For nearly half a century, Edna Woolman Chase reigned as America's "high priestess of fashion" in her position as editor of Vogue. She virtually invented fashion journalism and set a high standard of excellence for her profession. Under her stewardship, Vogue grew from an amateur society gazette to the world's premier fashion magazine. For her contributions to the fashion industry, Chase received many accolades and awards, including the Legion of Honor from France.

Born to Franklyn Alloway and Laura Woolman in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on 14 March 1877, Chase was reared by her maternal Quaker grandparents after her parents divorced. She attended a country school and was tutored by her grandfather in the evenings. Her mother, who lived in New York City with her second husband, visited frequently. In her teens, Chase went to live with her mother in a small New York apartment. She followed newspaper accounts of...