This weekend we’re looking forward to popping uptown and getting our fill of the Upper East Side. Our first stop is Sarabeth's for a delicious, leisurely brunch. Whether we’ll have the Spinach & Goat Cheese omelette or the Seafood Cobb Salad we haven't decided, as both are just too good.

After lunch we’re headed to the much talked about Gutai: Splendid Playground exhibit at the Guggenheim, open through May 8th. We’ve heard that it is Japan’s most influential postwar avant-garde collection. The exhibit is divided into six different thematic sections that explore Gutai’s work and process. Definitely not to be missed.

With sunny days in mind, we’ll stroll through Central Park, iced coffee in hand. We'll top off a delightful day with cocktails and bites at Earl's Beer and Cheese - the Earl's Taco looks like a must-try.

Our first stop on our “hopeful for spring weekend” is Cafeteria; probably the classiest, yummiest cafeteria ever. Open 24/7 their menu has something for everyone, silver dollar pancakes, crispy buttermilk waffles, eggs any style, salads, the whole nine yards. The clear windows lining the restaurant almost make you feel like you're outside, and if you're daring enough they've opened their sidewalk seating. Because we’re so excited to eat there (and it’s always crowded!) we might just jump out of bed a bit earlier than usual..

After we’re full from a delicious brunch and ready to walk off some of our meal we’ll head up to the Shoe Obsession exhibit at FIT and fawn over all the amazing shoes there. We only have until April 13th, so we're headed there now to beat the inevitable crowds. Featuring over 150 shoe styles from the 21st century, Alexander McQueen, Prada, and Givenchy are only a few of the extraordinary shoe designers on display. The best part? It doesn’t cost a penny to get in.

We’ll then end our day with a peaceful walk on the Highline, enjoying the bright city and stroll with a friend, family, or loved one.

Happy Spring!

What are you up to this weekend? We're looking forward to seeing the new Matisse show - In search of True Painting - at the Met.

This show is a bit different than a normal artist retrospective. The curator placed several variations of Matisse's paintings side by side, so that we - the viewers - can examine the detailed differences ourselves.

Matisse was obsessive about reworking his paintings - he often revised them again and again.

He tested different techniques like painting dark colors over bright ones to create a soft underglow, or playing with varying styles of brushstrokes to produce interesting textures.

About his meticulous nature, Matisse said he wanted to "push further and deeper into true painting."

We love that for Matisse, the process of creation was just as important as the finished canvas.

We're looking forward to letting our eyes linger over each piece and trying to spy all the intricate variations and tonal nuances in his work!

Images via The New York Times and Vogue.

We can't wait to examine Sophie's elaborate tucks and pleats, impeccable embroidery and whimsical embellishments up close. This ultra attention to quality and construction is so important to remember in a time when so much focus is on instant-gratification of fashion.

In 1929, Sophie took over as the director of Saks' Salon Moderne, an exclusive haute couture boutique inside the department store that introduced brands like Balenciaga, Vionnet, and Schiaparelli to the states.

In the 1940s, Sophie began selling her own couture designs in the salon. She became known for her ultra-feminine clothing with giant skirts, lots of tulle and a romantic silhouette.

Sophie helped dress many notable women including Marlene Dietrich, Rose Kennedy, and Lady Bird Johnson. In addition she coordinated and organized one of the first showings of American fashion in the 1940s, which morphed into our modern-day Fashion Week.

An intimate fashion show in the Saks Salon.

“Gimbel was an outspoken champion of American fashion,” said Beth Dincuff Charleston, who also curates the Parsons Fashion Archives, which houses the school’s collection of Gimbel garments as well as nearly 10,000 other works that represent a range of styles, time periods and countries.

She helped to popularized many wardrobe staples like bolero jackets, culottes, beaded sweaters paired with ball gowns, and sari dresses.

Sophie helped to lead the American Couture movement during her tenure at the Salon Moderne from the 1930s until its closing in 1969.

A wedding dress created for Saks Fifth Avenue by Sophie that was featured in Vogue.

The exhibition features several garments from the Parsons Fashion Archive that were laboriously crafted by highly skilled artisans who worked in the Salon Moderne workroom

These dresses, gowns and suits showcase Sophie's love of employing delicate techniques like cutting, patternmaking, draping, construction and fitting as well as her use of luxury fabrics and rich color palettes.

We can't wait to check out this stunning show. What are you doing this weekend? We would LOVE to know!

(Images via The Unsewn, Lolly Koon, Parsons and Google.)

We wish we could jet set to London this weekend to see Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde's stunning cloud portraits (dubbed the Nimbus series) at the Ronchini Gallery.

Berndnaut creates these breathing images by injecting a delicate balance of smoke and moisture into a meticulously backlit room.

The final product is a set of surreal photographs - clouds floating indoors. The images feel so magical, don't you think?

What are your weekend plans? We would LOVE to know!

Images via This is Colossal.

This weekend we suggest heading uptown to see the beautiful Fortuny exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute.

The show is devoted to the Venetian textile maven Mariano Fortuny.

Fortuny was born in Grenada, Spain in 1871, but travelled widly with his family—North Africa, Paris, Rome—collecting artifacts, decorative obects and a wealth of inspiration along the way.

This wordly taste and wide-ranging interest is immediately present throughout the show. His textiles are composed of Persian motifs, while his groundbreaking fashions reflect his passion for all things Asian.

Among his most famous designs was the stunningly simple, yet groundbreaking Delphos dress (named for the Greek oracle Delphi). The dress is composed of intricately knife-pleated silk and produced in a pantheon of color-ways.

His sheaths were among the first to showcase the female form in a loose, body-skimming silhouette—free from cumbersome corsets.

His iconic designs were adopted by modern artists of the time like dancer Isadora Duncan and her daughters. The model Tina Chow became a fervent supporter in later years.

This exhibition also highlights Fortuny's multi-layered career. He was a celebrated photographer, painter, printmaker and textile designer.

In fact his famous his textured wallpaper is still in production today.

Fortuny's groundbreaking designs are thoughtful and timeless. We love art that has the ability to transcend history and become apart of the cultural dialogue on society.

Fortuny y Madrazo: An Artistic Legacy runs through March 30, 2013.

What are your weekend plans? We would love to know!

We're excited to venture over to the Museum of the City of New York to see the new exhibit, The World of D.D. and Leslie Tillett. This little known design duo produced some of the most modern and wild fabrics and textiles throughout their career which spanned from the late 1940s till the mid-90s.

(Image via New York Times.)

You're probably familiar with their iconic chrysanthemums print, which resembles whimsically explosive fireworks. Many of their prints were also made into decorative pillows.

Some of the decorator masters of the 50s and 60s like Billy Baldwin and Albert Hadley adored upholstering furniture and designing custom drapes with the Tillett's artful and bright fabrics.

(Image via New York Times.)

This is Jackie Kennedy's bedroom when she was first lady. Her room featured a Tillet print on the curtains.

(Images via Femme et Fleur.)

Jackie also loved to wear the Tillett's garments. Several of their most painterly clothes are on view at the exhibit.

We adore Leslie and D.D. Tillett... So what are your plans this weekend? We would love to know!

Please stop by and say hi, browse vintage wares, snack on treats for #SandyAid and scout awesome discounts on our favorite products. See you this weekend!

A true icon, this mistress of fashion didn't begin her career until she was in her late 30s. She began her foray into the magazine world by writing a humorous column for Harper's Bazaar; she then moved on to take the helm at Vogue. Where it didn't take long for her to transform the magazine's editorials into aspirational look books of edgy glamour. She even re-invented herself post-Vogue by revolunitazing the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This film is sure to be filled with provokative and dazzling anectodtes about Vreeland's life à la mode. We can't wait! What are you doing this weekend? We would love to know!

Schiaparelli's opulent designs focus on the shoulders. She exaggerated proporiton with wildly sculptural capes, fantastical feathers and delectable hats and shoes.

Working in 1920s Paris, Schiaparelli played to the Cafe Society's mannerisms—women were usally seen only from the waist up, sitting at a restaurant table. Thus she felt it was redundant to create intricate skirts, so instead she focused on producing dramatic silhouettes from the waist up.

Conversely the exhibition highlights Prada's penchant for baroque, waist down designs—skirts printed with extravagant and sometimes outrageous patterns and crafted in rich materials. Prada honed in on the idea of ugly-chic—making a statement of utilitarian sophistication.

Meandering through the gallery leaves you in a fashion daze, haute fashion—usually seen strutting runways, or online—comes to life as you stand just inches away from the opulent designs. The entire show is set to a soundtrack of Prada in dialouge with a reincarnated Schiaparellli (portaratyed by Australian actress Judy Davis).

Their bold conversations about about fashion, art, femnisim and design provide the perfect backdrop. It's a surreal and magical treat to both see and hear the narratives of these two legendary mavens. We're calling this show a must-see for summer. Schiaparelli & Prada: Impossible Conversations is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York until August 19—so check it out and let us know what you think!

The first series you see when entering the gallery (Fixed Cycle) appears to be a flowering collage of cherry blossom trees but lean in—the trunks are industrial pipes and the pink buds are tiny toilets—such an interesting juxtaposition, don't you think!?!

We love how Opdyke's show forced us to interact with the artwork by stepping closer to discover the truth behind the pieces. It's such a good reminder that the things around us are not always what they seem. If you're in New York this month, stop by and see for yourself! The show runs through May 25th.

P.S. We spotted this really cool photo essay of the artist, David Opdyke, setting up his show...

Making of a New York gallery show - Images by Justin Lane