James Andrew poolside at Hotel Christopher, Saint-Barth

Saint Barth Emblem

In any case, just a quick glimpse today – We’ll be sharing more on Saint-Barth this week.

À bientôt!

St Barth is definitely one of the more sophisticated Caribbean islands, and accordingly I’ve gone for a casual chic vibe with an eye toward staying cool in these tropical climes. I’m pictured poolside at Hotel Christopher, wearing a Balenciaga black and white silk and cotton micro striped shirt with drawstring neck, Dior shocking pink jeans, Christian Louboutin black leather sandal/ espadrilles, Lanvin glasses, and my fragrance is Creed Zeste Mandarine Pamplemousse.

James Andrew at Villa Cimbrone.

If you have always wanted to play the eccentric English aristocrat, then you couldn’t do much better than to set your wildest of fantasies at the Villa Cimbrone.

Villa Cimbrone was in fact the home of Lord Grimthorpe who built the villa in the 1910′s on a pre-existing property that dates back to the eleventh century. Gimthorpe devoted much of his life to creating his fantasy Villa as well as Cimbrone’s world class grounds which contain what are considered to be some of the most important English Romantic Mediterranean gardens, (perhaps only rivaled by Russel Page’s “La Mortella” on Ischia).

Villa Cimbrone.

The interiors are very much in keeping with a turn of the century Englishman’s vision of the ultimate Italian Palazzo and, as such, are replete with frescoed ceilings and Neopolitan tiles.

Interior at Villa Cimbrone.

Flowers at Villa Cimbrone.

Here in the tranquil pool area of the garden (top) I find myself quite overwhelmed by the surrounding beauty! I’m sporting a Tom Ford hot pink cotton polo shirt, Lova shorts are a linen cotton indigo mini hounds tooth, woven white cotton belt with bamboo d – ring, brown crocodile details and brown leather sandals both by Gucci, KVA sunglasses – not seen navy blue Balenciaga bikini.

James Andrew at Ralph Lauren.

We here at WIJW make no excuse for being escapists – in fact we think a good dose of it is a must, if only for our health. And when we think Escapism with a capital “E,” our minds invariably take us to the South of France – and how about let’s set things seaside a la 1950′s when people were smart, beautiful, unbelievably wealthy, and every single ray of sun glancing off that azure ocean said “all is well, all is well.” Impossibly perfect you say? – Well I’ll tell you it sure beats most of the “realistic” scenarios constantly trying to crowd our heads!

Although it may appear that I’m standing here in a handsome Juan-les-Pins villa, I’m actually at the Ralph Lauren flagship store on Madison Avenue @ East 72nd Street here in New York City where it is always easy to elicit some of our favorite dreams. As I’ve mentioned, I did put in several years at Ralph Lauren, learning my craft while creating similar scenarios for them. This being said, it will come as no surprise that I would become particularly excited whenever a “South of France ” collection came along, and it always gave me the welcome opportunity to make my very best SOF design dreams a reality. Even now at James Andrew Interior Design I still draw on Ralph Lauren and collections like this one to help produce many of my own fine interiors!

Antibes from the South of France collection at Ralph Lauren.

La Plage, is the name of their latest “South of France” incarnation, and I have to say I am loving this collection – The Antibes rattan lounge chair (right) is absolute perfection and I cant wait to use it along with many other items from this collection in upcoming JAID interiors!

Transitioning from winter to spring, I’m sporting an azure cotton corduroy jacket and skinny khaki pant both by Gucci, Balenciaga chambray band collar shirt with contrast blue and white cotton stripe lined collar,placket and cuffs, Turnbull and Asser pale blue silk pocket square, Hermes “blue jeans” blue leather belt with silver buckle, Lanvin taupe suede and patent leather sneakers, Oliver Peoples KVA glasses and my fragrance is Creed Citrus Bigarrade which conjures up images of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor living in glamorous exile at their palatial villa in Cap D’Antibes – La Croe.

James Andrew at Indochine - photo Lars Stephan

Indochine – the name evokes images of a wild colonial confluence of cultures, and while often fraught with struggle, French Indochina produced some of the most sophisticated flavors on the planet – which brings me to Indochine the New York City restaurant – a premier destination for some of the City’s most beautiful and discerning diners.

We at WIJW keep talking about the “total sensory experience” – Indochine is that to the Nth degree – Luscious monumental tropical arrangements (refreshed every week) tower grandly throughout, a bold Banana leaf wallpaper punctuates the walls, rattan furniture for the waiting area, undulating overhead fans, deep comfy booths beckon one to crisp white linen covered tables, while unbelievably graceful wait staff serve and facilitate confidently, appearing here and there in the ambient glow of the half light – this is the perfect future/past ultra chic French/Vietnamese experience!

I can proudly say I’ve been coming here since my early days as a New Yorker some 20 years ago, and the place and the cuisine miraculously remains absolutely as fresh as my very first visit. Do eat here – the food is of course heaven realm stuff, and the presentation absolutely always demands pause for appreciation.

I’m pictured (top of post) at Indochine wearing a Balenciaga olive cotton/silk Asian inspired shirt with loop closures over a Michael Kors ivory knit cotton top with crocheted placket, white skinny jean by Diesel, woven white cotton Gucci belt with brown alligator and bamboo D ring, Gucci Asian inspired flip flops in brown velvet and woven straw and leather, and to complete the look, I’m wearing my fab KVA sunglasses created for Oliver Peoples.

I’m wearing a white cotton safari Jacket by Gucci, (I love the look of a safari style jacket as a more casual alternative to a blazer), Balenciaga black and white silk/cotton micro stripe shirt with drawstring neck, lemon yellow jeans by Cassette, braided black leather belt, black leather loafers and black leather tote all by Gucci.

Enjoying one of a pair of lovely sculptural chairs, I’m wearing a red leather biker jacket by Gucci, a Balenciaga chambray shirt with blue and white cotton stripes lining the collar and cuffs, royal blue cotton pant by Gucci, silver chain link belt also Gucci, Dior sunglasses and silver leather sneakers.

I had great response to a post I made some time ago with some well priced clothing – so sharing another one today. Here is my take on “high/low” – I couldn’t find any shorts I liked at some of my usual shopping destinations and found that Club Monaco had a huge selection of fantastic shorts. I was reminded of what Carrie in Sex and the City said so perfectly – “I need a $25 dress to go with my $500 shoes.”

I snapped up some Club Monaco black and grey plaid cotton seersucker shorts and lemon yellow ribbon belt and I paired these bargain shorts with an unusual shirt in cotton/silk black and white micro stripes with drawstring neck by Balenciaga. I completed the look with a Gucci white leather bag, black, white, and silver leather loafers, and a sharp looking pair of Dior sunglasses.

Wonderfully overwhelmed by the vast selection, I’m wearing a navy cotton safari jacket by Gucci, a Balenciaga blue chambray shirt with blue and white striped cotton lining on the collar and cuffs, lemon yellow jeans by Cassette, silver chain link belt by Gucci and Dior silver leather sneakers.

I am wearing a Gucci olive nylon box quilted hunting jacket with brown suede details, a Balenciaga chambray band collar shirt, a plum silk paisley Gucci scarf, brown tweed Gucci motorcycle pants, and a Gucci python belt with silver double horse head buckle. “Eton” boots in aubergine suede are Yves Saint Laurent.

On an early fall day, I am wearing one of my many light weight leather jackets – this one is white leather with contrast black and saddle leather by Gucci, glasses are by Dior, a Balenciaga shirt in black and white cotton/silk micro strip with drawstring neck, Diesel black skinny jeans, Python belt with silver double horse head belt by Gucci, saddle leather tasseled loafers by Gucci and black leather tote, also by Gucci.