From The Straits Times    |

Iconic editor Helen Gurley Brown diesIconic fashion magazine editor Helen Gurley Brown has passed away at the age of 90.

The legendary author and Cosmopolitan editor is hailed for promoting the sexual and financial independence of women.

Since her death in New York on Monday, respected editors and public figures have poured out their dedications to Helen, thanking her for shaping modern culture and fashion as it is today.

“Today New York City lost a pioneer who reshaped not only the entire media industry, but the nation’s culture,” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, according to WWD. “She was a role model for the millions of women whose private thoughts, wonders and dreams she addressed so brilliantly in print.”

We will miss her, but her impact on our culture and society will live on forever.”

The founding editor of U.S. publications Sassy and Jane magazines, and the current editor of xoJane.com Jane Pratt remembers meeting Helen in 1989. She describes the fashion star as being someone with a brave and forward thinking sense of style, who wasn’t afraid of bold colours and prints.

“Her style was really bold. I remember this one dress — classic Pucci with lots of pinks and turquoise,” Jane remembered. “When she would talk to you, she would curl up in her chair. Basically, she would purr like a cat.”

Helen is said to have inspired a host of TV characters including Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City and Mad Men, which is reportedly based on her life. Editor-in-chief of Allure magazine Linda Wells remembers her for being an outrageous flirt who was proud of her sexuality.

“What she did was combine feminism with this sexy package and kittenish style,” she told the LA Times.