Before the Apple Watch: A Brief History

Remember back in the day when the only thing your watch could tell you was the time? No phone calls. No GPS. Nothing. But let’s keep in mind that when watches were in their infancy, these things were really high tech. 8,000 years ago, some brilliant person decided to make sun dials for people’s wrists, and since that first wearable, we’ve been getting techier with time. Over at Mr. Porter, they tracked some of the biggest timepiece advancements in designer history.

1. Watches went from pockets to wrists. In the 17th century, pocket watches were the way to go. But in 1903, wristwatches got a major advance. Wire lugs attached the face to the strap in a whole new, sleek way. Louis Cartier’s watch is known as the world’s first to flaunt this timeless design.

2. The first waterproof watch was luxurious. These days, it’s kind of expected that your watch is waterproof, but Rolex released the first waterproof piece in 1926 — it was called Oyster. To prove it, endurance swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel wearing a gold Rolex around her neck.

3. The pedometers in your fitness gadgets are old news. Pedometers were first counting the steps of President Thomas Jefferson in 1788, but they really picked up steam in 1965.

4. Digital watches were kind of a big deal. In 1969, Seiko unveiled their 35 SQ, which was the first-ever electronic quartz watch. People loved it so much, mechanical watches got old fast. Hamilton’s first LED watch in 1970 was priced at $2,100 — sound familiar, Apple Watch buyers?

5. It’s been a long time coming. It’s hard to look at a “vintage style” digital watch and think, “Wow, that’s pretty high tech,” but at the time, it totally was. 30 years from now, we’ll probably be telling time with wrist implants that glow from under our skin, and we’ll be thinking, “Apple Watch! Who wants to have to wear their electronics? That’s so 2015.”

What’s one old-fashioned watch feature that you love? Let’s talk time in the comments!

The easiest way to update your style this summer? Add a few extra-trendy accessories to your wardrobe staples and last-season essentials. While we're all for investing in the aforementioned timeless pieces, high price points don't always make sense for bold trends that are meant to be fun, not permanent. That's where Amazon comes in. If you know where to look (and we do), practically all the biggest trends can be found on the mega-retailer, making summer style accessible at every price point. Even a t-shirt and jeans can be transformed by slipping on acrylic rings (a major must-have right now), grabbing a bag in a summery new hue, and adding a cool pair of sunglasses. To upgrade your closet for the season, simply add a few of these playful picks to your cart.


Vintage Acrylic Rings ($14): Funky acrylic rings are everywhere right now, and there's no harm trying out the bold trend when they're so affordable.

Colorful Resin Rings ($10): For a slightly more subtle approach to the acrylic ring trend, these pretty colors are easier to style for everyday wear.

JW Pei Pouch Bag ($68): Combine a pastel palette with ruched shoulder style and you've found yourself the perfect summer bag.

Cloud Chain Bag ($30): Chunky chains are another big trend for summer, and the bold strap makes the popular cloud clutch so much easier to carry around.

Acrylic Beaded Bag ($27): Vintage beaded bags can be hard to find, but this adorable style still looks one-of-a-kind. Add to any outfit for a whimsical, summer look.

Vintage Aviator Sunglasses ($14): Vintage-style aviator sunglasses are everywhere right now, and this affordable version makes it easy to join in on the trend.

Driving Rectangle Sunglasses ($12): Tinted lenses are a lot easier to pair with face masks than all-black shades, so it's no surprise fun colors are the must-have style this summer.

Chain Belt ($16): Chain belts are a surprisingly cool way to dress up your athleisure pieces, like biker shorts and unitards.

Shower Slides ($17): Forget dad shoes — puffy slides are the new ugly-cute footwear trend to slip on for errands and workout classes.

Ruched Slides ($25): If you're looking for a less casual, yet still comfortable sandal for summer, ruched slides will check both boxes off for you.

WAYF Terry Bucket Hat ($45): Terry cloth is another emerging trend for spring and summer. Scoop up this cute terry hat version now so you wear it all season long.

Dad Baseball Cap ($10): You can never go wrong with a classic baseball cap. Add a new color to your rotation that goes with the rest of your seasonal hues.

Flower Pearl Necklace ($11): You'll be surprised how quickly you can transform an outfit for the warmer months by simply adding on this playful, throwback necklace.

Bohemian Bead Pearl Necklace ($15): You may have seen mixed metal necklaces everywhere for fall and winter, but this half-pearl, half-beaded necklace has reimagined the trend for summer.

Smiley Toggle Necklace ($24): After a long year, the cheer-y, smiley jewelry trend is a more than welcome addition to our wardrobes. When paired with a pearl chain and toggle clasp, you have the ultimate statement necklace for summer.

Cotton Crew Socks ($17): If you're embracing the socks with sandals trend, these colorful crew socks are the perfect choice. Of course, you can always wear them with your favorite sneakers, but it never hurts to have a fresh batch.

Crystal Bracelet Watch ($45): This retro-style watch will immediately elevate your outfit (without the investment required by most watches). Pair it with chunky gold bracelets for an even bolder look.

Tortoise Claw Clip ($12): Of all the Y2K trends returning for this season, claw clips may be the most sophisticated and functional of them all. Keep one handy to clip back your hair whenever you need.

Mini Acetate Clips ($10): Alternatively, use these colorful mini clips for a fun way to pull back shorter hair (or your outgrown curtain bangs) or experiment with more Y2K hair styles.

Tag us with all your summer fashion on Instagram!

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If there's one thing I love to see, it's celebrities going makeup-free. And I'll celebrate it every single time! In addition to Drew Barrymore taking her makeup off on live TV (and throwing her extensions on the ground) and Millie Bobby Brown showing off her acne in selfies, Lady Gaga loves to go makeup-free. Remember when she performed at the Oscars with no makeup and ripped jeans?! Well the actress and singer just posted another adorable selfie without a stitch of makeup.

Here's what Lady Gaga had to say about "Die With A Smile" alongside her no-makeup selfie.

Lady Gaga is "so grateful" the song is #1.

To celebrate "Die With A Smile" (her song with Bruno Mars) hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady Gaga posted a photo of her laying in the grass with a huge grin on her face — and without any makeup.

"Thank you to all of the monsters and hooligans for helping make 'Die With A Smile' #1 on the Billboard Hot 100! We love you and are so grateful," she says in the post. "Having multiple songs of mine hit #1 across three decades feels surreal, and I am overwhelmed by the love and support you have shown me from the beginning. I have so much more in store for you and can’t wait to share it."

Friends and fans flooded the comments with everyone from Noah Cyrus saying, "you’re so gorgeous," to a fan account adding, "Thank you for your art! So proud of you and Bruno. You deserve this!"

And she loved recording it with Bruno Mars!

The song was released on August 16, and in a statement to Page Six, Lady Gaga praised Bruno Mars as a collaborator. “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” she says. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu, and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on...It was around midnight when I got there, and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making.”

After revealing they "stayed up all night” to finish both writing and recording it, Lady Gaga continues, “Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him." There's no one like you either Gaga!

Has "Die With A Smile" been on repeat for you? Let us know your favorite Lady Gaga song on Instagram!

If you're ready to jolt your productivity, we've got some quick little tips and tricks for Y-O-U. This list from Ethos3 compiles 33 brilliant ideas from people who know what they're talking about. We've picked out a few of our favorite productivity tips that we want to use in our daily routines, but make sure you check out the whole infographic here. Whether you're facing a big project at work or are a creative looking for inspiration, productivity equals happiness. And these tips will revamp your day and let you spend more time doing the things you love.

Know Your Peak Performance Hours: The genius 30/30 app operates on the idea that highest productivity happens when you focus on a single task, completely uninterrupted, for half an hour.


Keep It Simple: Don't over-commit to long work hours, because you'll just lose inspiration and stress yourself out. Makers stay creative on the daily by scheduling time for hobbies and creative projects.

Creative Space: We're not going to brag, but we're kind of pros on the whole workspace front. From organizational hacks to these workplace essentials we've got everything you need for the most productive office ever.

Sleep Habits: For obvious reasons, we're totally behind the nap idea. And according to this infographic on the sleep habits of creative people, naps are definitely part of the creative process.

Morning Routines: You probably don't want to hear this, but getting up early will give you extra time to get everything done in a more leisurely manner. Don't worry, we've got a few tips and tricks on how to become a morning person.

Make That List: Whether you prefer an app or a good old-fashioned paper to-do list, the mere act of writing things down will inspire you to start checking them off.

Plan Ahead: Take some time on Sunday to plan out your entire week. Write down things that must be accomplished this week and then figure out how to divide it up into manageable pieces.

Make It a Habit: Instead of putting “be creative" on your to-do list every day, just make it a habit by scheduling it in at the same time every day (see Morning Routines!).

Eat Breakfast: How many times do you have to be told not to skip breakfast? It is good for your health and for your productivity, and we've got some amazing breakfast ideas that can be made in no time. There is literally no excuse left.

Feeling inspired yet? Let us know how you use these productivity tips @BritandCo!

(h/t Ethos3)

This article was published in March 2015 and has been updated.

Many people look for the new year to bring new opportunities and, in some cases, a fresh start altogether. But for me? As a longtime entertainment reporter, there is one thing I can’t help but get excited about when another year rolls around: the upcoming movie releases and, of course, the most anticipated television shows. While I'm looking forward to see what happens to Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins crew in Stranger Things 5 on Netflix, there are a bunch of new TV shows that have been at the top of my watch list from the moment they were first announced, including Suits: LA and It: Welcome to Derry.

Here are the 2025 television shows that should be on your radar (if they aren’t already!).

Severance Season 2 — On Apple TV+ January, 17 2025

Apple TV+

After Mark Scout, Helly, and Irving learn the truth about the “severance” experiment and manage to break free from its clutches in the Severance season 1 finale, the three coworkers (along with the rest of the Lumon Industries employees) are forced to return to work in the second installment of the series. Now that Mark and some of his peers know what the company was really doing to the Lumon staff, one could only wonder: What are Lumon Industries's hidden objectives? (And what’s with all the GOATS?!)

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2024 and stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Dichen Lachman, Dichen Lachman and Patricia Arquette.

The White Lotus Season 3 — On HBO and Max February 16, 2025

Mario Perez/HBO

Pack your bags, White Lotus fans, because our favorite hotel residents are catching a first-class flight to…Thailand! While there are a bunch of new guests checking into a luxury hotel, there’s one returning guest who needs no introduction. Natasha Rothwell, who made her debut at Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 1, is the only returning cast making a brief cameo in season 3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, here we come!

The White Lotus season 3 is coming in February and will star Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

The Last of Us Season 2 — On HBO and Max in April 2025

Liane Hentscher/HBO

I can’t be the only one still thinking about that bombshell season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us! And apparently, I’m not the only one who’s eager to see the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story in season 2. Fans of the video game adaptation have been keeping their eyes peeled for a new update about season 2. And one teaser later, we might have just gotten the news we’ve been looking for. Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys toldDeadline that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere around “generally first half of the year [2025], I expect them to be in the Emmy window.”

The Last of Us season 2 will star Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 — On Prime Video in 2025

Erika Doss/Prime Video

It's almost time to return to Cousins Beach, and I have missed all the hydrangeas, fair rides, and ocean sunrises. We haven't heard for sure whether season 3 will be the end of the road for this series, but if it follows even a few chapters in the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series, We'll Always Have Summer, then we will absolutely be getting some drama.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 premieres in 2025 and stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard.

It: Welcome to Derry — On Max in 2025

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Bill, Richie, Beverly and the rest of the Losers Club members might have been able to defeat Pennywise in It: Chapter Two, but that doesn’t mean we've seen the last of Derry, Maine. Serving as a prequel series to the It movie franchise directed by Andres Muschietti, Welcome to Derry will delve into Pennywise’s origin story and how the child-preying clown arrived in Derry. But that’s not even the best part: Bill Skarsgård, who starred in It and It: Chapter Two, will reprise his role as the killer clown in the upcoming HBO series, which will be released in 2025. So until then, no accepting red balloons from creepy clowns, okay?

It: Welcome to Derry will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

Stranger Things Season 5 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since it premiered on Netflix back in 2016, and come next year, longtime fans like myself will finally get to see how the story ends. Last time we saw Eleven, Mike, Will and the rest of the Hellfire Club crew, they were facing an impending apocalypse after Vecna’s devious plan came to full fruition. So, will the group of friends defeat Vecna and save their home? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see because Stranger Things 5 likely won’t premiere until late 2025. Now, all we need is that release date, Netflix…

Stranger Things 5 is coming to Netflix soon and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Amybeth McNulty, and Priah Ferguson.

Suits: L.A. — On NBC in 2025

David Astorga/NBC

Court is back in session! Only this time, our favorite lawyers from the OG Pearson Hardman firm are not on the case. Thanks to Netflix, the original Suits (which starred the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle) experienced a renaissance of sorts upon its arrival to the streaming service in June 2023. And as a result, NBCUniversal ordered a spinoff series earlier this year. But instead of the bustling streets of New York City, a new group of lawyers are setting up shop in the Golden State in Suits L.A.

The new spinoff will center around an entertainment and criminal lawler named Ted Black, who launches his own law firm in California after moving from the East Coast. Originally, Suits L.A was slated to be a part of NBCUniversal’s 2024-2025 lineup. However, according to Deadline, there was a slight change in the production location, making a Fall 2025 release more likely. So, who’s up for a Suits marathon?

Suits L.A. is speculated to premiere sometime in 2025 and is set to star Ted Black, Josh McDermitt, Rachelle Goulding, Victoria Justice, Troy Wingush, Bryan Greenberg, Lex Scott Davis, John Amos, Kevin Weistman and Alice Lee.

Wednesday Season 2 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

Looks like Jenna Ortega won’t be giving us another macabre number anytime soon because Wednesday season 2 won’t arrive on Netflix until 2025. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega teases the upcoming installment will be much “darker” this time around. “I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired,” the Beetlejuice Beetlejuicestar adds. “Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time. I mean, there’s six-year-olds watching.”

“This season is going to be bigger and more twisted than you can ever imagine," Catherine Zeta-Jones says in the new Wednesday season 2 first look.

“If we showed you any more, your eyes would bleed,” Ortega says. “And I'm not that generous.”

What TV show are you most excited to see in 2025? Personally, I can’t wait for Sweet Magnolias season 4 to drop! (Margarita, anyone?) Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Facebook for more TV exclusives and latest news updates!

This post has been updated.

Kate Middleton has been top of mind for a lot of people over the last year after the princess announced in March 2024 she was battling cancer. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she shared in a video update. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved." And in honor of Kate's 43rd birthday, Prince William posted the sweetest tribute honoring her strength and perseverance.

Here's what Prince William had to say in Kate Middleton's birthday tribute.

Prince William celebrates "incredible" Kate Middleton's "strength."

Kate Middleton turned 43 on January 9, 2025. In honor of the big day, Prince William took to Instagram to celebrate, praising his "incredible" wife.

"To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable," he says in the post. "George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W."

And well wishers flooded the comments. "Happy Birthday Catherine, wishing you a wonderful year ahead surrounded by family and loved ones," one user says, while another adds, "Happy Birthday Princess of Wales! What a gorgeous photo. Wishing you a wonderful year 😍 xx"

And the tribute comes after revealing Kate was doing "amazing" following her cancer battle.

The birthday celebration comes after the prince shared an update on Kate in early November that had us all breathing a sigh of relief. “She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on," he said before the Earthshot Prize awards (via People). “She's been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

"From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well," royal author Robert Jobson added in an interview withHello!that same week. "She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do."

We're sending Kate Middleton so much birthday love! For more about your favorite members of the Royal Family, check out Meghan Markle’s New Netflix Cooking Show Will Feature Some Of Your Fave Celebs.