Wikipedia

Bal des débutantes

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.[1] It brings 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.[2]

Le Bal des Débutantes
Vanity Fair photo shoot with the 2011 Debutantes.
GenreClothing and fashion exhibitions
Frequencyannually
Location(s)Paris, France
Inaugurated1958
Organised byOphélie Renouard

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.[2] 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.[3] The event was not held in 1968 due to the May 68 worker uprising in France, and was subsequently not held for several decades.[4]

The ball was revived in 1992, organised by Ophélie Renouard as a fashion event by invitation.[5][6][7][8][9] From 1992 to 2012, it took place every year at the Hôtel de Crillon,[10][11] and thus was often called the "Crillon Ball". It is now sometimes referred to simply as "le Bal".[12]

In 2005, Forbes described the ball as one of the world's ten "hottest parties".[13]

Le Bal took place in 2013 and 2014 at Hôtel Raphael[14] and in 2015 was held in the Palais de Chaillot, which overlooks the Eiffel Tower.[15] Le Bal was held at The Peninsula Paris in 2016 and 2017,[16] and in 2018 and 2019 at the Shangri La Hotel in Paris.

From the beginning the event has raised money for charities.[17][18] From 2009 to 2019, it supported Enfants d'Asie, an organization which provides education for girls in Southeast Asia.[19] And from 2009 to 2019, it also supported Seleni, a non-profit organisation that finances research in healthcare for adolescent mothers.[6] 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.[20]

Participants

The criteria for invitation as a débutante are an attractive appearance,[10][21] intelligence, and famous parents.[10][22] The débutantes often come from families known in entertainment, business, or politics.[23]

As le Bal is also a couture event, the gowns are fashion show dresses and le Bal's team endeavors to find the most suitable ones.[10]

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.[24]

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".[25][10]

In interviews, the débutantes usually speak of the pleasure of wearing couture dresses, the charity aspect of the event,[19] and the opportunity to meet girls from different countries.[26][27]

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.[28] 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.[29]

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.[30] Ophélie Renouard says she favors Italian girls for their sophisticated look.[31]

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.[32] In 2022 Eileen Gu attended le Bal[33] after winning two gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[34]

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][35]

The young women wear haute couture dresses by European designers[36] and overseas fashion houses. They all wear jewelry from the same jeweler.[37] 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.[38] In 2018, the Indo-French fashion house Lecoanet Hemant made a gown for Princess Ananya Raje Scindia of Gwalior.[39] Jet Li's daughter Jane Li was dressed by Dior in 2019.[40]

In 2008, French actor Jean Rochefort's daughter Clémence made her debut wearing a Nina Ricci ball gown.[41] 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.[42]

 
Deb Sokhna N'dour dressing for le Bal in 2008

The ball takes place on a Saturday, but preparations include meeting the débutantes, their families and their cavaliers in advance.[43]

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[44] and with Alexandre de Paris for hair.[45] After this, the débutantes put on their dresses, long gloves, shoes,[22] and jewels, and there are individual and group photo sessions[46] which last for the rest of the day.[43] On Friday evening, the débutantes' fathers and cavaliers are offered a waltz class with two dance teachers.[43]

 
Debs dance and talk at the 2009 Ball at the Hôtel de Crillon.

The débutantes are introduced in alphabetical order on the arms of their cavaliers[43] by journalist and author Stéphane Bern.[47] Then the dinner is served.[25] After dinner, the débutantes who are the most followed by the media open le Bal, followed by all of the fathers with their daughters.[25][48]

Opening dance

Each year since 2005, there has been a débutante who opens the dancing with a waltz.[49]

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.[66]

Media coverage

 
The 2011 Debs photographed at le Bal

Coverage often emphasizes the cachet of the event and its elegance.[67] 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."[68]

References

  1. ^ Bateman, Kristen (27 November 2023). "Titles And Tiaras: Le Bal Des Débutantes In Paris Was Dripping With Old World Glamour". British Vogue. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Sophie Guerrier (28 November 2014). Dans les coulisses du premier Bal des débutantes (in French). Le Figaro. Accessed July 2018.
  3. ^ Thomas Lenoir (9 July 1959, updated 26 November 2011). Le bal des débutantes... de 1959 (in French). L'Express. Accessed July 2021.
  4. ^ Burlet, Fleur (25 November 2018). "How to Be a Debutante in the Age of Netflix and Google Searches". WWD. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Social Diary 1/4/06 – Social Safari in Paris, France". www.newyorksocialdiary.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Le Bal des Débutantes 2015 perpétue la tradition". www.journaldesfemmes.com. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Le Premier Défilé des Débutantes". Point de Vue. September 1992. p. 26.
  8. ^ Twigg, Melissa (February 2015). "Behind the Scenes: Having a Ball". Hong Kong Tatler.
  9. ^ Nikkah, Roya (25 November 2007). "New elite come out". Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e Ross, Rory (26 November 2004). "Fairy Godmother to the New Debs". The Daily Telegraph.
  11. ^ Du Eugénie Adda et Karen Rouach (1 December 2014). "L'officiel de la mode". En coulisse du Bal des Débutantes.
  12. ^ Reporter, SCMP (6 December 2018). "Sabrina Meng Wanzhou and Annabel Yao: Huawei founder's two daughters". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. ^ "World's Hottest Parties". Forbes. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Bal des débutantes – Le premier pas". 4 December 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  15. ^ Carbone, Suzanne (14 November 2015). "Invitation-only debutante ball in Paris summons 25 ladies to have le Bal". The Age. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Presentation". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  17. ^ Colacello, Bob. "Le Bal 2018: Inside the 25th Edition of Bal des Débutantes". Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  18. ^ "Bal des débutantes – Kyra Kennedy. Une américaine à Paris". Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  19. ^ a b Popple, Shauna Jay (February 2010). "The Ball Issue: Making her Debut". Philippine Tatler: 131.
  20. ^ "Bal des débutantes 2022 : les plus belles photos d'une soirée hors du temps". Madame Figaro (in French). 27 November 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  21. ^ de Amézaga, Abraham (24 November 2007). "El baile del año". El Mundo (in Spanish). Yo Dona section.
  22. ^ a b "Bal des débutantes – 25 jeunes filles du monde qui font rêver". 27 November 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  23. ^ Jiang, Sijia (6 December 2018). "Arrest of Huawei 'heiress' throws rare spotlight on family". Reuters. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Jalouse – n°52 de 2002 – page 1 – Cendrillon sans les larmes un deux trois participez au bal des". patrimoine.editionsjalou.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  25. ^ a b c Bureau, Eric (30 November 2008). "Le Bal des Débutantes les fait tous rêver". Aujourd'hui en France (in French). {{cite journal}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ "Vogue Flash Moment: Having a Ball". Vogue. February 2008.
  27. ^ Morosi, Marie-Christine (25 November 2011). "Froufrou au Bal des débutantes". Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Beatty, Belmondo, Mountbatten : la relève tourbillonne au bal des débutantes – People – MYTF1News". MYTF1NEWS. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  29. ^ a b "Exclusive: An insider's view to the annual Bal des Débutantes in Paris". Malaysia Tatler. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  30. ^ "Bal des débutantes 2019 : Trois princesses y participeront cette année : Cavaliers, couturiers, liste des débutantes". 24 November 2019.
  31. ^ ""Je les contacte l'année de leurs 16 ans" : Dans le secret du Bal des débutantes". 28 November 2019.
  32. ^ "Bal des débutantes : Qui sont les "debs" 2018 ?". 23 November 2018.
  33. ^ 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". Insider. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Chinese Olympian Eileen Gu working for Salt Lake Games bid". AP NEWS. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  35. ^ Menkes, Suzy (23 November 1993). "International Herald Tribune". Haute Couture and the Upper Crust. pp. 1–9.
  36. ^ Zan, Jean-Claude (1992). "Paris Match". Les Plus Belles Débutantes du Monde.
  37. ^ a b "Le Bal des débutantes, haute société et haute couture". Madame Figaro (in French). 30 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  38. ^ "En coulisses du Bal des débutantes – L'officiel de la mode". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  39. ^ Dey, Sohini (23 November 2018). "A waltz for a night". Mint. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  40. ^ "Was it for me? Jet Li's daughter Jane Li on debutantes' ball". South China Morning Post. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  41. ^ Lutaud, Léna (26 November 2011). "Le Figaro". Le Grand Retour du Bal des Débutantes.
  42. ^ "Exclusive: An insider's view to the annual Bal des Débutantes in Paris". Malaysia Tatler. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  43. ^ a b c d Johnson, Rachel (8 January 2012). "Swishly Ballroom". The Sunday Times.
  44. ^ "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 (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  45. ^ "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. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  46. ^ Methven, Charlotte (9 November 2008). "The Woman Who Reshaped High Society". You: 51, 53.
  47. ^ Dutour, Edouard (2 December 2011). "J'y étais ... au Bal des débutantes". Elle (in French): 42.
  48. ^ Lauriot Prévost, Marie-Etudes (3 December 2008). "Un casting de rêve". Point de Vue: 36.
  49. ^ Colacello, Bob (9 January 2018). "Inside Paris's 25th Annual le Bal des Débutantes". Vanity Fair. No. February. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  50. ^ "Paillettes et jeunes filles en fleur au bal des débutantes". leparisien.fr (in French). 26 November 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  51. ^ "Lady in Red: 'Princess' Chen Xiaodan casts a mysterious spell｜WCT". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  52. ^ News, Bloomberg (26 December 2012). "Heirs of Mao's Comrades Rise as New Capitalist Nobility". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 15 October 2015. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  53. ^ "Stéphane Bern ouvre le bal – Les débutantes entrent dans la danse sur Journal des Femmes People". www.journaldesfemmes.com. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  54. ^ "Anouchka Delon – La biographie de Anouchka Delon avec Gala.fr". Gala.fr. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  55. ^ "EXCLU : Regardez le magnifique et féérique Bal des débutantes... avec un débutant "fils de" !". www.purepeople.com. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  56. ^ "Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris – Vogue.it". www.vogue.it. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  57. ^ "Bienvenue au Bal des Débutantes". Le Journal des Femmes. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  58. ^ "Le bal des Débutantes : Iman, la sublime fille de Vincent Perez fait sensation". www.puretrend.com. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  59. ^ a b "La photo souvenir des vingt participantes du Bal des débutantes de Paris". leparisien.fr (in French). 28 November 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  60. ^ "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 (in French). Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  61. ^ "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 (in French). Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  62. ^ "Ava Phillippe Dazzles in Paris Debutante Debut". Peoplemag.
  63. ^ "En vidéo, Stella Belmondo et Stéphane Bern ouvrent le Bal des débutantes sur le "Beau Danube bleu"". Madame Figaro. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  64. ^ "Shanaya Kapoor's Cinderella moment at the exclusive debutante ball in Paris, Le Bal". Vogue India. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  65. ^ "Natasha Connery, Hélène d'Orléans, Eileen Gu... Qui sont les débutantes du Bal 2022 ?". Madame Figaro (in French). 25 November 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  66. ^ Galy-Ramounot, Marion (25 November 2012). "Figaro Madame". Bal des Débutantes : J'y étais.
  67. ^ Cardoso, Cíntia (7 December 2008). "Folha de S.Paulo". Cinderela em Paris.
  68. ^ Fraser-Cavassoni, Natasha (February 2010). "Philippine Tatler". The Ball Issue: Having a Ball.
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