Bal des débutantes explained

Le Bal des Débutantes
Genre:Clothing and fashion exhibitions
Frequency:annually
Location:Paris, France
First:1958
Organised:Ophélie Renouard

Le Bal des Débutantes, also known simply as "le Bal" (or, previously, the "Crillon Ball"), is a debutante ball and fashion event held annually in November in Paris, bringing together between 20 and 25 debutantes aged 16 to 22 from many countries, together with their parents and a similar number of young men. It started as a social event and was first held in the Orangery of the Château de Versailles on 10 July 1958.

History

The ball was started as a social event, and was first held in the Orangery of the Château de Versailles on 10 July 1958. There were fifty debutantes; all were American. For the ball of 1959, permission to use the Orangery came from André Malraux; the event was financed by the fashion and perfume houses of Paris. A hundred and fifty young women took part.The event was not held in 1968 due to the May 68 worker uprising in France, and was subsequently not held for several decades.[1]

The ball was revived in 1992, organised by Ophélie Renouard as a fashion event by invitation.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] From 1992 to 2012, it took place every year at the Hôtel de Crillon,[7] [8] and thus was often called the "Crillon Ball". It is now sometimes referred to simply as "le Bal".[9]

In 2005, Forbes described the ball as one of the world's ten "hottest parties".[10]

Le Bal took place in 2013 and 2014 at Hôtel Raphael [11] and in 2015 was held in the Palais de Chaillot, which overlooks the Eiffel Tower.[12] Le Bal was held at The Peninsula Paris in 2016 and 2017,[13] and in 2018 and 2019 at the Shangri La Hotel in Paris.

From the beginning the event has raised money for charities.[14] [15] From 2009 to 2019, it supported Enfants d'Asie, an organization which provides education for girls in Southeast Asia.[16] And from 2009 to 2019, it also supported Seleni, a non-profit organisation that finances research in healthcare for adolescent mothers. In 2022, it supported the ARCFA (Association pour la Recherche en Cardiologie du Fœtus à l'Adulte) of the Necker Children's Hospital and the World Central Kitchen.[17]

Participants

The criteria for invitation as a débutante are an attractive appearance,[18] intelligence, and famous parents. The débutantes often come from families known in entertainment, business, or politics.[19]

As le Bal is also a couture event, the gowns are fashion show dresses and le Bals team endeavors to find the most suitable ones.

From 2000 to 2003, le Bal welcomed a winner from a contest held by the French magazine Jalouse each year. Each one was chosen based on a submitted application.[20]

The majority of the participants must familiarize themselves with wearing haute couture dresses, trading common teen fashion items for "heels, tiaras and haute couture gowns worth up to £30,000 each".

In interviews, the débutantes usually speak of the pleasure of wearing couture dresses, the charity aspect of the event, and the opportunity to meet girls from different countries.[21] [22]

Each débutante is escorted by a cavalier. He may be by a young man of her own choosing, such as a brother, cousin, friend, or boyfriend. However, nearly half of the débutantes, particularly those travelling from abroad, don't bring their own cavaliers; they rely instead on the organizers of le Bal to find a cavalier.[23] The organizer, Renouard, has stated that choosing the cavaliers based on their ages, the language they speak, their heights, and possibly their backgrounds usually produces an optimal match for the débutantes.

Le Bal tries their best to not have more than two French girls every year. Many débutantes are part of the European aristocracy, including princesses and duchesses.[24] Ophélie Renouard says she favors Italian girls for their sophisticated look.[25]

Many others are daughters of actors and industry tycoons, such as Ava Philippe, Jane Li, Annabel Yao, Stella Belmondo, True Whitaker, Ella Beatty, Viola Mikkelsen, Sophia-Rose Stallone, Scout LaRue, Ondine and Harper Peck, and Natasha Connery. Others are famous in their own right, such as ballerinas and young prodigies: a few years ago, Lauren Marbe, the daughter of a cab driver in the UK whose IQ exceeded Einstein’s, and in 2015, Olivia Hallisey, an American high schooler who won the first prize of the Google Science Fair for inventing a test for the Ebola virus.[26] In 2022 Eileen Gu attended le Bal[27] after winning two gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[28]

Notable debutantes

Character

The ball introduces the world of high fashion to its invited débutantes, who are usually the daughters of well-known families. It can also be seen as an opportunity for fashion houses to achieve brand exposure.[29] [30]

The young women wear haute couture dresses by European designers[31] and overseas fashion houses. They all wear jewelry from the same jeweler.[32] Some couture houses have produced special ball gowns for the event. In 2003, Carolina Herrera made one for Diana Mellon, and in 2014 Danish designer Jesper Hovring made a dress for Viola Mikkelsen.[33] In 2018, the Indo-French fashion house Lecoanet Hemant made a gown for Princess Ananya Raje Scindia of Gwalior.[34] Jet Li's daughter Jane Li was dressed by Dior in 2019.[35]

In 2008, French actor Jean Rochefort's daughter Clémence made her debut wearing a Nina Ricci ball gown.[36] Anna Cleveland van Ravenstein, on the other hand, had been modeling for Chanel for years before "Uncle" Karl Lagerfeld helped her to pick out a vintage gown for le Bal.[37]

The ball takes place on a Saturday, but preparations include meeting the débutantes, their families and their cavaliers in advance.[38]

On the eve of le Bal, a Friday, the débutantes come together for the first time. Makeup and hair styling sessions start at 9:00am: with By Terry for makeup[39] and with Alexandre de Paris for hair.[40] After this, the débutantes put on their dresses, long gloves, shoes,[41] and jewels, and there are individual and group photo sessions[42] which last for the rest of the day. On Friday evening, the débutantes' fathers and cavaliers are offered a waltz class with two dance teachers.

The débutantes are introduced in alphabetical order on the arms of their cavaliers by journalist and author Stéphane Bern.[43] Then the dinner is served.[44] After dinner, the débutantes who are the most followed by the media open le Bal, followed by all of the fathers with their daughters.[45]

Opening dance

Each year since 2005, there has been a débutante who opens the dancing with a waltz.[46]

This opening dance is followed by a waltz with all of the fathers and débutantes. The fathers then cede their daughters to the cavaliers, and the waltz is replaced with contemporary music with a live band. The debs then return their dresses and their jewels. The débutantes and their cavaliers finish the evening out clubbing.[63]

Media coverage

Coverage often emphasizes the cachet of the event and its elegance.[64] It has been claimed that "Le Bal has really maintained its exclusivity; all the top designers participate, and there have never been any sleazy photographs of the débutantes."[65]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burlet. Fleur. How to Be a Debutante in the Age of Netflix and Google Searches. 25 November 2018 . WWD. 25 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Social Diary 1/4/06 – Social Safari in Paris, France. www.newyorksocialdiary.com. 2015-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20190124202251/http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/legacy/socialdiary/2005/01_04_06/socialdiary01_04_06.php. 24 January 2019. dead.
  3. Web site: Le Bal des Débutantes 2015 perpétue la tradition. www.journaldesfemmes.com. 27 November 2015 . 2015-11-30.
  4. Le Premier Défilé des Débutantes. September 1992. Point de Vue. 26.
  5. Behind the Scenes: Having a Ball. Twigg, Melissa. February 2015. Hong Kong Tatler.
  6. Web site: Nikkah. Roya. New elite come out. 25 November 2007 . Telegraph. 22 March 2018.
  7. News: Ross. Rory. Fairy Godmother to the New Debs. The Daily Telegraph. 26 November 2004.
  8. News: L'officiel de la mode. Du Eugénie Adda et Karen Rouach. 1 December 2014. En coulisse du Bal des Débutantes.
  9. Web site: Reporter . SCMP . Sabrina Meng Wanzhou and Annabel Yao: Huawei founder's two daughters . 6 December 2018 . South China Morning Post . 12 December 2018.
  10. Web site: World's Hottest Parties. Forbes. 2015-06-26.
  11. Web site: Bal des débutantes – Le premier pas. 4 December 2014 . 2015-06-26.
  12. News: Invitation-only debutante ball in Paris summons 25 ladies to have le Bal. Carbone. Suzanne. 14 November 2015. The Age. 2015-11-18.
  13. Web site: Presentation. 2016-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20171206115717/https://www.lebal.events/presentation/. 6 December 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  14. News: Colacello . Bob . Le Bal 2018: Inside the 25th Edition of Bal des Débutantes . 14 December 2018.
  15. News: Bal des débutantes – Kyra Kennedy. Une américaine à Paris. 2015-06-26.
  16. Popple. Shauna Jay. The Ball Issue: Making her Debut. Philippine Tatler. February 2010. 131.
  17. Web site: 2022-11-27 . Bal des débutantes 2022 : les plus belles photos d'une soirée hors du temps . 2023-03-17 . Madame Figaro . fr.
  18. News: de Amézaga. Abraham. El baile del año. El Mundo. 24 November 2007. Yo Dona section. es.
  19. News: Jiang . Sijia . Arrest of Huawei 'heiress' throws rare spotlight on family . 6 December 2018 . Reuters . 12 December 2018.
  20. Web site: Jalouse – n°52 de 2002 – page 1 – Cendrillon sans les larmes un deux trois participez au bal des. patrimoine.editionsjalou.com. 2015-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20150623055243/http://patrimoine.editionsjalou.com/jalouse-numero_52-page_20-detailp-16-1345-20.html. 23 June 2015. dead.
  21. Vogue Flash Moment: Having a Ball. Vogue. February 2008.
  22. Web site: Froufrou au Bal des débutantes. 2015-06-26. Marie-Christine. Morosi. 25 November 2011.
  23. Web site: Beatty, Belmondo, Mountbatten : la relève tourbillonne au bal des débutantes – People – MYTF1News. MYTF1NEWS. 2015-06-26.
  24. Web site: Bal des débutantes 2019 : Trois princesses y participeront cette année : Cavaliers, couturiers, liste des débutantes . 24 November 2019 .
  25. Web site: "Je les contacte l'année de leurs 16 ans" : Dans le secret du Bal des débutantes . 28 November 2019 .
  26. Web site: Bal des débutantes : Qui sont les "debs" 2018 ? . 23 November 2018 .
  27. Web site: Noyen . Maria . I went to Le Bal des Débutantes, where kids of Hollywood legends, royals, and business moguls make their high-society debut. It was a night full of glamour I'll never forget. . 2023-03-17 . Insider . en-US.
  28. Web site: 2022-06-08 . Chinese Olympian Eileen Gu working for Salt Lake Games bid . 2023-03-17 . AP NEWS . en.
  29. Web site: Exclusive: An insider's view to the annual Bal des Débutantes in Paris. 2015-12-13. Malaysia Tatler.
  30. News: International Herald Tribune. Menkes. Suzy. 23 November 1993. Haute Couture and the Upper Crust. 1–9.
  31. News: Paris Match. Zan. Jean-Claude. 1992. Les Plus Belles Débutantes du Monde.
  32. Web site: Le Bal des débutantes, haute société et haute couture. Madame Figaro. 30 November 2014. 2015-11-25. fr-FR.
  33. Web site: En coulisses du Bal des débutantes – L'officiel de la mode. 2015-06-26. 10 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610213104/http://www.lofficielmode.com/art-du-style/bal-debutantes/. dead.
  34. Web site: A waltz for a night. Dey. Sohini. 2018-11-23. Mint. en. 2018-12-14.
  35. Web site: Was it for me? Jet Li's daughter Jane Li on debutantes' ball. 2019-12-15. South China Morning Post. en. 2020-02-20.
  36. News: Le Figaro. Lutaud. Léna. 26 November 2011. Le Grand Retour du Bal des Débutantes.
  37. Web site: Exclusive: An insider's view to the annual Bal des Débutantes in Paris. 2015-12-13. Malaysia Tatler.
  38. News: Johnson. Rachel. Swishly Ballroom. The Sunday Times. 8 January 2012.
  39. Web site: PHOTOS - Exclusif - Illustrations - Débutantes à l'hôtel Shangri-La Hotel, Paris - Le Bal 2018, vingt-sixième édition - Paris, le 24 novembre 2018 © Le Bal / Borde-Jacov. purepeople.com. fr. 2018-12-14.
  40. Web site: So you wanna look like a debutante? M.A.C takes us behind the scenes at the Crillon Ball in Paris . FASHION Magazine . 7 December 2011. 2015-10-07.
  41. Web site: Bal des débutantes – 25 jeunes filles du monde qui font rêver. 27 November 2014 . 2015-06-26.
  42. Methven . Charlotte . The Woman Who Reshaped High Society . You . 9 November 2008 . 51, 53.
  43. Dutour. Edouard. J'y étais ... au Bal des débutantes. Elle. 2 December 2011. 42. fr.
  44. Bureau. Eric. Le Bal des Débutantes les fait tous rêver. Aujourd'hui en France. 30 November 2008. fr.
  45. Lauriot Prévost. Marie-Etudes. Un casting de rêve. Point de Vue. 3 December 2008. 36.
  46. Inside Paris's 25th Annual le Bal des Débutantes. Colacello. Bob. Vanity Fair. 9 January 2018. February. en. 2018-12-14.
  47. Web site: Paillettes et jeunes filles en fleur au bal des débutantes. leparisien.fr. 26 November 2005. 2015-10-15. fr.
  48. Web site: Lady in Red: 'Princess' Chen Xiaodan casts a mysterious spell｜WCT. 2015-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015345/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20120125000013&cid=1601. 17 November 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  49. News: Heirs of Mao's Comrades Rise as New Capitalist Nobility. Bloomberg.com. 2015-10-15. Bloomberg. News. 26 December 2012.
  50. Web site: Stéphane Bern ouvre le bal – Les débutantes entrent dans la danse sur Journal des Femmes People. www.journaldesfemmes.com. 2015-10-15.
  51. Web site: Anouchka Delon – La biographie de Anouchka Delon avec Gala.fr. Gala.fr. 2015-10-15.
  52. Web site: EXCLU : Regardez le magnifique et féérique Bal des débutantes... avec un débutant "fils de" !. www.purepeople.com. 2015-10-15.
  53. Web site: Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris – Vogue.it. www.vogue.it. 2015-10-15.
  54. Web site: Bienvenue au Bal des Débutantes. Le Journal des Femmes. 2015-10-15.
  55. Web site: Le bal des Débutantes : Iman, la sublime fille de Vincent Perez fait sensation. www.puretrend.com. 2016-01-06.
  56. Web site: La photo souvenir des vingt participantes du Bal des débutantes de Paris. leparisien.fr. 28 November 2015. 2016-01-06. fr.
  57. Web site: PHOTOS - La comtesse Angélique de Limburg-Stirum (robe Georges Hobeika) et son père le comte Thierry de Limburg-Stirum - Le Bal - Vingt-quatrième édition du Bal à l'hôte. www.purepeople.com. fr. 2020-02-20.
  58. Web site: PHOTOS - Invités et familles - Yu Hang (robe Alexander McQueen) et Luís Figo - Vingt-quatrième édition du Bal à l'hôtel Peninsula à Paris, le 26 novembre 2016. Les début. www.purepeople.com. fr. 2020-02-20.
  59. News: Ava Phillippe Dazzles in Paris Debutante Debut. Peoplemag .
  60. Web site: En vidéo, Stella Belmondo et Stéphane Bern ouvrent le Bal des débutantes sur le "Beau Danube bleu". 2019-12-01. Madame Figaro. 2020-02-20.
  61. Web site: Shanaya Kapoor's Cinderella moment at the exclusive debutante ball in Paris, Le Bal. Vogue India. 3 December 2019. en-IN. 2020-02-20.
  62. Web site: 2022-11-25 . Natasha Connery, Hélène d'Orléans, Eileen Gu... Qui sont les débutantes du Bal 2022 ? . 2023-03-17 . Madame Figaro . fr.
  63. News: Figaro Madame. Galy-Ramounot. Marion. 25 November 2012. Bal des Débutantes : J'y étais.
  64. News: Folha de S.Paulo. Cardoso. Cíntia. 7 December 2008. Cinderela em Paris.
  65. News: Philippine Tatler. Fraser-Cavassoni. Natasha. February 2010. The Ball Issue: Having a Ball.

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