
It’s time to unveil those toesies, because, yup, spring is officially a thing, and that means your arsenal of heavy-duty shoes can finally make its way back into storage (so over it). In their place comes a slew of lightened-up kicks — on-trend mules, colorful sneakers and of course a flatform or two — that will do your spring style proud, whether you’re slaying your to-do list or chillin’ on a tropical beach during a much-needed getaway. But there’s one more stepper you’ll definitely want to add to the mix: the espadrille. And we’re not just talking the standard slip-on style you’ve been rockin’ since way back when. This season, the rope-bottomed shoe is stepping up its game to earn a highly coveted spot in your spring capsule wardrobe. From metallic stunners made for hitting the town to skyward-reaching wedges ready to shake up your nine-to-five, these 12 espadrilles will do right by your warm-weather style.
1. ASOS Jericho Sandal Espadrilles ($30): If your much-loved ballet flats are starting to feel meh, swap ’em out for these neon numbers instead. Vibrant leather and printed soles translate to a surprisingly versatile style that can be worn with smart suiting for the office or a chambray shirt dress that reads off-duty cool.
2. André Assous Samantha Sandal ($169): Paired with bomber jackets and athletic tees, these blue beauties serve up endless sports-chic appeal, but they clean up real nice too. Take ’em along to all your spring special events with floral shift dresses and sassy jumpsuits.
3. Free People High Society Heel ($198): These strappy espadrille heels are what footwear dreams are made of. For an upcoming GNO, don’t hesitate to team them with a button-front skirt and suede jacket for the ultimate old-school-meets-new-school ensemble. DO throw in a few colorful pins and a dreamy fishtail braid for good measure.
4. Soludos Vegan Leather Espadrilles ($48): They’re like your favorite espadrilles, but with a whole new attitude. Leather uppers and sheer paneling are guaranteed to add modern flair to laid-back leisurewear and ditsy floral dresses alike.
5. Love Moschino Metallic Espadrille Sandals ($138): Meet the anything-but-average espadrilles you’ll want to whip out for every occasion. For the ultimate after-hours look, style these metallic numbers with culottes, a silky cami and neon nails. A vibrant clutch and a bronze smokey eye are definitely in order.
6. French Sole Rapture Wedge Espadrille ($188): Enter the shoe that will take your nine-to-five wardrobe by storm. Equal parts sophisticated and chic, they straight-up slay when paired with jacquard trousers and sleeveless blazers. Go for it; we dare you.
7. River Island Pink Laser Cut Espadrilles ($48): Partnered with a lightweight linen romper and a funky straw fedora, these lace-up espadrilles will fast become the cornerstone of endless casually cool #OOTDs. Effortless is the only word in their vocabulary, making them a shoo-in for both Sunday morning farmers markets and low-key house parties.
8. Jeffrey Campbell Mansfeld Espadrille Wedge ($190): Minimalist muses, meet the statement shoes you’ll reach for again and again. Sure, they’re anything but subtle, but the sleek silhouette and black-and-white print are all about keepin’ it real. Style them alongside a jersey midi skirt and a cold-shoulder blouse for a throw-on-and-go getup that will double those double taps every time.
9. Kendall & Kylie Jackie White Leather Multi Buckle Espadrille Flat Sandals ($127): Who needs flip flops when you can rock these scene-stealers instead? The buckle detail offers just enough don’t-mess edge to toughen up flirty, feminine pieces, but can hang just as easily with cropped jeans, messy buns and oversized tees.
10. Kenzo Tiger Slingback Espadrilles ($222): Got a few extra bucks burning a hole in your pocket? Pick up a pair of these color-block steppers right here. You’ll be saying peace out to standard sneakers and classic flats stat, because these bad boys deliver crazy comfort and non-stop wow-factor. Make them GNO-ready with high-waisted trousers and a cool cold-shoulder top.
11. Free People Charade Espadrille Wedge ($138): Skip the heels without giving up that much-needed boost with sweet Mary Jane wedges in a vibrant shade of green. Dress ’em up with a pleated A-line dress for the office or pare ’em down with leather leggings and a longline tunic. They’ll take you from boardroom meetings to margaritas with the girls just like that.
12. Loeffler Randall Three Strap Flatform ($225): Keep a pair of these strappy leather flatforms on standby for a laid-back-cool getup. Whether you’re reppin’ cropped flares and an off-the-shoulder top or an airy eyelet dress, you’ll reach for these stunners every single time.
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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