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Barbara Cushing Mortimer Paley (July 5, 1915 – July 6, 1978) was an American magazine editor and socialite. Affectionately known as Babe throughout her life, Paley made notable contributions to the field of magazine editing. In recognition of her distinctive fashion sense, she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958. Together with her two sisters, Minnie and Betsey, she was a popular debutante in her youth and the trio were dubbed "The Fabulous Cushing Sisters" in high society. She was married twice; first, to the sportsman Stanley G. Mortimer Jr. and second, to CBS founder William S. Paley.
Barbara's father was committed to his career and would spend long hours at his work which meant that his wife was left at home alone with the couple's five children. Though affectionate towards his children when home he would spend much of his time in his study. Cushing was also stern and demanded perfectionism.
Within the family Barbara was known as "Baby" or "Babs" which would eventually become the moniker she was known by, Babe.
Barbara had two older sisters, Mary and Betsey, who both entered into unions with affluent families: Mary Cushing became the second wife of Vincent Astor, while Betsey Cushing married twice, first to James Roosevelt, the son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and later to John Hay Whitney.name="Bumiller1999"> Together, the Cushing sisters were often referred to by the public as 'The Fabulous Cushing Sisters'.
Barbara’s oldest brother William died in an automobile accident in 1926, near New Haven where he was attending Yale University. The death of her brother was a devastating blow to Barbara’s parents. While her father threw himself into his work, her mother would attend seances in order to connect with the spirit of her son.
Barbara attended the Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut where she graduated at the top of her class. In October 1934, she made her debut as a debutante in Boston at the Ritz-Carlton, an event that garnered attention amid the challenges of the Great Depression. Notably, sons of Roosevelt attended her debut. New York Times, October 24, 1934 This marked the beginning of her social journey. She completed her high school education at Winsor School in Boston in 1934.
In 1937, Paley was involved in a car accident while returning from a party on Long Island when the drunk male driver crashed into a tree. The accident led to her front teeth being knocked out and a shattered jawbone. Doctors had to reconstruct her jaw and teeth. Later in life there would be rumors that she had undergone plastic surgery.
In 1938, Paley decided to move to Manhattan to live with her sister Betsey and then shared an apartment with her friend Priscilla Weld. Living in New York enabled Paley to land a job as fashion editor at Vogue in 1939. This role granted her access to designer clothing, often obtained in exchange for her high-profile image. In 1941, Time magazine ranked her the world's second-best dressed woman, following Wallis Simpson and preceding Aimée de Heeren. Babe Paley / Mrs Stanley Mortimer Jr 2nd best dressed woman in the World according to Times 1941 She was also named on the best-dressed lists of 1945 and 1946.
Following her second marriage in 1947, Paley left her position at Vogue.
Despite encountering social exclusions and discriminatory practices due to prevalent Antisemitism prejudices against her husband, the Paleys cultivated a circle of high-society friends that included author Truman Capote and fellow socialite Slim Keith. Capote included Paley and Keith in his group of "swans," comprising New York socialites such as Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, and C.Z. Guest Paley severed her friendship with Capote when he published excerpts from Answered Prayers, his tell-all about New York's elite.
Paley's personal style was considered influential. She was known for combinations such as pairing high-end jewellery by Fulco di Verdura and Jean Schlumberger with costume pieces, and for choices like tying a scarf to her handbag or allowing her hair to go grey naturally. Several of her fashion choices were widely imitated.
Paley appeared on the International Best Dressed List 14 times before being inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame in 1958. Fashion designer Bill Blass said of her: "You noticed Babe and nothing else."
They had two children together:
After her divorce from Mortimer, Barbara received a legal settlement from a trust fund. In 1946, she met William "Pasha" Paley, who was estranged from his wife Dorothy Hart Hearst (1908–1998), the former wife of John Randolph Hearst. William Paley, the chief executive of Columbia Broadcast System or CBS, was wealthy, influential, and interested in the arts, and sought acceptance in New York's café society. Barbara's social connections provided him a better chance of gaining entry into the exclusive circles that had previously eluded him. For Barbara, William Paley offered wealth, security, and worldly experiences. William's divorce was finalized July 24, 1947. He and Barbara married the following year. She had two children with Paley:
According to several biographers, Barbara experienced loneliness and frustration as William Paley engaged in extramarital affairs. This emotional toll affected her and her family. Moreover, she faced public and media scrutiny, expected to maintain an unrealistic standard of beauty and social grace.
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