
Nothing makes saying so long/sayonara/see ya later to the swan pool floaties and frosé of summer easy quite like the anticipation of new fall outfits. Followers of fashion blogs know what we’re talking about. Since July, our Insta feeds have been slowly but surely filling up with fall looks favored to win the season. We looked to the blogosphere for some seasonal style inspiration and couldn’t help but notice a few lust-worthy pieces in heavy rotation. Rip a page out of these tastemakers’ playbooks and arm your closet with these five outfit-making pieces this season.
1. Abercrombie & Fitch Boyfriend Denim Jacket ($88): When it comes to a classic like a denim jacket, why not go a little overboard? Opt for an oversized and slightly exaggerated fit to add a borrowed-from-the-boys vibe to every ensemble you pair it with.
2. Madewell Jean Jacket ($118): This jacket’s true-blue hue is everything. Plus, it’s one of those rare goes-with-everything pieces that will add instant chic to any look. If you’re struggling with an outfit that just doesn’t feel quite right yet, try adding this bad boy to the mix. Chances are you’ll love it.
Lingerie-Inspired Lace
View this post on InstagramMixing high and low again. From @anarchystreet to #cartier. ❤️
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3. Chelsea28 Lace Trim Silk Camisole ($69): Sumptuous silk with just a hint of lace? Sign us up! We’re calling it now —lingerie-inspired tops are going to be huge this fall, like pumpkin-spice big. Layer this one under an oversized v-neck sweater and let a little lace peek through for just a hint of effortless attitude.
4. Zara Lace Camisole Jumpsuit ($20): This little number will have you saying “ooh la la” every time you put it on. We’re loving the unexpected sheath of lace that peeks out from the low back. Play off the lingerie-inspired details of this jumpsuit and pair it with a dainty and delicate body chain.
The Loafer
View this post on InstagramScored these vintage dusty rose Gucci loafers on Ebay 👊🏻
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5. STEVE MADDEN Quebec ($100): There’s something about back-to-school time that makes loafers so perfect for fall. These preppy loafers will instantly make any look feel more expensive. Go classic and try ’em with skinnies and a cable-knit sweater.
6. Everlane Modern Loafer ($170): Lackluster outfits have met their match with these high-shine slip-ons. The minimalist silhouette and barely there heel add a new twist to the classic penny loafer.
The Square Scarf
7. J.Crew Italian Silk Square Scarf ($50): Take a tip from French fashionistas — the neck scarf is the easiest way to “fall-ify” any look. This robin’s egg blue and wine-hued option is a total no-brainer for a white button-down and high rise jeans.
8. Urban Outfitters Silky Square Scarf ($14): This budget-friendly price point is so good, you might just want to scoop up this scarf in every color. Wear them as a neckerchief today, as a bracelet tomorrow, and on your bag the day after. The possibilities are pretty much endless.
The Metallic Pleated Skirt
9. Nasty Gal Pleat Your Match Metallic Skirt ($68): This shimmering skirt packs a surprisingly versatile punch. Go girly when you pair it with a cute little crop top and stilettos for a pretty in pink look. Or add tomboy-tough elements like sneakers and a bomber jacket to give this sweet little skirt cool-girl edge.
10. TOPSHOP Metallic Pleat Skirt ($130): Beware: This skirt is certainly not for the faint of heart. The typically dainty midi skirt gets a rock ‘n’ roll update with a metallic shade that’s anything but subtle. Pair it with a bodysuit and black leather jacket to up the ante.
Looking for more must-have styles? We’ve got plenty of those on our Pinterest.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
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