
Mules: You loved them back in the day and, like a fine wine, they’ve only gotten better over time. Which is good news for your closet, because the ’00s throwback shoe has made a major comeback just in time to take your spring style game by storm. And can we talk about the comfort factor for just a second? Because classic pumps can’t even compare to the block heels and platform soles that go hand-in-hand with these pared-down stunners. To put it simply: There’s a whole lot to love. But like any other can’t-get-enough piece in your wardrobe, mules (much like your fave Doc Martens) shine brightest with a bit of clever styling. In this week’s Style Resolutions, we’re showing you three ways to style your mules with pieces from your spring capsule wardrobe essentials, for on-trend yet comfy results.
How to Style Mules for Work
Start the work week off on the right foot by slipping into a pair of sleek suede mules that are more or less the #girlboss equivalent of your favorite just-kickin’-it sneakers. (Yup, they’re that good.) Let their easygoing-yet-elegant vibe inspire the rest of your getup by tossing on a striped midi dress with throw-on-and-go flair and a suede jacket that turns up the heat on your basic blazer. Standard suit? Not on your watch. Kickstart creativity with a healthy dose of color in the form of a flowery statement necklace and a roomy turquoise tote that can carry all of your essentials and then some. A swipe of coral lipstick and a streamlined timepiece pull it all together and add a note of that classy-lady edge you can’t get enough of.
ASOS Topic Slip On Mule Sandals ($51) + Madewell Wrap Midi Dress ($148), H&M Imitation Suede Jacket ($60), J.Crew Petal Brûlee Necklace ($138), Baggu Basic Tote ($99), ASOS Shoulderless Case Clean Watch ($34), Rituel de Fille Enchanted Lip Sheer in Bittersweet ($21)
How to Style Mules for a Night Out
Stilettos and breaking it down on the dance floor don’t exactly go hand-in-hand, which is just one more reason to invest in a set of modern mules. The block heel offers just enough boost without making feet suffer as you hop around town. Tap into your inner lazy girl for a GNO getup that exudes It-girl appeal, teaming an embroidered A-line skirt with a folklore fab feel and a metallic sweatshirt fit for Studio 54. Introduce bold color and glitz in unexpected ways, icing your ears with a shimmery crystal crawler and lacquering your nails with fiery red polish. Stash your phone and cash in a structured denim sac, and top it all off with a leather trench when temps start to drop.
ASOS Topic Slip On Mule Sandals ($51) + Topshop Luxe Foil Sweatshirt ($60), Oasis Embroidered A-Line Skirt ($90), Bauble Bar Asymmetrical Wanderer Ear Crawler Set ($36), Silence + Noise Dorothee Denim Crossbody Bag ($34), & Other Stories Faux/Real 2 Become 1 Ring ($29), JINsoon Nail Lacquer ($18)
How to Style Mules for the Weekend
Mules possess transformative powers, and this off-duty ensemble is proof. A casual overalls-and-tee combo takes on a super chic tone with the understated stompers thrown into the mix (sorry, sneakers). A colorful cropped jacket adds dimension and polish to the look, while on-trend details like a minimalist cuff, tassel earrings and a half-moon bag make the transition from brunch to the bar seamless. Could you ask more of your weekend attire? We say no.
ASOS Topic Slip On Mule Sandals ($51) + Topshop Colour Block Asymmetric Tee ($85), Mango Medium Denim Dungarees ($80), River Island Pink Cropped Trench Jacket ($130), Monday Edition Color Leather Tassel Earrings ($128), Leik Saddle Bag ($149), Charles & Keith Twist Detail Cuff ($29), Charles & Keith Round City Eyewear ($49)
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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