Runway Trend: Hitchcock Housewives

This week, we're covering a trend we're calling Hitchcock Housewives. These looks are heavily influenced by 50s silhouettes, but with a slightly dark or sinister vibe. Think Dior's New Look in lots of black leather, and dark colors, with classy ladylike gloves that make us wonder if you're fashionable or  just trying to not leave fingerprints behind.

(L to R: A Degree Fahrenheit, ALC, Antonio Marras, APC, Aquilano, Band of Outsiders, Billy Reid, Carolina Herrera, Chado Ralph Rucci, Christian Dior, Co, Collette Dinnigan, Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Rachel Comey, Rochas) 

Well Suited: Fall Suits for Women from the Runways

For fall, the well suited trend gets updated to include heavier fabrics and darker patterns. They take on a more modern feel with prints and metallic fabrication, though our favorite "fun" look is still a short suit paired with tights.

(L-R: Banana Republic, Beautiful People, Behnaz Sarafpour,  Blumarine, Dsquared, Kate Spade, By Malene, Calla, Camilla and Marc, Carolina Herrera, Libertine, Norma Kamali, Chado Ralph Rucci, Christina Siriano, Dolce and Gabana, Dries Van Noten, Oscar de la Renta, Sachin + Babi)

Artists and Makers: Melissa Carroll

Melissa Carroll is a painter in Brooklyn. Previously working predominantly with oil, she switched to watercolor after being diagnosed with cancer.

("Limbo," 2012, copyright Melissa Carroll)

Local Business Spotlight: Fort Defiance

Straddling the line between bar-cafe-restaurant and neighborhood-gathering-spot, lies Fort Defiance in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

(Fort Defiance's Huevos rancheros: tostada, pork chili, cheddar, sour cream, and two eggs over easy, Cheddar Biscuit Egg Sandwich: with ham, jalapeno jam, and fried egg, a fizzy cucumber Tom Collins, and the Breuckelen Corpse Reviver, photo copyright TheDrift 2013)

Well Suited: Women Take Over the Men's Fashion Staple

Earlier this summer, we introduced you to the summer version of our well suited trend. It was hard to focus on layers in the middle of a heatwave, so we're excited to report that the trend continues for cooler weather, and we'll be covering it this week.

This trend is based on women's fashion borrowing from menswear and encompasses a wide variety of fashion staples, from chunky metal watches, to dainty loafers and oxfords, and suits in feminine fabrics and fits.

Flowers in Food

We're wrapping up this week's fall floral trend, Botany of Desire, with a link from the mother of all DIY'ers, Miss Martha herself.

While edible flowers can be used in everything from cocktails to cakes, sometimes the simplest recipes are the best.

Martha's recipes using edible flowers showcase the fresh taste of flowers paired with their striking presentation, and that's a good thing.

Floral Gin Fizz

After trying many violet, chamomile, lavender, and rose drinks at some of our favorite watering holes, we decided it was our turn to play bartender. Loosely based on an aviation, our (as of yet) unnamed but delicious concoction pulls inspiration from this weeks floral trend, botany of desire.

(get the recipe after the jump >>>)

New Series Featuring The Drift on Workroom Social!

We're super excited to announce a new series of guest posts, called Sewing on Trend which we'll be doing over on WorkroomSocial.com

Workroom Social is a sewing and screen printing studio located in Brooklyn, New York. With a well equipped workspace that caters to both experienced and novice makers, they enjoy working with crafters and fashion designers alike. If you've ever been interested in anything from sewing, to pattern-making, fabric design or screen printing, then Workroom Social is definitely the place to go!

This new series will feature the same trends we're covering here on The Drift, but with sewing and project inspiration provided by Workroom Social. Even if you're not currently a master seamstress, pop on over and check out the post... then check out some of the classes they offer; there's no better time to learn than now!

Runway trend: Botany of Desire

L-R: Antonio Marras, Araisara, Alice + Olivia, Carolina Herrera, Araks, Araisara, Givenchy, and Billy Reid

Botany of Desire: Dark and Moody Florals for Fall 2013

Earlier this summer, we introduced our "Botany of Desire" trend; big, dark, and moody florals that bring to mind vintage botanical illustrations. This week, we'll explore the trend more in depth -- from the runways, to street style, and an emerging trend of edible flowers in food, this is definitely one of the bigger trends for fall.

(click to see full size)

Play some Glass Cake on This Perfect Summer Day

We've been listening to Glass Cake since her first EP release in 2012. Hailing from California, the lead vocals bring that melancholic, nostalgic feeling that is synonymous with southern California films from the 90s.

We love all of this sophomore release from the band and can't wait to see them live in the future and hear more.

These Vans Are the Only Sneakers You'll Need This Fall

Just kidding! We would never dream of limiting your fall shoe purchases to just?! one?! pair?! But we *will* say, these might be our new favorite go-to's anytime we need to dress down an outfit.

vans, $55, vans.com

Global Music From French Pop Star Yelle

If you want to dive into some world music this week, French music is where any newbie should start.

We will warn you that once you start down the rabbit hole that is fantastic music from around the world—not just our amazingly diverse and talented little enclave in Brooklyn and Manhattan—and discover Senegalese jazz and German punk, there's no turning back.

We've spent many unsuspecting hours listening to inspiring and beautiful music from across the globe after listening to one Cambodian rock song or classic Spanish melody from Susana Baca.

To continue with our 'wild side" theme this week, we introduce Yelle, a french pop singer who is a star in her own right in France. YouTube some Yelle videos and you'll discover the bawdy, infectious sound that created a following in the U.S. back in 2008 with the song Ce Jeu.

Animal House -- Animal Prints and Graphics In Stores Now

Animal prints aren't the only way the animal trend is manifesting this season; animal graphics and motifs are popping up everywhere from earrings and necklaces to socks and shoes. This trend is nothing new, we were wowed in recent seasons by the J.Crew Toby sweater and the Madewell Llama Love sweater, but the breadth and scope of the trend and animals featured are what make this trend stand out this season.

Check out our pick of the best animals graphics as well as a few original print concepts in our slideshow below.

Want to try out Pop-Up Restaurant Bunna Cafe? Now's Your Chance!

If our previous review of Ethiopian Pop-up restaurant, Bunna Cafe, had your mouth watering, then you're in luck because they're hosting two-day dinner events for the rest of the summer!! The dinners will be held in places all over town, with the next one THIS Thurs/Fri (Aug 8/9) from 6pm to 10pm at The Drink (228 Manhattan Ave b/w Grand and Maujer in Williamsburg.) For more info, including the menu, check their facebook event page.

Not Your Mother's Leopard; Animal Prints Get Wild for Fall

We've long loved leopard as a neutral, pairing it with outfits the same way other people pair things with blue denim, black flats, or khaki rain coats. While we love leopard as much as the next, our constant use of it meant it was loosing a little of its je ne sais quo, so we were thrilled to see so many designers branching out into other forms of animal prints. 

This fall, we're seeing everything from giraffe to snake, alligator to, well, "fur print", and we're loving every last bit of it. 

L-R: Carin Wester, Burberry Prorsum, Rachel Comey, A Détacher, Antonio Berardi, Carven, Cotoo, and Burberry Prorsum again

The New H&M Online Store: What to Buy and Wear Now for Fall

To the dismay of our wallets, H&M has finally launched their online retail site. We did some shopping of our own, and put together a guide of the hottest pieces to buy and wear now, and how to transition them into fall. 

To wear this lightweight sweater now, pair it with these great faux leather front shorts (they have a twill rear with pockets) and these strappy, studded sandals. To transition the sweater into fall, tuck it into this faux leather skirt, and pair with opaque tights and ankle-height boots. Bonus: the fall look fits in nicely with our Hitchcock Housewives trend.

See more of our suggestions after the jump>>