Ian Schrager, co-creator of Studio 54 and the impresario behind the Morgans Hotel, joins Fern Mallis for a Fashion Icons conversation about how his impeccable sense of style, design, and atmosphere has transformed the hospitality industry.
As co-creator of the legendary Studio 54 with Steve Rubell, Ian Schrager helped create the defining cultural landmark of the disco era, where fashion, music, art, and celebrity collided in ways that continue to shape popular culture. But Studio 54 was only the beginning.
In 1984, Schrager reinvented the hotel industry with Morgans, introducing the boutique hotel — a concept that replaced the white-box anonymity of post-WWII hotels with individuality, thoughtful design, and an atmosphere as carefully curated as any great restaurant or nightclub. He followed up with the Royalton, infusing a classic New York hotel with a distinctly modern, avant-garde aesthetic. Through groundbreaking brands including Delano, Mondrian, PUBLIC, and EDITION, he has continued to redefine modern luxury for generations of travelers. From nightlife to hospitality and beyond, Schrager has consistently stayed ahead of the curve of pop culture and style.
In an illuminating conversation moderated by Fern Mallis, hear Schrager reflect on the creative risks that have defined his career: the vision behind Studio 54 and the boutique hotel movement; entertaining celebrity luminaries ranging from David Bowie and Diana Ross to Tennessee Williams and Vladimir Horowitz to Richard Pryor and the cast of SNL; and why, after 50 years of innovation, he remains as driven by curiosity as ever.
Find out how Schrager he has woven together his passion for architecture, interior design, food, music, and fashion to create an aesthetic all his own — and hear the story behind a career that has reimagined hospitality and left an indelible mark on contemporary culture.