Episode 40. From the Menils to Karl Lagerfeld: William Middleton on Fashion, Power, and Paris
Paris-based journalist and biographer William Middleton joins David to connect the Menils' quiet cultural power in Houston with Karl Lagerfeld's influence in fashion - and what it takes to write definitive biographies.
What do Houston's most influential art patrons and fashion's most famous ponytail have in common? In this episode of Inside the Design Studio, David sits down with journalist and biographer William Middleton, author of Double Vision and Paradise Now. Together they trace the thread from the Menils and the Menil Collection to Karl Lagerfeld's world at Chanel, including the H&M collaboration that turned him into a rock star overnight - and the real, unglamorous work behind writing big, serious books.
William has reported from inside the fashion and art worlds for decades and is trusted to tell the full stories of both the Menils and Karl Lagerfeld - with deep research, sharp observation, and real cultural context.
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“You’re still living in the cycle of what your parents didn’t heal. And unless someone does something about it, it continues.”
Transcript
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Dr. Mariel Buqué (00:00:00):
You are not broken. You are simply carrying around generations of pain and it can make your emotions feel at times unbearable and like healing is impossible. But I can tell you with certainty, you have an opportunity to create a different legacy than what you were handed. You can take that opportunity and transform your life starting today.
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Know someone who quotes Karl or loves the Menil Collection? Send them this episode.
Key takeaways
Cultural power is often quiet - and built through long-term, intentional decisions.
Karl's genius was timing and cultural fluency as much as design.
High-low collaborations can expand a legacy when the story is clear.
Definitive books are marathons: access, funding, and stamina matter.
You can build a career at the intersection of art, fashion, and storytelling.
Guests Appearing in this Episode
William Middleton
Journalist and biographer (Paris-based)
William Middleton is a journalist and author who has lived and worked between New York and Paris for much of his career. He has served as fashion features director at Harper's Bazaar and as Paris bureau chief for Fairchild Publications, overseeing W and Women's Wear Daily. His writing has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Vogue, Architectural Digest, and Texas Monthly. He is the author of Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de Menil and Paradise Now: The Extraordinary Life of Karl Lagerfeld.
Follow William on Instagram
A deeply reported biography that reveals Karl Lagerfeld's life, work, and carefully constructed persona.
The first full biography of Dominique and John de Menil and the story of how their patronage reshaped Houston.
Resources
Menil Collection: https://www.menil.org/
Rothko Chapel: https://www.rothkochapel.org/
