
Already obsessing about your spring wardrobe? The easiest way to start updating your duds is by decking them out with a few new, carefully curated and on-trend accessories. Jewelry can be one of the most inexpensive ways to make a big impact on your look. We’re sharing some of our top must-try jewelry trends to get your spring wardrobe in tip-top shape.
Yup, we totally called it — chokers are in, and they’ve gotten a serious sartorial update. Our favorite way to rock this #throwback trend is with heavy metals, colorful beads and sleek designs.
1. Cities in Dust Inc Brass and Onyx Atomic Collar Choker ($166): This brilliant brass collar has a subtle space-age vibe (read: incredibly cool and modern) with an open cuff-like construction ending in two spheres of creamy white onyx.
2. Templestones Chakra Choker ($88): Get in touch with your spiritual side with an understated yet colorful beaded choker. It’ll perk up any outfit while promoting tranquility, happiness and prosperity. Now that’s what we call doing double duty.
3. Maslo Jewelry Gobi Choker ($44): Contrasting clear vintage and brass beads give this covetable choker a bold, contemporary twist. Dress up a sporty tee with this polished piece or pair it with a suede shift dress for a totally on-trend look.
4. J.Crew Gold-Tone Crystal Necklace ($88): For something that feels on-trend, but still classic and undeniably feminine, this choker from J.Crew is it. Lilac crystals and mini cubic zirconia stones add just enough bling to cut the edgy, modern feel of the gold-tone disc.
Crystals
The new way to do understated glamour is getting a little rough around the edges. Turn to unearthed wonders like geodes, unusual gemstones and raw crystals for an earthy and effortlessly elegant look. Even if you don’t buy into the whole metaphysical thing, we think you’ll dig the extra excuse to layer on a little more glitz.
5. Dara Ettinger Druzy Wrap Ring ($118): Natural geodes set in gleaming gold make this ring the perfect pick for days when you want to get a little flashy without going over the top.
6. House of Harlow Chrysalis Cuff ($78): If bohemian isn’t your thing, you can still rock (sorry, we had to) a crystal or two. This rose gold cuff bracelet, which boasts two stunning blue quartz crystals, is polished and elegant, with a high-shine finish and pavé crystal details.
7. Anthropologie Painted Desert Pendant Necklace ($98): Plated gold medal gives this agate pendant antiquated appeal. Pair it with a neutral top and boldly printed bottoms for a modern edge.
8. GiantLION Apatite Studs ($70): Who said crystals can’t be colorful? Liven up your look STAT with these bright blue apatite studs. We think the vibrant shade is perfectly on point for spring.
9. Collective Crystal Layer Necklace ($24): Nailing that whole layered look while staying on top of the latest trends just got ridiculously easy. Slip on this stunning two-in-one piece, and you’re ready to go.
Boho Baubles
Evidence of one of spring 2015’s biggest trends — the ’70s — could be found in striking accessories with a distinctly bohemian feel, from feathery talismans to chunky wooden collars and funky fringe bracelets. For us, the key to nailing this trend is choosing pieces that are colorful and quirky, with a high-fashion Coachella quality.
10. Bauble Bar Acid Tassel Drops Earrings ($15): Fabric tassels take a backseat to strands of ombre purple beads and shimmering crystals in an updated and unapologetically bold take on 1960s bohemian jewelry. A messy topknot to show them off is an absolute must.
11. Tiro Tiro Dimidia Earrings ($120): These brass half-circle earrings with bristly linen fringe are the ultimate in hippie chic. If you settle on a single accessory this season, make it these.
12. Urban Outfitters Feather Lariat Necklace ($16): Dainty and delicate, this lariat-style necklace offers up just a taste of boho charm with a single feather pendant for those wanting something a little more subtle.
13. Samantha Wills Heartbeats in the Sun Bracelet Set ($140): Taking the glam, luxe route, Samantha Wills uses all the boho essentials — tassels, fringe, brilliant color and stunning turquoise and cream stones — and pairs them with gorgeous antiqued gold for a set that will def make jaws drop.
Minimalist Details
Tendancies toward sports luxe and toned-down menswear-inspired styles have resulted in this understated off-shoot trend. Along with clean lines and simple but impactful design, we’re loving the “I am woman, hear me roar” sentiment it brings to the table .
14. Alexis Bittar Large Tapered Lucite Cuff ($38): This sturdy lucite cuff gives off a “don’t mess” attitude, all while delivering serious statement-making style. The tapered design hugs the wrist and channels a bit of ’90s minimalist chic.
15. Kenneth Jay Lane Flat Curb Link Chain Necklace ($155): Embrace your inner #girlboss with this elegant yet tough-as-nails curb link necklace in trendy rose gold.
16. Apple Watch Sport (Available in early 2015): Wearable tech is all the rage, and the fashion world has given its stamp approval with Vogue China debuting the Apple Watch on its November cover. Equal parts innovative, sporty and stylish, we can’t wait to get our hands on one of these babies.
17. Upper Metal Class Crystal Bar Ring ($75): Mismatched metals and a sharp, sleek design makes this bar ring a top contender on our must-have list.
18. Mango Metal Choker ($25): Give any outfit a clean, minimalist boost and a sprinkling of texture with this mixed media choker.
Statement Earrings
This is a trend we can all support, because we bet you’ve already got a pair or two of statement earrings already floating around in your jewelry box. But if you really want to up your game this season, go beyond the standard big, bold ear ornamentation and take a mismatched approach to your baubles. Mix two different styles, sizes or colors for a slightly off-kilter look.
19. A Peace Treaty Atiin Lapis Earrings ($165): We can always go for a little lapis, especially when it’s given the A Peace Treaty treatment. If the bright brilliant blue stones on these rose gold drops don’t catch your attention, the arrowhead design will.
20. I Still Love You NYC Marbleized Drop Earrings ($38): Marble might be a posh and sophisticated material, but these over-the-top earrings just want to party. Pair them with anything from a bright pink pout to a polished black blazer.
21. Dannijo Simon Multi-Crystal Statement Earrings ($370): Dazzling geometric-cut Swarovski crystals in a spectrum of vivd colors will light up any room you walk into.
22. Bauble Bar Violet Meteor Drop Earrings ($32): For the girl who loves her bling a little more romantic, look to these lavender sparklers. Antiqued gold and crystal accents bring on the elegance, while cool hues and playful fringe add a touch of the contemporary.
Which jewelry trend are you going to try this season? Tell 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