richen said the most eye-opening aspect of making the documentary for her was how the Green Book created a community for African Americans.

"We have one subject in the film who called it a 'parallel universe,'" Richen said. "These books were a map of that. And it really helped build a middle class and serve a middle class. Yes, it was for safety, obviously, but by the early '40s, it was called the Guide to Travel and Vacations."

"The Green Book: Guide to Freedom" is available to stream on the Smithsonian Channel app, and will air on the Smithsonian Channel Monday at 8 p.m. 

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Roma' made history with its Oscar wins despite losing best picture to 'Green Book'

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NOW WATCH: Michael D'Antonio reveals Donald Trump's 'strange' morning ritual that boosts his ego

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Here at Insider Picks, we are constantly surprised and delighted by the stories and products our readers connect with. Our audience is discerning, passionate, smart, and always on the hunt for things that will make their lives better, more efficient, or more fun. 

We thought it would be fun to give you all a glimpse into the things that your fellow readers have been buying up on Amazon — from an affordable, electric razor to a cult-favorite face mask to phone chargers, lots of phone chargers.

Check out 17 items from Amazon our readers are buying right now:

SEE ALSO: The 32 best things we ever bought on Amazon for under $25

DON'T MISS: 21 game-changing products we swear by in our everyday lives

An extra-long lightning cable for charging phones

Anker Powerline Six-foot Lightning Cable, $8.99

We've written quite a lot about this charging cable, with many from the Insider Picks team citing it as one of the best things we've ever bought. There's just something extremely freeing about not being tethered to a short cord while your phone is charging. 

An even more durable extra-long lightning cable for charging phones

Anker Powerline II Six-foot Lightning Cable, $14.99

A team-favorite charging cable (mentioned above) gets an upgrade. The Powerline II can sustain more bends and support weights of 175 pounds or more — making it 40% more durable than its predecessor. Anker is pretty confident this charging cable is the only one you need and to prove it you'll get a lifetime warranty on your purchase. 

A clay mask that many swear has healed their acne

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask, $10.95

Our readers became obsessed with this mask once our reporter, Mara Leighton, wrote her glowing review about how it helped clear up her skin. It's also been making its rounds on social media and across tons of beauty sites, so we're not too surprised that our readers love it. 

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

The US smart home market has still yet to meet the expectations many observers had in the early part of this decade.

The same issues Business Insider Intelligence first identified back in 2015 still plague the space — persistently high prices, technological fragmentation, and consumers' lack of a perceived benefit from the devices.

But the newfound popularity of smart home voice control has revolutionized smart home ecosystems across the country, and convinces more consumers to equip their homes with smart devices on a daily basis. The Amazon Echo, released in 2014, has become immensely popular and capable, awakening users to the utility of both voice control and smart home devices. This has prompted companies to rush to release competing devices and integrate voice control into their smart home ecosystems.

In a new report from Business Insider Intelligence, we examine the overall state of the US smart home market — both the professionally and self-installed markets. We analyze the factors driving demand for smart home devices and smart home voice speakers, and discuss the future of voice control in the home.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Voice control is becoming a key remote interface within the home, a trend that began with the introduction of the Amazon Echo in 2014. Since then, Google, Samsung, and Apple have all integrated voice control into their smart home ecosystems.
• While progress has been made, prices are still too high and consumers still have yet to show strong demand for smart home devices.
• The US smart home market is only now entering the mass market phase of consumer adoption and overcoming the chasm that it sat in back in 2015.

In full, the report:

• Analyzes current consumer demand for smart home devices based off results from Business Insider Intelligence's proprietary survey.
• Forecasts future growth in the number of smart home devices installed in American homes.
• Analyzes the factors influencing the proliferation of voice control devices in the homes.
• Identifies and analyzes the market strategies of various companies that have integrated voice control into their smart home ecosystems.

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• The 2019 Oscars were held in Los Angeles on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre. 
• Major Hollywood stars, including Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Emilia Clarke, Jason Momoa, and more were in attendance.
• Keep reading for a look at the best backstage moments and behind-the-scenes photos you might have missed.

The Academy Awards' backstage didn't see a dull moment during Sunday night's 2019 Oscar ceremony.

From heart-melting reunions to happy tears and massive hugs, INSIDER has gathered the best moments of the night which happened away from the live cameras and during commercial breaks.

Keep reading to see what all your favorite stars were up to backstage at the 91st Annual Academy Awards.

Stars prepared for their spotlight presentation moments backstage

Melissa McCarthy and Bryan Tyree Henry prepped for their costume design award presentation.

Chris Evans and Jennifer Lopez went over their script for presenting the Oscar for production design. 

There were hugs galore in the hallways of Dolby Theater

"Game of Thrones" co-stars and on-screen couple Jason Momoa and Emilia Clarke reunited backstage. 

Helen Mirren took a selfie with Momoa in front of all the to-be-awarded Oscar statues.

Later, Mirren snapped a picture of Serena Williams sipping some sparkling wine backstage while watching Bette Midler perform a song from "Mary Poppins Returns.'

Frances McDormand (who won best actress last year) embraced Olivia Colman after her Oscar win.

Best picture presenter Julia Roberts screamed in delight when she saw Linda Cardellini backstage. 

Stars geeked over each other, and swapped selfies or got autographs 

James McAvoy took a picture in the bathroom showing his white shirt covered in red sharpie autographs from his fellow actors.

After the ceremony McAvoy told Vanity Fair he was backstage with a crowd of stars and saw the red sharpie, and jokingly asked if they would sign his shirt. He said Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Frances McDormand, and Michael B. Jordon were among the celebrities who'd signed it.

Olivia Colman had an intimate moment with Lady Gaga after her best actress win. 

Michelle Yeoh shared this photo of her and "Crazy Rich Asians" director John Chu cozied up behind "The Favourite" stars Olivia Colman and Emma Stone. 

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's performance had everyone going wild

Gaga and Cooper performed "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born," and brought down the house. 

Read more:Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga gave an emotional and intimate performance at the Oscars, and people have feelings

When Gaga and Cooper returned to the stage so they could go take their seats, the Oscars audience gave them a second standing ovation.

Not too long afterwards, Mark Ronson, Lady Gaga, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt won best original song for "Shallow."

Then came time for after-party celebrations

Before he could start celebrating his win for best actor, Rami Malek took a spill and fell off the main Oscars stage. 

Then Malek took celebrating to a new level when he sprayed champagne all over a room full of people at the Governor's Ball.

Julia Roberts ended the ceremony with the presentation of best picture to "Green Book." Afterward, she and Paul Rudd caught up and took a selfie. 

Read more:Paul Rudd presented at the Oscars, and fans swooned over his 'ageless' looks

Jennifer Hudson and Barbara Streisand posed together at the Vanity Fair party.

Taylor Swift didn't attend the Oscar ceremony, but was on hand for the after parties with boyfriend Joe Alwyn ("The Favourite"). 

Best adapted screenplay winner Spike Lee ("BlacKKKlansman,""Do the Right Thing") was seen speaking with "Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler at one soiree. 

And seven-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close danced the night away.

• Read more:
• Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga gave an emotional and intimate performance at the Oscars, and people have feelings
• Lady Gaga wore a $30 million necklace to the Oscars with a 128-carat yellow diamond last seen on Audrey Hepburn
• Here's the complete list of the 2019 Oscar winners
• The best outfits celebrities wore to the 2019 Oscars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Michael D'Antonio reveals Donald Trump's 'strange' morning ritual that boosts his ego

• Russian state media identified five US targets Russia would seek to destroy in a nuclear war, claiming that the new Zircon missile Russia could strike less than five minutes after launch.
• The Sunday evening broadcast came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened the US, warning that he is ready for a "Cuban Missile-style crisis."
• Russia has said that if the US positions new missiles in Europe, it could send ships and submarines armed with new hypersonic weapons to lurk off the coast of the US.

Russian state media pinpointed targets in the US that Russia would strike in a nuclear war with its new Zircon missile that reportedly travels at nine times the speed of sound.

Just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened the US, state TV channel Russia-1 presented a list of US targets the country would strike in the event of a nuclear war, according to Reuters.

The targets listed in the Sunday evening broadcast included the Pentagon and Camp David, as well as Jim Creek Naval Radio Station in Washington, Fort Ritchie in Maryland, and McClellan Air Force base out in California, Russian media outlet Sputnik reported. The latter two targets have been closed for around two decades, making them odd choices.

Russian state media claimed that the Zircon missiles Russia is developing could strike critical US targets less than five minutes after launch.

Tensions have been flaring between the US and Russia since the two countries walked away from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a Cold War-era nuclear arms agreement the NATO and the US have accused Russia of violating. Observers have noted that the collapse of this bilateral pact risks escalating an arms race between the two nuclear powers.

Russia is particularly concerned about the possibility that the US will position new missiles in Europe. In his state of the nation address Wednesday, Putin threatened to target both the host countries for the new missiles and US decision-making centers with new weapons if the US were to take that step.

Read More:In threatening state of the nation address, Putin threatens to target the US with new weapons if it puts missiles in Europe

It was during that speech that the president unveiled the Zircon missile, a hypersonic weapon he said was able to fly at nine times the speed of sound and strike targets 620 miles away.

The very next day, Putin warned that Russia is ready for a "Cuban Missile-style crisis" if the US wants one, noting that Russia could arm its submarines with hypersonic weapons and let them lurk off the US coast, Reuters reported. Washington has said that it has no plans to place new missiles in Europe.

"For now, we're not threatening anyone, but if such a deployment takes place, our response will be instant," Russian state media said Sunday evening.

Russian Rear Adm. Vsevolod Khmyrov, who is retired, told reporters last week that Russian ships and submarines could each carry up to 40 Zircon missiles.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is 35 — here's how he became one of the world's scariest dictators

• The stock market's rapid recovery since December has distracted investors from a troubling slowdown in economic growth.
• Goldman Sachs says the slowing economy is starting to eat away at corporate sales growth, but the firm has formulated a strategy to help investors profit anyway.
• Further, Goldman reveals a basket of stocks primed to outperform going forward.

As the stock market has enjoyed a rapid recovery since its late-December reckoning, a troubling development has bubbled under the surface.

US economic growth — which, for months, showed signs of strength — has sharply decelerated. A proprietary "current activity" indicator maintained by economists at Goldman Sachs has been cut nearly in half since the end of December, the firm said in a recent note.

Upon first glance, this might not seem troubling for stocks, considering the Federal Reserve should theoretically be less likely to raise interest rates when the economy is flagging. But the slowdown has had the secondary effect of dragging corporate revenue growth lower — something investors never want to see.

Goldman finds that consensus expectations for year-over-year sales growth have slipped to 5.4%, a full percentage point lower than in December. Given this information, the most prudent approach would seem to be to identify and buy stocks still boasting strong revenue prospects.

It's a strategy that's gotten results. As the chart below shows, high-revenue-growth stocks have beaten the benchmark S&P 500 as economic growth has slowed.

But Goldman's best strategy for playing a slowing economic environment doesn't end there. Finding high-sales-growth companies is just half the battle.

The firm is also keenly focused on a metric called operating leverage, which is calculated by looking at a company's share of fixed costs as a percentage of revenue. The thinking is, the lower this measure is, the less impact a slowing economy will have on sales. And that, in turn, will offer better stock returns.

So Goldman's approach is really a hybrid of identifying companies that offer both fast sales growth and rigid cost structures. And in the event you're not sold, the firm finds that this low-operating-leverage strategy has outperformed the broader market by 250 basis point over the past two months.

What's more, Goldman notes that the trade is cheap relative to history. Or, perhaps more accurately, a high-operating-leverage investing technique is historically expensive. No matter how you slice it, that makes companies with low operating leverage that much more appealing right now.

"In the current macro environment, we recommend investors own stocks with low operating leverage and sell companies with high operating leverage," David Kostin, Goldman's chief US equity strategist, wrote in a client note.

So what types of companies can currently be found in the low-operating-leverage basket that Goldman maintains? The firm includes stocks across eight S&P 500 industries, with information technology leading the way.

Here's a sampling of the basket's components, which includes the 10 companies with the lowest degree of operating leverage, based on the methodology outlined above: Omnicom Group, Altria Group, TransDigm Group, Expeditors International, LyondellBasell Industries, VeriSign, Copart, HCA Healthcare, HollyFrontier, and McDonald's.

SEE ALSO: The market is headed for a $12 trillion reckoning that could accelerate the next stock crash

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• Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett said Monday that he would support Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City and the founder of Bloomberg LP, if he were to run for president.
• Buffett made the comments on Monday morning in an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box.
• Both men are among the richest people in the world.

Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said Monday that he would support Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg LP, if he were to announce a 2020 presidential bid.

"If Mike Bloomberg announced tomorrow that he was a candidate, I would say, 'I'm for him,' and I think he would be a very good president," he said in an interview with CNBC's Becky Quick.

"He and I disagree on some things, but I think that he knows how to run things. I think that he's got the right goals for America, he understands people, he understands the market system, and he understands the problems of people that don't fit well into the market system."

Buffett, who on Saturday released his annual letter to shareholders, told CNBC that he wasn't a Democrat through and through, though over the last three decades he's voted for more Democrats than Republicans.

"I'm not a card-carrying Democratic, but I never have been," Buffett said. "I've voted for a fair number of Republicans, I've given money to Republicans." 

Both Buffett and Bloomberg are among the richest people in the world, according to Forbes. Buffett's net worth, as of Forbes' 2018 ranking, was $84 billion, while Bloomberg's was $50 billion.

While it's long been rumored that Bloomberg would run for the highest US office, he told the Associated Press in early February that he would decide by the end of this month if he would enter the race. He officially registered as a Democrat — again — last October.

Bloomberg has rejected the notion that he likely wouldn't enter the 2020 presidential race if Joe Biden, the former vice president, announced a bid.

"My decision doesn't depend on what other people are going to do," Bloomberg told the AP. "My decision depends on whether or not I think I can make a difference."

Read more: Michael Bloomberg says he'll decide if he's running for president by the end of the month

In his interview with CNBC Buffett also voiced his displeasure about Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, announcing he would consider running for president in the upcoming election. 

"If he ran as an independent, I think he would take votes away from any Democrat, including Bloomberg, if he were running, so I think it would be a real mistake for him to run," Buffett said. "I think, generally, third-party candidates, they're going to hurt one side or the other, and they're more likely to hurt the side that they actually favor, because they're closer to that view." 

He added: "I hope no third-party candidate runs that pulls any significant amount of votes. I mean, there will always be a couple of people that file, but I think third-party candidates can thwart, actually, the will of the people."

Read more of Markets Insider's Berkshire Hathaway coverage:

• Here are the biggest takeaways from Warren Buffett's annual letter

• Here are Warren Buffett's 15 biggest investments

• WARREN BUFFETT: We're hunting for an 'elephant-sized acquisition'

• WARREN BUFFETT: The new accounting rule will produce 'wild and capricious swings in our bottom line'

• WARREN BUFFETT: Berkshire Hathaway raked in $3.8 billion in dividends last year — here's how much our 5 biggest holdings paid

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• On Sunday, Jennifer Lopez attended the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, held this year at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
• The musician arrived wearing a multicolored strapless gown, which featured a thigh-high slit and a fan-like ruffle detail.
• The dress was designed by Zuhair Murad for his Couture Spring/Summer 2019 collection.
• Earlier in the night, Lopez attended the 2019 Oscars at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre wearing a reflective  Tom Ford gown that looked like it was covered in tiny mirrors.

Jennifer Lopez stole the show on Sunday when she arrived at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, held this year at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.

The star showed up wearing a strapless gown in sparkling shades of blue, purple, and black. It featured a thigh-high slit, as well as an eye-catching ruffle detail that looked like a built-in folding fan.

Lopez kept her accessories minimal, wearing small dangling earrings and delicate rings.

The gown was designed by Zuhair Murad, and was originally shown as part of his Couture Spring/Summer 2019 collection.

Lopez's Zuhair Murad gown was actually her second standout look of the night. Earlier on Sunday, Lopez attended the 2019 Oscars held at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre wearing a sparkling Tom Ford dress, which featured a high neck and long sleeves. It also had a reflective surface, and appears to have been made from a bunch of tiny mirrors.

Read more: Jennifer Lopez literally shone at the Oscars in a dress that looked like it was made entirely out of tiny mirrors

On Instagram, Lopez gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at the styling preparation that went into creating her Oscars look.

Lopez also shared another video on Instagram to pay tribute to the Badgley Mischka dress she wore to the Oscars in 1999. In her post, Lopez said that she had "felt like a true princess" while wearing the gown.

Read more:

Here's the complete list of the 2019 Oscar winners

• Emma Stone's brown Oscars dress is dividing the internet, and critics are comparing it to everything from a Furby to an ice-cream cone
• Lady Gaga wore a $30 million necklace to the Oscars with a 128-carat yellow diamond last seen on Audrey Hepburn
• Actor Billy Porter made a statement in a tuxedo dress with a voluminous skirt on the Oscars red carpet

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• The overnight ratings for the 91st Academy Awards are in and Sunday night's show is up 14% compared to the early numbers of last year's show.
• The Oscars are looking to rebound from last year's telecast, which was the lowest rated in history.

Thanks to no host, a few surprise wins, and a much anticipated duet by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, the 91st Academy Awards on Sunday looks to have rebounded in the ratings compared to last year's all-time low. 

Early rating numbers indicate that the telecast was up 14% from last year's show.

Last night's overnight numbers were 21.6/36 share in Nielsen's 56 metered markets results in the 8-11:15 p.m. ET slot, according to Deadline. Last year's overnight got an 18.9 and went on to have a 26.5 million rating, the lowest ever for the Oscars.

Read more: "Green Book" wins the best picture Oscar, and here's why many people aren't happy about it

It's a positive sign that the way the show was done this year — with no host, limiting the length of speeches, and shaving down the length of the musical performances — was the right move.

"If you book presenters properly and they are big enough stars, you don't need a host," Jeff Margolis, who directed the Oscars telecast eight times, told Business Insider. 

And that turned out to be true, as presenters from the trio of Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph at the start of the show to the "Wayne's World" reunion of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey to introduce best picture nominee "Bohemian Rhapsody" were big hits.

The show also had elements that made the casual Oscar fan tune in: the nominations for "Black Panther" (it won three Oscars), the first-ever win for Spike Lee (who won for best original screenplay), many of the big categories not having a huge frontrunner to win, and the must-see duet of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga singing the best original song nominee "Shallow" from their movie "A Star Is Born" (which won the award).

The final ratings for the night will be released later in the day on Monday. 

SEE ALSO: All the winners of the 2019 Oscars

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• A California city has agreed to pay a $21 million settlement to Craig Coley after he was wrongly imprisoned for 39 years. 
• Coley, 71, was first released and pardoned in 2017, when DNA evidence was found to exonerate him from killing a mother and son. 
• Coley was represented by a novice defender before he was sentenced to life without parole. 

A California city has agreed to a $21 million settlement to 71-year-old Craig Coley after he was wrongly imprisoned for 39 years. 

Coley was imprisoned for the 1978 murders of 24-year-old Rhonda Wicht and her 4-year-old son, Donald, before DNA evidence led to his release and pardon in 2017. 

Simi Valley City Manager Eric Levitt said in a statement that the city would contribute around $4.9 million of the settlement, in addition to money from various sources including insurance payouts. 

"While no amount of money can make up for what happened to Mr. Coley, settling this case is the right thing to do for Mr. Coley and our community," Levitt said in a statement. 

Coley was reportedly already paid $2 million by the state last year, calculated as $140 for each of the 13,991 days he was held "illegally behind bars, away from society, employment, and [his] loved ones."

Former Gov. Jerry Brown praised his unrelenting faith through his incarceration when pardoning Coley, reportedly calling him "extraordinary." 

Coley's case was troubled from the start, CBS Los Angeles reported. Coley was represented by a novice defender before he was sentenced to life without parole. After his sentence, former Simi Valley detective Michael Bender reportedly took interest in the case and has been fighting for his justice since 1989.

The November 2017 report describes how Coley never swayed from claiming innocence in the case, and said he only felt "OK" about a hypothetical $10 million payout for his imprisonment.

"I always had hope," Coley told CBS after his pardon. "Sometimes it was stronger than others."

Recent years have seen a sharp upturn in the overturning of wrongful convictions. According to statistics from the Innocence Project, more than 360 people have been exonerated by DNA evidence since 1989. 

Read more:

'Accomplices in oppression': 14 new members of Congress demand Apple and Google remove Saudi government app that lets men control women's movements

Trump accuses Spike Lee of 'racist hit' in Oscars speech after director called on the US to 'do the right thing' and vote him out in 2020

Rami Malek fell off the stage after accepting his Oscar and had to be treated by paramedics

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Drones — also commonly referred to as unmanned aircraft — are no longer a cool, new novelty that companies in only a handful of industries are testing.

Businesses across various industries and levels of government in the US are utilizing at least a handful of drones. But more importantly, drone users are now realizing a deep return on their investments from the aircraft's ability to help save hours of time and labor.

However, to successfully get a drone program up and running, businesses need to have an idea of what they want the aircraft to do, and the value they hope to create. To that end, companies need to know what their competitors are doing with the aircraft so they can plan their own projects accordingly.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence details how unmanned aircraft are disrupting a slew of different industries, including agriculture, construction and mining, insurance, media and telecommunications, and the public sector. We also size the market for global enterprise drone shipments, and pinpoint the features that make drones useful tools within different industries. Lastly, we make predictions for how drone use in these industries will evolve over the next five to 10 years and to what extent their impact will be magnified over this period.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented its Part 107 regulations for unmanned aircraft in August 2016, the commercial drone industry in the US has taken off. 
• Companies across the US have rushed to deploy drones to cut costs, boost operational efficiency, and open up new streams of revenue. Meanwhile, firms elsewhere in the world have taken notice and ramped up their own drone projects.
• Unmanned aircraft have the potential to create the greatest business value in the construction, mining, and agriculture industries. The agriculture industry was a relatively early adopter of drones, and today one-third of farmers in the US plan to use at least one drone this year. Meanwhile, drones will have a less significant, yet noticeable, impact on media, telecommunications, and insurance businesses.
• Drones will lead these industries to become highly data-driven in the coming years, making the aircraft a must-have for companies to keep pace with their competitors. They will allow businesses to synthesize and analyze trends in their workflows to bolster their operational efficiency and predict problems before they happen.

In full, the report:

• Analyzes the development of drone use across five different industries.
• Offers a look at how drone use in these industries will evolve over the coming years.
• Sizes the market for enterprise drone shipments over a seven-year period, both in the US and abroad.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Moody's Investors Service has identified 17 retailers that have the highest risk of defaulting or filing for bankruptcy. 
• The list includes PetSmart, Neiman Marcus, and J.Crew.
• Just two months into 2019, four retailers have already filed for bankruptcy: Payless ShoeSource, Charlotte Russe, Gymboree, and FullBeauty Brands.

The fallout from the retail apocalypse is far from over. 

Just two months into 2019, four retailers have already filed for bankruptcy, including Payless ShoeSource, Charlotte Russe, Gymboree, and FullBeauty Brands.

Ratings agencies are expecting more defaults in the coming months. 

"As the US retail industry emerges from one of its worst multi-year default cycles yet, companies are getting ready for a second, though less virulent round among smaller, weaker names," analysts for Moody's Investors Service wrote in a February 21 report. 

The report identified 17 retailers that have the highest risk of defaulting or filing for bankruptcy:

SEE ALSO: Inside the infamous dead mall that Amazon is reportedly redeveloping

DON'T MISS: The number of retail stores closing this year just doubled to more than 4,000 — here's the full list

PetSmart

PetSmart is the largest US pet retailer with more than 1,600 pet stores in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In 2017, PetSmart purchased Chewy.com for $3.4 billion in what was the largest e-commerce acquisition at the time. Since then, the company has been struggling to pay down roughly $8 billion in debt amid growing competition online from Walmart, Amazon, Target, and others.

Neiman Marcus Group

The luxury department-store chain Neiman Marcus has returned to positive sales growth after years of losses, but it's still grappling with nearly $5 billion in debt.

Academy

The sporting goods retailer Academy Sports & Outdoors, which has more than 240 locations, is struggling to compete against larger rivals like Amazon, Walmart, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

"Academy faces a challenging turnaround amid the highly competitive sporting goods environment," Moody's analyst Raya Sokolyanska wrote in a note in January. "In the near term, the company's good liquidity, with ample revolver availability and lack of debt maturities until 2022, provides key support to an otherwise weakening credit profile." 

• Kendall Jenner attended Vanity Fair's after-party for the 2019 Oscars in a daring dress by couture designer Rami Kadi.
• The shimmering black gown featured a halter-style neckline and plunging keyhole cutout.
• The dress also had fringed layers of beads and crystals around the hips and two floor-length swaths of fabric that cascaded down the front and back.
• The bottom of the dress looked similar to a floor-length loincloth.

Kendall Jenner turned heads at Vanity Fair's annual Oscars after-party in one of her most daring red-carpet looks yet.

Sunday night, the model attended the star-studded event at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, wearing a shimmering black dress with a halter-style neckline and plunging keyhole cutout.

The couture gown, a piece from Rami Kadi's Spring/Summer 2019 collection, featured fringed layers of beads and crystals around the hips and two floor-length swaths of fabric that cascaded down the front and back, which left the sides of Jenner's legs completely exposed.

Jenner accessorized the memorable look with pointy-toe stilettos, shimmering black earrings, and a statement ring.

The model's gown was a fresh take on both the "naked" dress and "no pants" trends, which have dominated red-carpet fashion over the past year.

Read more: 34 times celebrities have rocked the 'no pants' trend

Jenner herself has rocked both trends several times. Most recently, during New York Fashion Week, she attended the launch party for Stuart Weitzman's #SWWalk collection in a glossy copper blazer by Blazé Milano, sans pants.

She completed the look with sheer black tights, a pair of black leather gloves, dangling gold earrings, and Stuart Weitzman's Anny 70 pumps.

And at the 2018 British Fashion Awards in December, Jenner freed the nipple in an embellished gown by Julien Macdonald that featured structured shoulders and a hip-high slit on the left side.

The reality TV star completed the look with beige Gianvito Rossi heels and gold square earrings.

• Read more:
• The best outfits celebrities wore to the 2019 Oscars
• What your favorite celebrities wore to the 2019 Oscars
• The best-dressed celebrity couples at the 2019 Oscars
• Here's the complete list of the 2019 Oscar winners

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• Vivobarefoot shoes mimic the natural shape of your foot and provide minimal cushioning for maximum sensory feedback.
• The pair I tried, the Kanna ($75) are the most useful and versatile shoes I've added to my closet in a long time.
• The Kanna is stylish, comfortable, breathable, and roll up to the size of a pair of socks so I can carry them in my purse or crowded carry-on.
• You can find them at Vivobarefoot.com or Zappos. 

Let me begin by saying that I have never been one to proselytize shoes that look like gloves for your feet. I am no convert. And while I do prefer going barefoot, the surprise-ridden sidewalks of NYC have completely tampered the impulse. 

Having said that, clunky sneakers and boots make walking in the city a tiring, sweaty affair. So when Vivobarefoot sent a pair of their new sneakers — the vegan Kannas, ($125)— to try out, I was excited by the prospect to potentially discover the same fervor those glove-shoe missionaries seem to have.

After a month of using them multiple times a week, I can honestly say I rely on these shoes more than any other pair in my closet. Their versatility is unprecedented for me. I’ll get into the nitty gritty below, but they deliver on packability, versatility, style, comfort, and a lightweight construction I am consistently impressed by. They are extremely minimal (meaning minimal cushioning), but the trade-off is worth it.

Vivobarefoot is a pretty recognizable name in minimalist, almost-barefoot footwear. According to the company, the human foot is a biomechanical masterpiece that can cope with more than we ask it to nowadays: “by cramming it into a modern shoe, you negate its natural function.” Your feet have 200,000 nerves in them — the same as your hands. By loading up on padding, you muffle the sensory feedback your brain would otherwise receive, resulting in clumsier, less skillful movement.

It reminds me of the logic oft-repeated in my sports of choice — kickboxing and yoga. Participants are asked not to wear shoes so that they can more actively and fluidly engage all parts of their body — through sensory feedback, and by more literally building flexibility and strength in every muscle group — all the way down to your toes.

Vivobarefoot shoes are made from thin, puncture-resistant soles with no heel or support. In theory, they allow your 200,000 nerves to better provide your brain with the sensory feedback that enables you to move with greater agility and skill. Or, if you aren't planning to use them for added agility, it's as close in weight and breathability to wearing nothing as you can get without being poked by sidewalk glass. 

Vivo shoes are also purposefully wide. Wide shoes allow your toes (especially your big toes) to provide a stable base of support. This “foot shaped” design enables your feet to move closer to how nature intended — whether you’re clambering over rocks or pirouetting. This wide shape, though, may come with an adjustment period. I order my typical size 9, but I may have thought they were too big if I hadn’t known what to expect.

I’m not sure what my nana would say about arch support looking at these, but at the moment I’m too happy with the product to care.

If you’re looking for cushion, you have come to the wrong place. Vivo shoes truly don’t have a heel or sole — which is why they can roll up into a ball to be stuffed in your bag. However, I don’t find them uncomfortable. There was some sensitivity — though nothing drastic by any means —when I ran six miles in them on the treadmill, and after spending a long day of walking around the hard concrete of the city, though. And since we learn "bad" (or, unnatural) posture and gait habits as we grow up, Vivobarefoot recommends ‘walking before you can run’ in their shoes — getting used to the flexibility and unusual muscle engagement before stretching yourself too far.

In fact, the company says that if you plan to stick to jogging (characterized by “long sticky heel-striking strides") the more cushioning the better — and you should stick to what you know and enjoy.

When I did some preliminary research online, I found that there were a decent amount of negative reviews (mostly pertaining to poor customer service, which I myself did not experience) — which surprised me. If you want to mitigate that concern, you might want to do your shopping on Zappos (though the newest iteration, the women's Kanna, is only available at Vivobarefoot so far).

As I’ve mentioned, I love these shoes. I did not expect to love them, and yet here we are. The black Kanna is stylish and goes with a pair of jean shorts as well as workout leggings, the construction is impressively lightweight and exceedingly breathable, and they pack down to almost nothing (really) — making them ideal for a packed work purse, carry-on, or gym bag on long days.

All in all, if you value breathability, versatility, and packability in your shoes, this is one of your best options. In my experience, Vivobarefoot's Kanna is impressively versatile and delivers on its claims of comfort, breathability, and lightweight construction. The fact that it can be folded up into the size of a pair of socks makes it my go-to for most days that require multiple activities, and even if you don't use them for the added agility they promise, the Vivobarefoot shoes deliver on everyday usefulness like few other pairs in my closet. For $125, they're a great buy if you think you'll use them. 

Shop Vivo shoes at Vivobarefoot or Zappos

Shop Vivobarefoot's Kanna, $75 [currently only available at Vivobarefoot]

SEE ALSO: 10 stylish sneakers to buy that aren't going to sell out in seconds

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