At the end of every year, many writers and publications do a wrap-up of their biggest and most popular stories.
I'm doing the opposite.
I'm instead making a list of the stories I've written this year that didn't get the attention they deserved. From luxury real-estate across the world to all the ways millennials are minting money, here are eight of my favorite stories that you may have missed:
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In January, I wrote about Israel's booming luxury property market in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Herzliya Pitauch. It was largely driven by three factors: a thriving tech scene, an increase in tourism, and Jews buying "insurance homes" to flee political strife in Europe and South America.
I looked at how millennials are redefining sneakers as a status symbol in March. Expensive shoes have surpassed luxury handbags as a status symbol, and it's because of millennials' desire for comfort and the rise of athleisure.
In April, I dove into the multimillion-dollar beauty empires millennials are building based on their massive Instagram and Snapchat followings. People like Rihanna and Emily Weiss are disrupting centuries-old beauty marketing with their digital prowess and giving rise to a new generation of wealthy women in the process.
June saw my first book review. I talked about how 28-year-old author Sally Rooney explores the complexities of millennial romance and young adulthood in a subtle, genuine way in her two buzzworthy novels: "Normal People" and "Conversations With Friends."
I revisited luxury properties again in July, this time focusing on Atlanta. The city has seen a spike in wealth, and with it, a demand in luxury real estate. It's in large part due to Atlanta's position as the "Hollywood of the South" and an increase in Fortune 500 companies and tech incubators fueling a healthy job market.
In September, I explored how millennials have evolved the drinks of the summer over the past four years. From rosé to spiked seltzer, they like drinks that are healthier, affordable, Instagrammable, and convenient - and it shows how much they value wellness and experiences.
I wrapped up the year with a slideshow on the millennial founders of four of 2019's buzziest online retail start-ups. From Rent the Runway to Away, the founders disrupted their respective industries by spotting a gap in each and making social media a key business strategy. In 10 years or less, their companies all hit a $1 billion valuation.
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