That Babe Paley, oh, she was somethin’ else. Skinny as a rail, that one. They say she was on some kinda Babe Paley diet, always watchin’ what she ate. I heard she was famous, all them fancy clothes and parties. Time Magazine said she was the second best dressed lady in the whole world, after that Simpson woman. Can you believe it? Second best!

They called her a “style icon,” whatever that means. Died of lung cancer, poor thing, back in ’78. She was one of them Cushing sisters, all of ’em married rich, I hear. I reckon to be that thin, a body has to be real careful. Dangerously low weight, some folks say. All for them designer clothes, I guess.
Folks are talkin’ about her again, somethin’ about a Truman Capote drama. All them secrets and scandals, sounds like a real mess. Babe Paley, Lee Radziwill, Slim Keith… all them fancy names. They were called “swans” or somethin’. High society folks, always lunching at them fancy places. They say Babe was Truman Capote’s favorite. He was some kinda writer, I think.
She had to be amusin’, whatever that means. I heard that she was so perfect, like everyone else was just there to make her look good. Like she was the star of the show, always. They called her a “great American beauty” too. Neatness counts, they say. But them charity balls are hell, from what I hear. All that gettin’ dressed up and makin’ small talk.
I don’t know much about that high society life. But that Babe Paley diet, it sure sounds tough. I like my food too much.

- She was famous for being fancy.
- She was really, really skinny.
- Always had to look perfect, all the time.
- Married rich, like her sisters.
- People called her a “swan.”
Over the last two years, I’ve heard her name more and more. I guess folks still remember her, even though she’s been gone a long time. She must’ve really been something to be remembered like that, huh? Still, I wouldn’t wanna be that thin. Not for all the fancy clothes in the world.
It’s a different world, that’s for sure. Those “ladies who lunch,” always eatin’ at fancy restaurants. That Babe, she was the queen of them all, I reckon. But that Babe Paley diet don’t sound like much fun to me. I’d rather have a good piece of pie than be skinny as a rail.
They say she was real popular with that Truman Capote fellow. He liked them fancy ladies, I guess. Babe Paley, Slim Keith, all them. They had all kinds of names for them back then. “Socialites,” they called them. I don’t know what that means, exactly, but it sounds important.

She was always in the magazines, wearin’ them fancy dresses and goin’ to them fancy parties. That Babe Paley diet kept her thin, but it probably wasn’t very healthy. I bet she was hungry all the time. I couldn’t live like that. I need my food!
I remember hearin’ about her back when I was younger. My mama used to read them magazines. She always said Babe Paley was the prettiest one. I guess she was, in her own way. But that Babe Paley diet… I don’t know. Seems like a lot of trouble just to fit into some fancy clothes.
I reckon it’s a different world for them rich folks. They worry about things we don’t even think about. Like bein’ the second best dressed woman in the world. Can you imagine? I’m just happy if my clothes are clean and don’t have too many holes in ’em.

But that Babe Paley diet is a cautionary tale. Bein’ thin ain’t everything. It’s better to be healthy and happy, I always say. And if that means havin’ a little extra meat on your bones, well, then so be it.
Anyway, that’s all I know about that Babe Paley. She was a fancy lady, that’s for sure. But I’m happy with my simple life. And I’m definitely not goin’ on any Babe Paley diet! No sir.