
Think black and white looks are a one-way ticket to snoozeville? Think again. With summer coming to a close and interview season picking up, we’re scoping out chic office-appropriate looks that have just the right amount of edge to make you stand out from the pack. While we recommend keeping in line with workplace dress codes, we also think adding a dose of dalmatian print here + a pair of snazzy heels there never hurt anyone.
1. Mix Master: When done right, mixing black and white prints can really amp up an otherwise plain Jane look. We love the unexpected mix of dalmatian, geometric and palm prints. It’s daring, but classy. (via Who What Wear)
2. #GirlBoss: This white pencil skirt ($78) and court heel duo scream boss lady. Add a checkered blazer, tousled locks and those chic cat-eye sunnies, and you’ll be a treat for those street-style shutterbugs. (via Caroline’s Mode)
3. Got Gingham?: A subtle cut-out, mixed gingham, a bright yellow bag and leather paneled jackets — Hanneli Mustaparta sure knows how to take her office look to the next level. For a subtle fall-appropriate take on this outfit, try this gingham pencil skirt ($48) with a crisp white blouse, and don’t forget this chic yellow clutch ($250). (via Business Lady)
4. Casual Luxe: Edge up your basic black blouse and coat combo with a pair of diamond-print trousers ($298). Not only are these a standout interview piece (we guarantee you’ll get a compliment), but they’re also great paired with a graphic tee on your off-duty days. (via The Classy Cubicle)
5. Sexy Does It: Okay, we agree this dress is a wee risque with the low-cut top and all, so we suggest adding a couple of buttons. Top it off with a cropped blazer and attention-grabbing accessories like these killer heels ($168)! (via The Zoe Report)
6. All White: Forget what the masses say about wearing white after Labor Day. Rock it, girl. We love this simple high-neck dress ($1,400) paired with a neon clutch. Wear this, and you’ve got the job. Trust us. (via ELLE)
7. Off-Duty Polished: Add a dose of navy to your black and white ensemble and see your look go from drab to fab in a snap. (via NYC Streets)
8. Like an Editor: Take a cue from street style darling Christine Centenera, in her too-cool-for-the-office look. From her chunky bling ($83) to her pocketed pencil skirt ($60), this is one daring look you have to recreate. (via Fashion Inspiration Blog)
9. Flat Out: Dare we say, “Ditch the heels”? This model proves that ivory oxfords ($40) can be très chic, too, especially when paired with slim cut pants and a cozy knit blouse. (via Le Catch)
10. Put a Bow on It: Jerry Seinfeld might have something against big, ruffled shirts but we don’t. Balance out your frilly blouse ($35) with cigarette pants and mega heels for a modern twist. (via Habitually Chic)
11. Borrowing from the Boys: A little touch of masculinity can go a long way, especially when balanced with a messy chignon and poppin’ pants. While we don’t recommend the sexy cut-out top, we think this silky blouse ($275) will come in handy. (via Refinery29)
12. Top it Off: Ah, the camel coat ($99). It’s the perfect topper when the temperature starts to dip. We love how it balances out this playful high-neck shift dress and bold tortoiseshell sunnies. (via Pop Sugar)
13. Pretty and Petite: Go on, have a little fun with your look. We’re obsessed with the business-savvy blogger’s touch of girly frill with her cropped jacket. And for all you petite ladies, remember to rock those power heels ($165). (via 9to5 Chic)
14. Chic Layers: Don’t think we left style superstar Olivia Palermo off our list. The street style fixture not only layers like a pro, but she manages to look office-ready even when bundled up. To mimic her look try a windowpane-print skirt ($78) and day-to-night ankle booties ($60). (via Vogue)
Feeling confident enough to try jazzing up your black and white suit? Have a styling question? Ask us in the comments!
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
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Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
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You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures