We're So Clutch

From left to right Asos:

Portfolio Envelope Clutch, $36.59

Slot Through Portfolio Clutch, $36.59

Pyramid Lock Envelope Clutch, $25.61

Woven Leather Clutch Bag, $87.82

Pyramid Metal Tip Clutch, $32.93

Leather Portfolio Clutch, $80.50

What better way to ring in the fall season than with a fresh batch of gorgeous bags? You don't have to tell me twice. I know, they're so clutch. Not only are these babes totally affordable, you can take them anywhere (if only we could get that from our FBCHs)!

In all seriousness, I love ASOS clutches because you can actually buy six of them and still not top a single Reed Krakoff (although I admit to having a total love affair with Reed and DIE for his shade of cobalt blue).

A bag is easy to carry. Class, not so much. It's not the size of the bag or the weight of its price tag that matters. It's the grace of the woman (or man) who carries it that counts. Anyone can look cheap carrying a bag worth thousands, but not everyone can look like millions carrying one that's not. Be beautiful, like you are.

Birthday List

1. ASOS Clean Line Buckle Satchel, $46
2. Nasty Gal Miami Vice Pink Blazer, $88
3. Madewell Silk Drafters Blouse, $118
4. Belle by Sigerson Morrison Platform Booties, $350

September marks my personal anniversary, and I'd be a fool not to celebrate my own birth. Here are four of the 4 million items on my list this year. I know because I counted before shamelessly turning it in to my mother the first week of September, when it's "due" every year. From cutout booties to blazers, I'm currently shopping for transition items I love. With this month's mix of killer heat and monsoons, it's only smart to prepare for anything.

The weather, like life, is completely unpredictable. You never know what lies around the corner. That's what's so special about how our lives unfold. With all the effort in the world, we can still never know what's to come. It's simply right when we "know exactly what's going to happen" that we realize we don't know anything at all. Love it or hate it, life is truly one very big, very long and sometimes very drawn out surprise.

And so I ask, what (or who) do you really want for your birthday this year? I promise if you tell me, I won't catch you by surprise.

She must always be true to herself.
The FBCW Diary

Missoni by Target Debut

I have mixed feelings about high fashion brands that go mainstream by creating lines at Target, Sears and the likes (not that the Kardashian's are high fashion, but you know what I mean). But when a great fashion brand does something different, you can't help but wonder what it's all about.

Enter: the highly anticipated Missoni by Target line. The mix of home, office and fashion products debut in stores and online Tuesday, September 13 and remain through October 22 with some items staying through December. As the LA Times boasts, "the signature Missoni zigzags are familiar, but these prices are not." Conveniently, most items linger around the $40 mark so get ready to stock up.

The line includes clothes, shoes and an array of home items. Personally, I'll have to wait until Tuesday to make a call on the clothing line, but Angela, Rosita and Margherita Missoni did look quite perfect at Wednesday's launch. If you want to learn more about these fabulous ladies, listen to them speak about their view on life. As Angela says, it's "a way of living where you're always trying to find harmony, in life, in your job, in your work, in the collection your making and living to always make a better quality of life for everybody who surrounds you." I like.

For the bedroom

For the man (the Future Black Card Husband, that is)

For the office

For the boudoir

Zara, Handpicked

Draped Skirt

Combined Patent Leather Shopper

Combat Jeggings

In honor of Zara's online shopping launch, I spent much of the day sifting through the available selection. Above are three of my favorites, so peek these picks and then dive in head first to the whole online shopping experience. Personally, I think most of their pieces are to die for, and I'm ready to stock my closet for fall.

Skirt: This burnt orange draped skirt has the perfect sarong feel to take you from summer into fall. It's like Hawaii without the palm trees (still a win).

Tote: The leather shopper can easily transition from day to night and leaves plenty of room for your iPad (for your pre-work coffee) and pumps (for your post-work date).

Jeggings: You know you wore yours out last season and are totally in need of a new pair. These look sleek and comfy.

Thank goodness it's already post-Labor-Day-freezing, and I already have nothing to wear. Oh, come on, it's every FBCW's little white lie.

Four Play

My fashion rules: only buy pieces I absolutely love

Forever 21 floral knit dress and iPhone cover

Adorable (and applicable) sign spotted on an NYC window

The view at the pool house, calling my name

Jewels and Denim

Bloomingdale's Necklace - Bracelets: Stella & Dot, David Yurman
Dad's Old Watch Face Made New - Botkier Trigger Clutch

Everyone knows a white tee with denim is the perfect weekend pick, and Jennifer Aniston has long been the queen of this classic look. To glam it up, I like to add a mess of jewels and an exotic clutch. If you haven't noticed, I'm totally obsessed with animal prints. One of my girlfriends teased me about this last week after seeing my latest leopard picks and one of my Instagram friend's joked that my iPhone cover matched my new leopard shirt (it does).

Nordstrom BP Scoop Tank - Theory Shorts - J.Crew Belt

Thankfully, this weekend was much more relaxing and less dramatic than last. We spent Saturday running errands and had some friends over at night. Between the wine and baked brie, it was the perfect late summer evening. I pulled together a lot of different pieces for this outfit, which is appropriate since inspiration and creativity have been on my mind. Ideas are all over the place, but execution is what sets a person, concept or business apart. Fashion is no different.

Forever 21 Chambray Blouse

Clothes and trends are everywhere. You can use the old, buy the new or borrow from mom or a friend. I believe style is unique when it's executed in a way that's flawless and yet completely yours. Make it happen and send me your style pics at futureblackcardwives (at) gmail (dot) com.

Blaze Away

Zara left to right:
Metallic Blazer ($89.90), Herringbone Blazer ($79.90), Blazer with Contrasting Piping ($99.90)

Metallic: Perfect for date night or an evening event
Herringbone: Fits for a cocktail party or brunch with the girls
Contrasting Piping: Suitable for work or family get together

My birthday is this month, but that's not why I'm so excited about September 2011. I'm jumping on my bed because Zara is finally coming online! Beginning September 7th (a fitting date as founder Amancio Ortega is the 7thrichest man in the world), the Spanish retail line will finally be available for purchase online. I've always been surrounded by Zara stores, which is why I'm so obsessed with the brand.

Still, I've been awaiting this e-commerce update since I first discovered Zara as a high school student traveling in Italy. Ortega stepped down as chairman mid-summer, but his daughter and heiress Marta Ortega remains involved in marketing. Word on the street says she's being primed to take over the brand, as well as its overarching corporation, Inditex. Now get to shopping you little duchesses!

Let Me Borrow That Top

J.Crew, Graffiti Green Silk Elodie Blouse

This top. And it's not because I love street graffiti (yes, I actually miss it when I'm not in the city). I first saw this silk blouse in J.Crew's August catalog, and I've since been obsessing over it's rich jewel color and casual gorgeousness. With a classy back to school feel, it's the perfect transitional piece from late summer to early fall.

Little Miss Sassy Pants

1. Nasty Gal, Margot Cape Blouse
2. Forever 21, Oversize Button Up Top

Why do we love when sassy meets classy? Because it's everything an FBCW is made of. Whether you're shopping for work or play, a cool nude top is the new classic white tee. Pair it with an amazing glittery necklace and jeans or black pants and you'll be the hottest betch in town.

Only you understand what you want and need in this moment.
Follow your heart and stick to your guns.  
The FBCW Diary

Cue the Queen

1. Madewell, Silk Cargo Shirt in Golden Spinach
2. Nasty Gal, Sunset Shades
3. Madewell, Heritage Premium High Rise Jeans in Spur Wash
4. House of Harlow 1960, Textured Cutout Cuff
5. Sam Edelman, Adena Smoking Flats

After this weekend's madness with Queen Irene, one thing is certain: whether sun, rain or natural disaster, it's difficult to know what to wear and how to prepare. Just like we let the media scare us out of our weekend plans and into a bottled water shopping spree, we can let magazines or trends pull us from what we love to what we think we should be buying at any given time.

At the end of the day, the clothes you wear are a reflection of who you are and what makes you feel confident and comfortable (I really believe this). The above selection is a tribute to Queen Irene, not for sarcasm's sake, but in honor of preparedness at any occasion.

Natural disasters aside, there's nothing jeans, a silk tee and a cute pair of sunnies can't handle.