The fascinating biography of Chanel's legendary Creative Director that inspired a major Paramount Pictures documentary Karl Lagerfeld reinvented Chanel, revitalising and restoring it to its rightful place as one of the top fashion houses in the world, leading the brand for 35 years. He also served as the creative director for Fendi and launched his own brand, using his larger than life personality, unique vision and constant focus on the now to change fashion forever. But who was the man behind the myth? In this deliciously entertaining book, Middleton draws on his personal relationship with Lagerfeld to take us inside the most exclusive rooms in the fashion industry, behind the catwalk, and into a world of brilliantly talented artists, stylish socialites, and famous stars-some of the most elusive and unforgettable figures of fashion's inner circle for the past four decades.

Details

ISBN13: 9781529910940
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 480
Edition:
Publication Date: 16 Jun 2026
Publisher: Ebury Publishing
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.7(H)x13(L)x3.2(W)356
Weight (gm): 356

Author Biography

William Middleton is a journalist and editor who has worked in New York and Paris. He has been the Fashion Features Director for Harper's Bazaar and the Paris Bureau Chief for Fairchild Publications, overseeing W Magazine and Women's Wear Daily. He has written for The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, House & Garden, Esquire, Texas Monthly, Travel & Leisure, Departures, and the International Herald Tribune.

Reviews

A deep knowledge of and feeling for his subject -- Sunday Times
If you have an appetite for Lagerfeld lore, Paradise Now will sate it and then some. * New York Times Book Review *
William Middleton exposes both strands—the behind-the-scenes striver and the haughty sybarite—that Lagerfeld wove together into a piece of performance art that ran until his death. -- Wall Street Journal
William Middleton's detailed and engrossing biography, Paradise Now, delves into the late designer's dazzling career, key relationships and his endearing nature. -- Women's Wear Daily
An authoritative and admiring portrait of a fashion icon. -- Kirkus Reviews
This is a crackling chronicle of one of the fashion world’s punchiest personalities. -- Publisher's Weekly
Much to enjoy -- The Times
William Middleton, who wrote the must-read Double Vision, a biography of Dominique and John de Menil is back with a deeply researched, definitive biography of Karl Lagerfeld, detailing the late designer's time at the helm of Chanel and his incredible life in some of the world's most rarefied circles. -- Town and Country