WHAT IS JAMES WEARING? » Michael Kors

INDOCHINE

James — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:34:22 +0000

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.

City Safari

James — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:30:16 +0000

It may look like I’m at a bazaar in Africa, but this is actually the flea market on West 25th St. between Broadway and 6th Ave. in New York City. One can find a great selection of hand crafted textiles here, and I often have pillows made from them for my clients. This sort of textile can add a the perfect human touch to a room. If you are not near a market like this check out my friend Sharyn Compton’s site to find an amazing selection of items.

Am pictured here admiring a spectacular cloth in shades of green with gold thread that would be perfect to use as pillows! I’m wearing a Tom Ford brown cotton safari shirt, over a Michale Kors ivory cotton knit top with crocheted placket, olive drab cotton shorts by Masons, woven white cotton belt with bamboo D rings and crocodile buckle by Gucci, “Chelsea” boots in brown leather by Gucci, brown suede and saddle leather satchel also by Gucci and Tom Ford sunglasses.

Beautiful Paper

James — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:16:07 +0000

Here is an example of my high style traditional work – a complete renovation of a grand apartment for a super chic couple. I’m standing here in the entrance gallery, where we used a Gracie Chinese paper that used to hang in the dining room. This amazing paper sets the tone for the apartment and its color palette flows seamlessly throughout this spectacular space. I designed all of the moldings and doors and added many more details to the rest of the apartment as well.

Admiring my handiwork, I am wearing a Gucci dusty rose suede safari jacket, a Gucci kaftan style silk/linen sweater in a pink beige, an ivory cotton knit top with crocheted placket by Michael Kors, Diesel white jeans (a signature look for me- they go with everything!) Gucci python belt with silver buckle, brown suede with hot pink suede trim loafers, brown suede and leather satchel and sunglasses all by Gucci.

A Fortuitous Collaboration

James — Thu, 07 May 2009 05:33:03 +0000

My dear friend and fellow blogger Ronda Carman has partnered with Vicente Wolfe to act as an online gallery through her excellent “All The Best” blog. Ms. Carman will be featuring a very limited edition selection of Wolf’s stunning photographs titled “Trees of Nambia.” The blog medium really does offer exciting possibilities for collaboration between bloggers, artists, and designers!

Shown here with my stylish friend Ronda Carman at the super chic Vicente Wolf gallery, I’m wearing a cognac pieced suede jacket by Gucci, Michael Kors ivory knit top with crocheted placket, Gucci python belt and lavender micro corduroy pants, Dior sneakers in silver leather.

Summer House

lunarlander — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:27:18 +0000

Summer House is one of the new collections from Ralph Lauren Home . With a nod to Cecil Beaton’s “My Fair Lady,” the Summer House collection has patterns with names like “Regent Park floral” (a Beaton inspired water color floral-Cecil), Dandy, Fairlady, Ascot, and Eliza.” The collection evokes a sense of English garden party glamor, capturing the “Ascot” scene from “My Fair Lady.” I could see this elegant crisp white and cornflower blue collection working well in the Hamptons, the South of France, or simply for a “summer in the city” look. While working with Ralph Lauren I create and installed many Lauren rooms, and I still get requests quite often to replicate these marvelous designs. Here I’m studying a room for a potential client.

I’m wearing an olive nylon box quilted jacket with brown suede trim by Gucci, heavy knit brown wool sweater and teal silk russian floral shirt both by Gucci, Michael Kors cashmere thermal knit shirt, grey flannel pants by Gucci, Lanvin tealy turquoise suede sneakers, brown suede glove by Sermoneta, brown suede and leather satchel by Gucci, and glasses by Tom Ford.

Fantastic Reproductions

lunarlander — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:30:33 +0000

When I can’t find the right antique for a client or when I need a matching companion to a piece, I turn to a select group of artisans like those at the Italian company Pozzoli represented at the Roubini showroom in New York City. They have been in business for over 100 years making fantastic reproductions of period antiques using traditional 18th century methods.

I am especially fond of this wonderful console – with its chalky white finish, carved palm leaf detail, lions paw feet with and antiqued marble top, it would be hard pressed to tell this from an antique original. I love this side chair as well – a Louis XVI style chair that has been modified to give it a more luxurious modernist feel. You may see a pair of these consoles in one of my upcoming interiors and perhaps a few of these chairs around a dining table.

I am wearing a mix of black and brown – black cashmere topcoat by Gucci, a heavy knit brown wool sweater with button front and epalets, Russian floral print brown and black silk/cotton shirt by Gucci, Michael Kors cashmere thermal weave undershirt, black wool flannel pant by Gucci, brown leather “Chelsea” boots by Gucci, brown suede gloves by Sermoneta and a document folder by Louis Vuitton.

At Tom Dixon’s

lunarlander — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:17:06 +0000

While recently perusing the Tom Dixon boutique at ABC Home I came across the “Link” easy chair – an ultra cool sculptural piece produced in white powder coated steel that reinterprets the classic wing chair. Its exaggerated shape not only provides visual interest but also make the chair quite comfortable! I could see using this chair a la David Hicks in a dramatic dark room mixed with antiques and other contemporary pieces.

I am wearing a Gucci black cashmere topcoat, over a white cotton/nylon jacket by G-star, grey cashmere turtleneck sweater by Gucci, Sermoneta pale blue peccary gloves, black skinny jeans by Diesel, Yves Saint Laurent “Windsor” loafers in black leather, Gucci black leather tote and glasses by Dior.

A Glimpse of the Sublime

lunarlander — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:45:49 +0000

I have always loved the work of Philip Johnson and was very happy when MOMA retained Johnson’s original design for the Italian Piazza inspired Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Barnett Newman’s monumental 1967 sculpture, “Broken Obelisk,” elegantly celebrates the soaring verticality of Johnson’s space in a six ton architectural expression of what Newman called “a transformation of the tragic…into a glimpse of the sublime.” Inspiring!

Thinking about how fabulous this wonderful piece would look in my future country house garden, I am wearing a Gucci olive nylon box quilted jacket with brown suede trim, Gucci teal silk Russian floral shirt, Michael Kors cashmere thermal undershirt, Gucci gray flannel pants, python belt with silver double horse head buckle by Gucci, brown leather “Chelsea” boots by Gucci, brown suede gloves by Sermoneta, and sunglasses by Dior.

On the Foundation of Necessity

lunarlander — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:52:51 +0000

I M Pei designed this lovely portico in a fabulous complex of international style buildings for one of his first residential projects. Pei believes architecture should be “a pragmatic art… built on a foundation of necessity,” and as such he has often incorporated very dramatic porticoes that run the length of his buildings. They create a wonderful exaggerated perspective, add interest to a facade, and, beyond the purely aesthetic qualities, they provide a very practical naturally illuminated (during the day) walkway that protects one from the occasional extremes of weather – Thank you Mr. Pei!

Enjoying this brilliant masterpiece, I am wearing a Mackintosh Scotland brown cotton corduroy down vest with an orange lining, a Gucci brown wool heavy knit sweater with button front, a Michael Kors cashmere thermal undershirt, Gucci plum silk paisley scarf, Diesel plum skinny jeans, Gucci brown suede cap toe shoes, and Sermoneta brown suede gloves.

Foundations

lunarlander — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:51:12 +0000

A fantastic carpet is the foundation of a beautiful room, and one of my very favorite places to go for amazing carpets is Doris Leslie Blau.

Standing in front of a carpet by the legendary designer to the uber rich, Alberto Pinto – this piece is so chic – its Op Art effect is perfectly counterbalanced by a soothing tonality. Look for it in one of my upcoming projects!

I love the impossibly clean and crisp look of wearing white in the city. I’m pictured here in a Gucci white cotton safari jacket over a Michael Kors ivory cotton sweater with crocheted placket, Gucci python belt, Diesel white skinny jeans, Gucci leather and woven fabric flip flops, and a Gucci white leather bag.