Babe Paley
| Babe Paley | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Barbara Cushing July 5, 1915 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 1978 (aged 63) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Resting place | Memorial Cemetery, St. John's Church, Cold Spring Harbor, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Education |
Westover School Winsor School |
| Occupation | Magazine editor, socialite |
| Years active | 1938–1978 |
| Spouse(s) |
Stanley Grafton Mortimer, Jr. (m. 1940–46) William S. Paley (m. 1947–78) |
| Children |
Amanda Burden Stanley Grafton Mortimer III Kate Paley William Paley |
| Parent(s) | Harvey Cushing and Katharine Stone Crowell Cushing |
| Relatives |
Mary Benedict Cushing (sister) Betsey Cushing (sister) |
Barbara "Babe" Cushing Mortimer Paley (July 5, 1915 – July 6, 1978) was an American socialite and style icon, whose second husband was the founder of CBS, William S. Paley. She was known by the popular nickname "Babe" for most of her life. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958.
Born Barbara Cushing in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of world-renowned brain surgeon Dr. Harvey Cushing, who was professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins, Harvard and Yale universities, and Katharine Stone Crowell Cushing. Her older sisters both married into money and prestige: Minnie Cushing was the second wife of Vincent Astor, and Betsey Cushing married James Roosevelt, the son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and then later John Hay Whitney.
A student at the Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut, she was presented as a debutante in October 1934 in Boston, with Roosevelt's sons in attendance. Her debut drew great attention during the Great Depression, and marked the beginning of her social career. She graduated from Winsor School in Boston in 1934.
In 1938, Paley began working as a fashion editor for Vogue in New York City. Her position at Vogue gave her access to designer clothes, often given in exchange for Babe's high profile and glamorous image. In 1941, Time magazine voted her the world's second best dressed woman after Wallis Simpson and before Aimée de Heeren. She was also named to the best-dressed list in 1945 and 1946.
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