Babe Paley

Babe Paley, a socialite known for her glamour, was one of Truman Capote's closest friends. She stood out as the leading figure among Capote’s "Swans," a circle of elite women in mid-century New York high society. Babe was the epitome of elegance and sophistication. She had a reputation for her “flawlessness,” Capote once said? “Babe Paley had only one fault. She was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect.”

So how did she come to be one of the most well known socialites and influencers of the century? To start off, she was born to her father who was a renowned brain surgeon, Harvey Cushing and his wife, Katherine Stone. She grew up in a privileged New England home with two older sisters. In 1934, she made her debut in Boston at a ball in which President Roosevelt’s sons attended. Just four years later, she was living in New York City and working as a fashion editor for Vogue.

In New York, she quickly became a style icon. Babe was known for setting and breaking trends, not because she adhered to conventional styles, but because she had a keen eye for the new and elaborate. For instance, you can thank her for popularizing the trend of tying a scarf around the handles of a bag—a look that still endures today. Whatever Babe did or wore, everyone would follow without a batting of the eye. That is the type of influence she had on the world. In 1941, Time’s magazine named her second best dressed woman in the world, and she was featured on the International Best Dressed List 14 times.?

There is an episode in the Netflix series Halston where an unknown buyer bought one dress in every color that ultimately ended up saving Halston’s struggling brand. Well, that unknown buyer was Paley. That was her level of influence.?

After her two older sisters married in 1930—Mary to Vincent Astor and Betsy to James Roosevelt, both prominent men—Babe wed Stanley Grafton Mortimer Jr. in 1940. He was a Harvard graduate and an advertising executive. Stanley was an athlete and a key figure in the East Coast elite, with a background as the son of a stockbroker and amateur tennis champion. He worked in advertising during the thriving consumer era of 1940s New York and was active in sports. Babe Paley and Stanley had two children, Stanley and Amanda. After their divorce in 1946, Babe quickly remarried William S. Paley, with whom she would spend the rest of her life.

William S. Paley was also an impressive man as the chief executive for CBS, where he transformed this tiny media network into a major powerhouse. Babe and William resided in a beautiful apartment at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City and spent their weekends at Kiluna Farm in Manhasset, Long Island where they hosted familiar faces such as Grace Kelly, Lucille Ball, and David O. Selznick.?

While her marriage with William and friendship with Capote was not perfect, Babe kept her strength and grace intact. She is now remembered not only for her exceptional style but, even more so, for her remarkable personality and unwavering manners. Babe was known to remember everyone’s first and middle name and could host unlike any other with thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. She hosted themed dinners, parties, activities and never reached for a drink or cigarette without offering it to others first. Babe captivated every room and made people laugh although she never wanted to hold that spotlight. She was, in modern terms, a true “main character” and most definitely an influencer before social media.