Paradise Now
The Extraordinary Life of Karl Lagerfeld
Published on 12. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-5299-1094-0 (ISBN)
Description
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE MAJOR DOCUMENTARY COMING SOON IN 2026
Karl Lagerfeld ran Chanel for 35 years, reinventing it from a brand nearing bankruptcy with only one boutique back to one of the top fashion houses in the world.
But who was the man behind the myth?
In this deliciously entertaining book, the author 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.
Journalist and author William Middleton spent years working in Paris for Women's Wear Daily, W, and Harper's Bazaar, interviewing and socialising with Lagerfeld many times over the years, getting to intimately know not only his work and his professional journey, but also what the elusive designer kept private from the world.
Karl Lagerfeld ran Chanel for 35 years, reinventing it from a brand nearing bankruptcy with only one boutique back to one of the top fashion houses in the world.
But who was the man behind the myth?
In this deliciously entertaining book, the author 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.
Journalist and author William Middleton spent years working in Paris for Women's Wear Daily, W, and Harper's Bazaar, interviewing and socialising with Lagerfeld many times over the years, getting to intimately know not only his work and his professional journey, but also what the elusive designer kept private from the world.
Reviews / Votes
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 CountryMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Ebury Publishing
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
16 pages of photographs
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
360 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5299-1094-0 (9781529910940)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2023
Ebury Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
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.