Joseph Edkins

Barbara Cushing Mortimer Paley, widely known as Babe, was an American magazine editor and a prominent figure in high society, recognized for her distinctive style. Born into a distinguished family, her father was a renowned brain surgeon, and her mother hailed from a politically connected lineage. Babe's early life was marked by significant family events, including the tragic death of her brother and the social prominence of her sisters, who married into influential families. She received a notable education, graduating at the top of her class from Westover School, and made her society debut in Boston.

Paley began her career in magazine editing, starting at Glamour and later becoming a fashion editor at Vogue, where her image and style gained significant attention. She was repeatedly recognized on best-dressed lists, eventually earning a place in the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. Her personal life included two marriages: first to sportsman Stanley G. Mortimer Jr., with whom she had two children, and later to William S. Paley, the founder of CBS. Despite her public persona, her private life was reportedly marked by challenges, including perceived neglect of her children and marital difficulties. She passed away in 1978 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Barbara Cushing Mortimer Paley, known affectionately as Babe, was born Barbara Cushing in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father, Harvey Cushing, was a distinguished brain surgeon with academic ties to prestigious universities, and her mother was Katharine Stone (née Crowell), a descendant of a U.S. Congressman. The family spent formative years in Brookline, Massachusetts, with summers at their New Hampshire coastal cottage. Her father's demanding career meant her mother often managed the household and five children alone. Babe, initially called 'Baby' or 'Babs' within the family, eventually adopted the nickname 'Babe.' She had two older sisters, Mary and Betsey, who also achieved social prominence through their marriages. The sisters were collectively known as 'The Fabulous Cushing Sisters.' A significant early tragedy was the 1926 death of her older brother in a car accident, which deeply affected her parents. Babe attended the Westover School, graduating at the top of her class, and later the Winsor School. Her society debut in Boston in 1934 garnered attention. In 1937, she was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in facial reconstruction.

Babe Paley's professional journey began with an entry-level position at Glamour magazine in 1935. By 1939, she had moved to Manhattan and secured a role as a fashion editor at Vogue. This position allowed her to leverage her own high-profile image, often receiving designer clothing in exchange for her association. Her impeccable sense of style quickly garnered widespread recognition; Time magazine named her the world's second-best dressed woman in 1941, and she appeared on best-dressed lists in subsequent years. She was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958, having been featured on the list 14 times. Fashion designer Bill Blass famously remarked on her impact, stating, 'You noticed Babe and nothing else.' After her second marriage in 1947, Paley departed from Vogue.

In 1940, while working at Vogue, Barbara Cushing married Stanley Grafton Mortimer Jr., an heir in the oil industry. Their marriage, which produced two children, Stanley Grafton Mortimer III and Amanda Jay Mortimer, ended in 1946. Reports suggest that during this period, Paley's focus on social status and reliance on wealth may have led to a perceived distance from her children. Following her divorce, she received a settlement from a trust fund. In 1947, she married William S. Paley, the influential founder of CBS. This union also produced two children, William C. Paley and Kate Cushing Paley. The couple maintained a prominent social circle, although they reportedly faced social exclusions due to anti-Semitic prejudices directed at William. Biographers have noted that Barbara experienced loneliness and frustration due to William's extramarital affairs, while simultaneously facing public pressure to uphold standards of beauty and social grace.

Babe Paley was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1974 and passed away on July 6, 1978, just after her 63rd birthday. Her enduring legacy lies primarily in her significant impact on fashion and style. She is remembered as an icon whose personal aesthetic was widely admired and emulated. Even those who had complex relationships with her, like Truman Capote, acknowledged her remarkable presence. Capote is famously quoted as saying, 'Babe Paley had only one fault. She was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect.' Her life and influence have been the subject of numerous books, including those focusing on her sisters and her own style, and she has been depicted in various films and television series, further cementing her status as a notable figure in 20th-century American culture.

“Babe Paley had only one fault. She was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect.”