
Despite what they’d have you believe, the fashion set (shocker) wasn’t born with some otherworldly ability to pull together a flawless ensemble at a moment’s notice (well, most of them anyway). And it’s not access to designer threads or a lofty budget either (although a few It-girl-approved bags and steppers never hurt): It’s the result of a lot of careful planning and consideration — something we all can certainly do. Sure, it’s a pretty unglamorous secret, but hey — if it means that perfectly put-together style is always within reach, we’ll take it. Below, we’re divulging nine incredibly easy-to-follow tips that will instantly elevate your style game to It-girl status. (You can thank us later).
1. Get organized. A little planning goes a long way in the style department. Designers spend months piecing together the perfect ensemble to send down the catwalk, after all. And those gorgeous getups you see all over your Insta feed? Yeah, those required some thought too. Case in point: A killer outfit isn’t the result of sorcery or science. Instead of haphazardly throwing together an outfit that’ll just pass, take a few extra minutes in the evening to plan your outfit for the next day. This gives you the opportunity to play around with the different pieces in your closet, as well as add in a few extra accessories that’ll give your outfit a one-of-kind edge. The best part? This approach will actually buy you a few minutes of extra time in the morning — so go ahead, hit that snooze button one more time.
View this post on Instagram.. che se #giugnocoraggioso è ci sarà un perchè.. SUPERPOTERI + @forrestlesssleepers a me! 🍍☝🏻️⚡️✨
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2. Find the perfect fit. Even the most flawless pieces can look like questionable flea market finds when the fit isn’t quite right. Head to your closet and say sayonara to any too-small or too-large items (with the exception of intentionally oversized pieces — just make sure you’re not swimming in them). Even if you count them amongst your most-loved duds, they’ve simply got to go because they certainly aren’t doing your style any favors. If they’re still in good shape, try selling them for cash to put toward timeless pieces that fit like a glove.
View this post on InstagramEnjoying my new ride today at work 😜🦄 @womensecretofficial
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3. Show your clothes some serious TLC. Wear and tear shows, especially if you haven’t been treating your threads right. Always pay close attention to the care instruction on your clothes (and actually follow them) and treat spots and stains STAT. Prevent wrinkles by hanging things up immediately rather than tossing them on the floor (we also highly recommend investing a steamer to keep your clothes looking #onfleek at all times), and have a fabric shaver or sweater comb handy to keep pesky pilling fabric in check.
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4. Wear the right undergarments. Lumps, bumps and lines (not to mention accidental peep shows) caused by ill-fitting or inappropriate undergarments can make even the chicest of wardrobe essentials look sloppy. Before tossing on any ol’ pair of underwear or bra, take a second to consider the fabric and silhouette of the piece you plan on wearing. Slip dresses and bodycons call for a totally different set of underthings (hello, shapewear) than your go-to t-shirts and jeans.
5. Accessories are everything. You don’t need to drop bank on designer threads to put together a scene-stealing ensemble. It’s easy to make even the most blasé basics look like a million bucks if you have the right add-ons in tow. Instantly elevate a white button down and joggers with sleek drop earrings and luxe block heels, or team a glitzy box clutch with a classic LBD for just the right amount of wow factor. Take a less-is-more approach to your accessorizing routine; explore that fine line between not enough and too much by getting into the habit of removing one accessory before heading out the door and using the cut, shape and styling of your duds to inform your sartorial choices.
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6. Take cues from your surroundings. You gotta do you, girl, but do so intelligently. Weather and setting are crucial considerations when it comes to matters of style. An easy way to render an Insta-worthy ensemble straight-up ridiculous is by rocking duds that stand out — and not in a good way. Sky high stilettos are a poor choice in the dead of winter when sidewalks are slick, and that chic suede jacket has no business making an appearance on a 90-degree day — no matter what season you’re technically in. Arm yourself with chic versions of weather-appropriate essentials (think: rain boots, cozy winter coats, etc.) that you can feel good about wearing when the forecast takes an unexpected turn, and find new ways to create the look you want with items that make sense given the context.
In a similar vein, dressing for the occasion is also important. While wearing white after Labor Day is no longer a faux pas, there are a handful of fashion rules you should still follow — like taking dress codes into consideration. No one wants to be that person who shows up in jeans (even if accidentally) to a swanky event or a dangerously high hemline to meet the parents (a fashion disaster just waiting to happen). There’s a time and a place for everything — just make sure you’re choosing the right one.
7. Have a handful of foolproof pieces that you can reach for in a snap. Whether it’s a piece of signature jewelry, a sleek leather jacket or a pair of timeless tailored trousers, there are a handful of wardrobe essentials every girl should have on hand that can be called upon anytime, anywhere to instantly elevate any outfit. Not sure where to start? Check out our list of must-haves here.
8. Always have a backup plan. Your style sensibilities might be sent from the gods, but you’re only human — and life (a.k.a. snags, stains, etc.) happen. Create a fashion emergency kit, complete with stain removal pens, fashion tape, Band-Aids, safety pins, Still Standing spray and a few small sewing staples, to keep wardrobe conundrums from ruining your day.
View this post on Instagram-1 curuzzina ❤️ c'ero, ci sono e ci sarò ! Emozionata 😍 #elebridetobe @eleonoracarisi
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9. Do you. The most important thing to always keep in mind is that style is an outward expression of who you are, and staying true to you is the easiest way to ensure sartorial success. Strutting around in ensembles that just don’t feel authentic to you — and therefore uncomfortable — can do a number on your confidence, no matter how on-trend they might be. Stick with what you love, and watch as the compliments start rolling in.
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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