Babe Paley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Babe Paley
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| Born |
Barbara Cushing
July 5, 1915 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | July 6, 1978 (aged 63) New York City, U.S.
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| Resting place | Memorial Cemetery, St. John's Church, Cold Spring Harbor, New York |
| Education | Westover School Winsor School |
| Occupation | Magazine editor, socialite |
| Years active | 1938–1978 |
| Spouse(s) |
Stanley Grafton Mortimer Jr.
(m. 1940; div. 1946) |
| Children | 4, including Amanda Burden |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Mary Benedict Cushing (sister) Betsey Cushing (sister) |
Barbara "Babe" Cushing Mortimer Paley (born July 5, 1915 – died July 6, 1978) was a famous American socialite. Her second husband, William S. Paley, started the CBS television network. Babe was known for her great sense of style. She was even added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958.
Contents
Growing Up: Babe Paley's Early Life
Babe Paley was born Barbara Cushing in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father was Harvey Cushing, a very famous brain surgeon. He taught surgery at important universities like Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Yale.
Barbara grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. She had two older sisters, Mary and Betsey. Both of her sisters married into wealthy and well-known families. Mary Cushing married Vincent Astor, and Betsey Cushing married James Roosevelt, who was the son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Later, Betsey married John Hay Whitney.
Because of their famous marriages, the three sisters were often called the "fabulous Cushing sisters" by the public and the media.
School and Social Debut
Babe went to the Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut. In October 1934, she was formally introduced to society as a debutante in Boston. This event was a big deal, especially during the Great Depression. It marked the start of her journey into high society. She finished her studies at the Winsor School in Boston in 1934.
Babe Paley's Career in Fashion
In 1938, Babe Paley started working as a fashion editor for Vogue magazine in New York City. This job gave her access to many designer clothes. Often, designers would give her clothes because her high-profile image helped promote their styles.
In 1941, Time magazine named her the world's second-best dressed woman. She was also on the best-dressed lists in 1945 and 1946. After she married for the second time in 1947, Paley left her job at Vogue.
Her Unique Style
Babe and William Paley had a beautiful apartment in the St. Regis hotel. A famous interior designer named Billy Baldwin decorated it. They lived there during the week. On weekends, they went to their large farm, Kiluna Farm, in Manhasset, Long Island. This farm had lovely gardens designed by different landscape artists.
They also had another retreat called Kiluna North in New Hampshire. They bought it in 1957. There, they entertained famous friends who enjoyed the privacy.
The Paleys had many high-society friends, including author Truman Capote and socialite Slim Keith. Truman Capote called Paley and some other New York socialites his "swans." These "swans" included Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, and C.Z. Guest. Paley stopped being friends with Capote when he wrote stories about New York's wealthy people that revealed too much.
Babe Paley was on the best-dressed list fourteen times. She was inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame in 1958. She often bought entire collections from famous fashion houses like Givenchy and Valentino SpA. Her style influenced many women. Designer Bill Blass once said that Babe always captured everyone's attention. He noted that you noticed Babe herself, not just what she was wearing.
Her personal and unique style was very influential. For example, a photo of Paley with a scarf tied to her handbag started a huge trend. Millions of women copied this look. She often mixed expensive jewelry with costume pieces. She also chose to let her hair go gray instead of using dye.
Babe Paley's Personal Life
While working at Vogue, Babe met oil heir Stanley Grafton Mortimer Jr.. He came from an old and important New York family. They married in 1940 in East Hampton, New York. Their marriage ended in 1946.
Babe and Stanley had two children:
- Stanley Grafton Mortimer III (born 1942). He graduated from Harvard.
- Amanda Jay Mortimer (born 1944). She married Carter Burden Jr. in 1964. They divorced in 1972.
Some stories suggest that Babe focused more on her social life than on her children. Her daughter Amanda has said that their relationship was "virtually nonexistent." Amanda noted that the distance between them was Babe's choice.
After her divorce from Mortimer, Babe received money from a trust fund. In 1946, she met William "Pasha" Paley. He was a very wealthy man who loved the arts. He wanted to be part of New York's high society. Babe's social connections helped him enter these circles. For Babe, Paley offered wealth and a worldly lifestyle.
After Paley's divorce in 1947, Babe and Paley married the next year. Together, Babe and Bill had two more children:
- William C. "Bill" Paley (born 1948). He brought back La Palina, a cigar company started by his grandfather.
- Kate Cushing Paley (born 1950).
Babe Paley faced pressure to maintain a perfect image. She was often watched by the public and the media.
Final Years and Passing
Babe Paley was a heavy smoker. In 1974, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. As she prepared for her death, she planned her own funeral. She even chose the food and wine for the funeral lunch. She organized her jewelry and personal items for friends and family. She wrapped them in colorful paper and made a detailed list of how they should be given out after she passed away.
Babe Paley died from lung cancer on July 6, 1978. She passed away one day after her 63rd birthday. She was buried in the Memorial Cemetery of St. John's Church in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. When Bill Paley died in 1990, he was buried next to her.
Her Lasting Legacy
Even after her death, Babe Paley remains a symbol of fashion and style. Her friend Truman Capote once said, "Babe Paley had only one fault. She was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect." Many fashion designers and interior decorators still get ideas from Babe Paley's unique style today.
See also
In Spanish: Babe Paley para niños
