Mark your calenders for one of my favorite events of the season, namely the Take Home a Nude art auction and party coming Monday October 17th from 6PM ’till 9 PM at Sotheby’s!

It’s is a marvelous event that helps fund student fellowships, scholarships, and studio space along with programs of varied and intense studies. And as an added draw, my beloved Scott McBee has very generously donated the most elegant portrait of the Rothschild yacht, Atmah.

Atmah - portrait by Scott McBee

We do so look forward to seeing many of you there for such a fun AND altruistic event.

You can purchase your tickets HERE.

James Andrew Design - Illustration by Scott McBee

I’m quite thrilled and honored to be a part of this year’s Rooms With A View Design Show.

Founded by my mentor, the legendary Albert Hadley, as a venue to support the Southport Congregational Church, it has become one of the most important social events of the season in Connecticut.

There you’ll find a series of vignettes, or mini room settings, designed by some of the most celebrated interior designers from the Northeast. This year’s theme is being called “The Next Generation,” with, as you might have guessed, a focus on rising stars. Of course there’ll be a special tribute to the iconic Albert Hadley, and in this spirit I’ve been taking great pleasure in designing my room with a nod to Hadley, the man who’s been called the “Dean of American Design.” Scott McBee’s able hand has imagined my vignette (above) I think quite perfectly.

I’m being most graciously sponsored by the superlative Scalamandre fabric house and I’ll be using all of their luxurious fabrics and trims in my vignette. I’ll also be featuring a spectacular selection of old and new pieces from some of my favorite dealers and artisans, including Frederick P. Victoria, H M Luther, Topher Carnes, Tucker Robbins, Yale R Burge, French Accents, and the brilliant work of our very own Scott McBee to name a few.

Do mark your calenders! The opening gala preview party is Thursday November 3rd , 2011 6 PM, and the show will be open to the public Friday November 4th 2011 to Sunday November 6th.

I hope to see many of you there!

James playing the matador - Illustration by Scott McBee

As you might have guessed from our banner tonight, WIJW is off on another adventure! We’re quite excited, and we’ll soon be bringing you a bit of the rich culture and beauty of Madrid as well as a taste of the jet set hippie-deluxe-60′s-70′s vibe of Ibiza and Majorca—oh, and you can be sure I’ll be outfitted for the part!

Do not fret while we’re gone though, we’ll be sending you snippets from our expedition along the way—so drop in on us! We’ll be doing a more considered write-up as usual upon our return later this month.

In the meantime, we’re setting the stage with a brilliant illustration by our top notch artist and illustrator, Scott McBee, in a portrayal of me as the matador. Of course we’re specifically paying tribute to the bravura of the matador’s fashion sense, (we are animal lovers as you know). Who else but a matador would have the confidence to wear such over the top couture? We’re also hoping that tonight’s costume might inspire a few of our slightly more conservative gentlemen readers to unleash their own sartorial splendor!

Hasta La Proxima Vez!

- James

James Andrew on board the Oceania ship 'Marina'

I’d been invited by the super chic Lee Jofa showroom to attend a luncheon on the new 65,000-ton, 1,258-passenger Oceania ship “Marina.” I thought the event would be the perfect surprise for my favorite artist, Scott McBee. As many of you know, McBee has made a name for himself in large scale ocean liners and private yacht portraiture.

Artist Scott Mcbee and his 'RMS Queen Elizabeth'

SS Normandie by Scott Houston McBee

Needless to say, when we pulled up to the “Marina” on Pier 90, he couldn’t have been happier. An elegant champagne reception and scrumptious caviar and Lobster Thermidor meal on board had us imagining the Halcyon Days of yore, and longing for that golden era when travel was just as much about the journey as it was about the destination!

Dressed in nautical inspired attire, I’m touring the decks on a most glorious day. I’m wearing a Tom Ford era Gucci navy velvet jacket, blue and white horizontal striped shirt, and navy suede loafers, Diesel jeans, red alligator belt with sterling buckle by Ralph Lauren, vintage red, white, and blue silk pocket square and my fragrance is Creed Erolfa.

James in Berlin - illustration by Scott McBee

As you know, we do love art and culture, and Berlin, well, it’s simply the preeminent destination for both! We just can’t resist its diverse architecture, museums, restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries any more – so it’s hello Berlin!

We’ll attempt to share a few posts while we are away – and do stay tuned to WIJW for some uber-fantastic posts when we return from this cutting edge city next week.

Leaving you with a fantastic fantasy image by Scott McBee of me and my beloved whippets Rupert and Nigel in front of the Brandenburg Gate – how lovely it would have been to have my exquisite creatures here!

Scott Mcbee - photo James Andrew

A quick post to thank my beloved Scott McBee for the monumental amount of patience and effort he’s put into so many of the magnificent images and illustrations on WIJW. I’m deeply grateful and happy to be sharing this amazing journey with someone so outgoing and inquisitive – and I’m deeply blessed to have him here collaborating in life and love. Thank you Scott McBee!

Scott McBee's large scale painting of the Conte di Savoia.

I’m pleased to celebrate the work of the brilliant nautical artist Scott McBee. Featured now at the ultra chic Chinese Porcelain Company on Park Avenue in NYC, McBee’s stunning large scale ocean liners transport one to a time when traveling in ultra style was just as important as arriving at one’s destination. It goes without saying that McBee’s work, which is also now on exhibit at the South Street Seaport Museum in lower Manhattan and can be seen as well in the permanent collection of The Master Works Foundation in Bermuda, has developed a substantial following, and of course many of his fine commissioned yacht portraits now reside in private family collections. I can’t think of a better gift than a McBee for the man (or woman) with a passion for fine yacht design!

Inspired by McBee’s painting ” Conte di Savoia,” I’m wearing a red Gucci leather biker jacket and custom made kelly green shirt with french cuffs, Seaman Schepps black pearl cuff links, white skinny jeans by Diesel, black patent leather belt with silver leather trim and grommets, Dior silver leather sneakers and sunglasses , Cartier vintage “Tank Divan” from Raj Tolaram, my fragrance is Creed Bois de Cedrat.

James Andrew at DecoDence - with Scott McBee's painting, SS Normandie

Just back from the opening of DecoDence – an ultra fab exhibition showcasing Mario Pulice’s unparalleled ocean liner related collection at the South Street Seaport Museum. A perfect antidote to the economy-over-comfort trend in current day travel, the show gives a rare glimpse of some of the actual objects and fine French furnishings that one could expect to see on one’s transatlantic voyage aboard the exceedingly lavish oceanic angel, SS Normandie.

Furnishings at the DecoDence exhibit.

How I do long for the return of this kind of elegance and sophistication, where travel was as much about the journey as it was the destination! -Am I over romanticizing this? I think not! As you know, we really crave that all enveloping design experience here at WIJW, so it is quite natural for us to go on a bit about iconic ocean liners like the Normandie – and I’m sure you’ll forgive me for imagining just what we’d wear in those heavenly grand salons, while chatting with the glitterati of yore. And did I mention that the artist, Scott McBee ‘s large scale painting of the Normandie is the centerpiece of this brilliant exhibition?! This fact alone, despite the hideous weather, made it an easy thing to make my way down to this fantastic event.

Special mention has to be made of a recently discovered 1939 short color film showing at the exhibit that captures life aboard the SS Normandie on one of its voyages between New York and France – another very good reason to put DecoDence at the very top of your must-see list!

I’m pictured here in front of McBee’s iconic SS Normandie wearing a navy velvet jacket by Gucci, Tom Ford blue end on end cotton shirt with contrast white collar, Seaman Schepps silver pearl and pale blue sapphire cuff links, Charvet Paris retro print pocket square in white and green silk, black watch plaid wool pant by Paul Smith, purple alligator belt with sterling buckle by Ralph Lauren, navy leather cap toe slip on shoes by Gucci. My fragrance is Royal Water by Creed

From our WIJW Lobel Modern post. Illustration Scott McBee

We’re wishing a Happy Anniversary to all of our WIJW friends!

In celebration, and to thank our readers, supporters, fellow bloggers, and sponsors for their ongoing support we’ve asked the very talented Scott McBee to create this spectacular 1st Anniversary Paper Doll. With a nod to the classic paper dolls of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, our dolls recall some of the past year’s outrageous outfits. Download the PDF, print it out on sturdy stock, and have a blast playing dress up with James.

DOWNLOAD the complete WIJW 1st Anniversary Paper Doll collection.

Anniversaries are a great time to reflect on what has come before and to imagine future possibilities. We began WIJW as a means to share a certain design sensibility and to bring our vision for elevated living to a global audience. Happily I can say WIJW has come quite a way in the past year and new previously unimagined opportunities continue to arise. I’ve been asked to do stories on hotels, restaurants, clothing boutiques, and to write columns in mainstream magazines, design clothing, consult, market and advise! I’ve also met many new clients who were looking for a fresh design perspective, and needed help on the array of aspects that make up a great living space. In the end, though, it is the enjoyment that so many are getting from what we do at WIJW that makes this such a pleasure. I was particularly touched by a recent comment from one of our WIJW friends and I hope you all will forgive me another moment of unabashed self indulgence for quoting it here:

Shannon Buchester
on Jul 23rd, 2009.

James, you provide a truly visual feast. I linger over your exquisite images and descriptions and am transported into a place where everything is beautiful! Your elan, immaculate style and joie de vivre are inspirational and exciting. I feel your passion, you truly live out loud.
Congratulations on an amazing life, I adore you x

WOW! I really live for this kind of connection.

It has been a spectacular year and I look forward to bringing you much much more from WIJW in the coming year. Thanks to all!

Light, hugs and blessings,

James

From our WIJW Seaman Schepps post. Illustration by Scott McBee

From our WIJW Idylic Italy post. Illustration by Scott McBee

From our WIJW Princely Puertorico post. Illustration by Scott McBee

From our WIJW Dressing Up post. Illustration by Scott McBee

From our WIJW Riverside Stroll post. Illustration by Scott McBee

From our WIJW Scintillating Santorini post. Illustration by Scott McBee

DOWNLOAD the complete WIJW 1st Anniversary Paper Doll collection.

There is an old school more formal vibe in Bermuda, a jacket is almost mandatory for dinner or any smart party. I chose a palette of purple, lavender, turquoise and minty aqua mixed with white and beige. Dressed to celebrate McBee’s success, I’m wearing a Gucci minty -aqua cotton suit, with a Tom Ford french cuff shirt in lavender end on end cotton with contrast white collar and a lavender cotton Glenn plaid cotton pocket square, Seaman Schepps cufflinks in silver pearls with pale blue sapphire, purple alligator belt with sterling buckle by Ralph Lauren and python loafers by Gucci.