Bal des Débutantes

le Bal des Débutantes in Paris, also known simply as le Bal or, sometimes, the Crillon Ball, is an annual fashion event. It was created in 1992 by Ophelie Renouard at the Crillon Hotel, which served as the venue until 2012. Some notable past participants include Lauren Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev's granddaughter Ksénia Gorbachev, Barbara Berlusconi, Tallulah Willis (daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis), Tamara and Petra Ecclestone, Vanessa and Victoria Traina (daughters of Danielle Steel), Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret, Forest Whitaker's daughter Autumn Whitaker, Sylvester Stallone's daughter Sophia Rose Stallone, Anna Wallenberg (Wallenberg family), Dree Hemingway, Amanda Hearst and Lydia Hearst-Shaw, Princess Fawzia Latifa of Egypt, Karan Singh's granddaughter Adishree Singh, Wan Li's granddaughter Wan BaoBao and I.M. Pei's granddaughter Olivia Pei.

History

This fashion event is based on a debutante ball which began as an English tradition, where 18-year-old women from aristocratic families would be presented to the queen wearing white ball gowns, white gloves and tiaras. The traditional débutante ball was followed by a season of balls.

The tradition continues for instance with the historic and prestigious International Debutante Ball in the U.S. at New York's Waldorf Astoria.

In France, the couture house Jean Patou took on the tradition by creating an annual ball in 1957, but this came to an end with the events of May 1968.

On September 27, 1992, Ophélie Renouard along with French magazine Point de Vue revived the tradition of the Bekerley dress show with a modern twist, bringing together haute couture and couture fashion houses to dress young women from many types of famous families. Nearly all of the designers were French, but even at this early date Renouard was planning to make the event more international by bringing in more foreign Debs, including some from Asia. (This was eventually accomplished in 2003 with the participation of Bao Bao Wan and Penelope Pei-Tang from China, and continued with participation from Ariel Ho-Tjear granddaughter of Stanley Ho) The event was held at the Hotel de Crillon, a Paris landmark and one of the oldest luxury hotels in the world. Its association with le Bal would continue until November 2012 Then the Crillon closed for renovations for 2 years.

In 1993, there were 27 Debs from around Europe, including Harumi Klossowksi de Rola who was dressed by Japanese haute couture designer Hanae Mori, as well as Laetizia Tarnowska, wearing Louis Feraud Haute Couture. One journalist covering the event wrote, "the show itself was central casting's idea of Paris couture—all unswept Carita Chignons, solid makeup and the girls plodding out in drop-dead gowns. Yet all seemed as thrilled as Cinderella that someone had waved a mascara wand to give them glamour."

In 2003, the first Chinese Debs made their premieres, including the year's "star" Bao Bao Wan, the granddaughter of Wan Li, the former chairman of the Chinese People's Congress and executive vice-premier of China.

le Bal took a hiatus in 2010 due to its regular venue, the Hotel de Crillon, being up for sale. The event returned in 2011 and 2012 to the Crillon, with the approval of the hotel's new owner, Saudi Prince Mitab ben Abdallah Ben abd Al-Aziz al Saoud. In March 31, 2013, the Hôtel de Crillon is closing for 2 years.

Charities

Le Bal raises money for charity. Proceeds from the Ball have benefited several different charities over the years. Previous charities have included the Mélita Bern-Schlanger Foundation for diabetes research, created by Stephane Bern and named after his mother, Enfants d'Asie to help underprivileged children in East Asia, and the Feed Foundation.

The Event

Pre-ball preparations

Deb Sokhna N'dour dressing for le Bal in 2008

Due to the detailed preparation of the Debs in a large number of countries, the process of planning le Bal lasts all year. This includes the trips to the Haute Couture Houses in Paris in the summer or fall before le Bal, when the Debs, usually with their mothers, visit with the designers to choose their ball gown.

The weekend of le Bal

The Debs spend the weekend in Paris, and from 1992 to 2011 they were lodged at the Crillon. The Friday night before the ball, there is a waltz rehearsal for the Debs, their families and their cavaliers. The Debs spend several hours on the Saturday of the Ball itself getting dressed and perfecting their look with hair and makeup artists. They also pose for photos with select international press.

The night of le Bal

Debs dance and talk at the 2009 Ball at the Crillon Hotel.

Dinner is served to the families, the press and other invitees, while they await the entrance of the Debs. The young women are then presented in a défilé (fashion parade) on the arms of their cavaliers, introduced by the master of ceremonies, French media personality Stéphane Bern. The ball itself is opened by the Debs dancing with their fathers, and then the music shifts to more modern fare and general dancing begins.

Reception by the press

The 2011 Debs photographed at le Bal.

Each year's Bal is recounted in fashion and glamour pages of magazines. It has also been dubbed as "one of the hottest parties"

Ophélie Renouard is the creator of the event as it is now but it has evolved a great deal since 1992. Stories of Renouard's trials and successes in continuing the Ball are frequently recounted in media coverage. She "is an extremely determined French PR woman with a deft touch for networking and a bulging contacts book", wrote Charlotte Methven in You. "While she may have a highly developed radar for desirable people, she is self-confident enough not to be overawed and will not bend her standards to anyone's will."

The Debs

Selection

Vanity Fair photo shoot with the 2011 Debs

Young women are selected for le Bal based on their "looks and parents". That said, they come from a wide variety of backgrounds. And they must, of course, be able to model haute couture. "The girls must be able to squeeze into a sample couture ball gown" said Renouard, who is responsible for inviting them to take part. Even very famous girls who do not fit the image of le Bal are not invited.

Transformations

Even though they generally come from well-off families, Debs attending the Ball still undergo a transformation. "Trading jeans and trainers for fruit-scented lip gloss, high heels, tiaras and designer gowns, they undergo a semi-Cinderella transformation.

Girls who take part in the ball report being grateful for the glamour event, for the after-partying in Paris, for the chance to do something for charity, and for the family nature of the event. "It's a unique experience," Scout LaRue told the French press. "I'm dressed like a princess and my family has been brought together for me, which doesn't happen often."

See also

• International Debutante Ball
• Debutante
• Débutante dress
• Hotel de Crillon
• Paris