The recent release of the Hulu series “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” has raised many questions about who the swans were.
One of these swans is Babe Paley, who was played by Naomi Watts in the series, who harbored many secrets, with some of these being released in the article “La Côte Basque, 1965.”
Truman Capote Described Babe Paley as Being Perfect
Many people have at least a few flaws, but Truman Capote struggled to find anything wrong with Babe Paley.
Capote once said that Paley was perfect other than her one flaw, which was that she was perfect, as reported by Esquire.
Babe Paley Was Truman Capote’s Favorite Swan
Truman Capote had several different swans in his circle, but Babe Paley was reported to be his favorite.
Capote wanted his swans to be interesting, stylish, and sophisticated, according to Today, and Babe met all three of those qualities. These combined with her beauty led to her being his favorite.
Babe Paley’s Second Marriage Could Have Been One of Convenience
Having already been married for the first time to oil heir Stanley Grafton Mortimer Jr., Babe Paley married for a second time to William Paley, who was the owner of CBS.
However, she wanted a wealthy husband and even became a full-time socialite in 1947, a year after her divorce from Mortimer. Despite having been an editor of Vogue, Paley wanted a way into New York high society. They both found this in each other.
William Paley Was Unfaithful to Babe Paley
It may have looked like a marriage of love and glamor from the outside, but on the inside, it was not so glamorous.
William Paley was reported to have cheated on Babe Paley on multiple occasions, something that was hinted at in “La Côte Basque, 1965.”
Babe Paley Is Lady Ina Coolbirth
In the article “La Côte Basque, 1965,” Babe Paley’s most intimate stories are portrayed by the character Lady Ina Coolbirth.
Coolbirth is known as a gossip, with one of her stories being about a media executive who washed the bedsheets to cover up an affair. As this resembled something Babe had once told Capote, this was what caused her to end their friendship.
Babe Paley Had Other Strained Relationships
After the release of “La Côte Basque, 1965,” Truman Capote wasn’t the only strained relationship Babe Paley had.
Babe’s daughter Amanda has said that their mother-daughter relationship was strained and emotionally distant. Not only that, but it was Babe’s decision for it to be this way, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
Babe Paley Lost Her Teeth in a Car Accident
She may have been considered one of the most beautiful women in New York’s high society, but before she even entered that society, Babe Paley was in a car accident that potentially changed her entire life forever.
The car accident happened in 1934 when Babe was just 19 years old. It resulted in her losing her front teeth and needing false ones, as well as needing to have her jaw reconstructed, according to Freshers Live.
Babe Paley Suffered for Her Looks
She may have been naturally beautiful, but aside from having to have jaw reconstruction, Babe Paley felt pressured to look beautiful.
To maintain a slim figure, Babe reportedly smoked two packets of cigarettes per day, according to The St. Regis Magazine, which ended up being detrimental to her health.
Babe Paley Started a Very Popular Fashion Trend
As she ended up being the editor of Vogue, Babe Paley knew her fashion and even ended up creating a fashion trend that is still popular to this day.
This trend is to tie your scarf around the handles of your handbag, something she was spotted doing when heading out to lunch, according to Etiquetteer.
Babe Paley Knew How to Get Attention
Sometimes when in a room full of people, it can be difficult for people, even Babe Paley, to find their feet with joining in with conversation.
One time, Babe was at a dinner and she had been very quiet, so to get herself into the conversation she covered one of her teeth with some spinach, someone pointed it out to her, and that enabled her to be brought into the conversation.
Babe Paley Knew How to Not Repeat Things
As a member of New York high society, one thing this involves is having a lot of dinners, with many of the same people often in attendance.
So that she didn’t keep serving the same meals to the same guests, Babe Paley would archive her menus so she could look back at them and see what she had already served so as not to serve it again.
Babe Paley Planned Her Own Funeral
Babe Paley was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer just a short while before her death, Babe started putting some things into place before she died.
This included wrapping up her jewelry collection to be given to her friends and family and planning her funeral right down to the smallest of details, including the food and wine that was going to be served.
