Bal des Débutantes

le Bal des Débutantes in Paris, also known simply as le Bal, is a fashion event held annually that brings together 25 girls aged 16 to 22.

History

Origins of Le Bal des Débutantes

The traditional débutante ball traces its origins to the British court of the 18th century. Débutante balls were an English tradition that were used to introduce girls of high birth to the court. This reassured young suitors that these débutantes were in fact from the same world, which was important as there was considerable social pressure to marry within one's milieu. On finishing their education in the convents, these young girls were introduced to the queen in white dresses, white gloves and diadems. These débuts marked the beginning of the "season", i.e., the social calendar of parties and very codified events for the elites.

In 1780 the first ball, Queen Charlotte's Ball, was organized by King George III for the birthday of his wife, Queen Charlotte. This ball also enabled the financing of the maternity ward of Queen Charlotte's Hospital. This British tradition was supported by the French aristocrats who were living in exile in Great Britain during the Revolution. They contributed to the success of the season and reminded them of the pleasures of the Court of Versailles. The tradition would last in England until 1953, when it was abolished by Queen Elizabeth II with the approval of her sister, Princess Margaret.

The debutante balls spread to several parts of the world in different forms. Today, the most well-known traditional débutante balls are the Waldorf Astoria's International Debutante Ball in New York and Queen Charlotte's Ball in London.

Beginning in 1957, France renewed the British tradition. Débutantes in white dresses, white gloves, and diadems were presented each year to the princess of Orléans-Braganza by the dancer Jacques Chazot on the stage of the Opera Garnier in Paris or in Versailles. These soirées brought together the Parisian elite of the era, but the French débutante ball would come to an end with the events of 1968.

History of le Bal

On September 27, 1992, Ophélie Renouard brought the tradition back again, but with a contemporary and personal vision. From the beginning, her idea was to bring together French and foreign girls and to have them dressed by haute couture designers. Its goal has always been to raise money for one or more charity organizations while celebrating the French way of life.

The 1992 débutantes were almost exclusively European and all of the designers were French except for Oscar de la Renta.

Le Bal continued to grow in the following years with the support of the French couture houses such as Chanel, Dior, Gaultier, and Elie Saab, as well as of American and British designers like Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Ralph Rucci.

In November 2000, le Bal got international attention with the appearance of Lauren Bush, the granddaughter of the American president George H.W. Bush, in Dior haute couture. This was just prior to her uncle, George W. Bush, being handed the U.S. presidency. There was media coverage from around the world of that year's Bal. Her cavalier was HRH Prince Luis de Bourbon.

In 2003, le Bal welcomed its first Chinese débutantes: Bao Bao Wang, the granddaughter of the former president of the Peoples' Congress and the adjoint vice-prime minister, wearing Lanvin; and Pénelope Pei-Tang, the niece of the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, wearing the American designer Zac Posen.

In 2006, Elizabeth Senghor, the great-grand-niece of the president and poet Léopold Sédar Senghor, was the first African débutante, and wore Gaultier Paris.

In 2010, le Bal did not take place due to the sale of the Crillon Hotel.

In 2011 and 2012, the Crillon was again home to le Bal before closing for renovations.

In 2013, le Bal was held at the Automobile Club de France, and then, in 2014, at the Palais National de Chaillot.

Charities

As with the first such ball in 1780, le Bal's purpose is to raise money for one or more charity organizations that help disadvantaged women. Beginning in 2015, le Bal will be supporting the New York-based nonprofit Seleni, which helps teenage mothers through material and psychological support in the face of poverty and other distressing situations.

And since 2009, le Bal has supported Enfants d'Asie, which provides education for girls in Southeast Asia. Each year, 1,100 girls in Laos and the Philippines have access to schools thanks to the funds raised at le Bal, which also financed the building of an educational center. Some débutantes also volunteer for the organization, including Milana Brunel, Marie-Victoire de Kergorlay, Julia Piaton de Turckeim, and Natalia Zobel de Ayala.

Some of le Bal's débutantes have made careers for themselves in charity work, as is the case with Lauren Bush, who founded the Feed Foundation, which fights hunger around the world and was backed by le Bal in 2011.

Fashion Houses

Couture is one of the essential elements of le Bal. In 1993 a journalist noted that "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 old-fashioned glamour."

Le Bal is one of the rare haute couture events that does not use professional models. Generally, for the debs it is the first time that they are wearing a dress from a top designer. The dresses are selected by le Bal's team according to each débutante's personality. They are lent for the evening by the French and foreign designers. "You need to have a few options," said the Dutch designer Jan Taminiau.

The débutantes regard these dresses as one of the great draws of the event. In 2013, Lady Amelia Winsor said of her Elie Saab haute couture gown, "I have never worn a gown like that and I’m not sure I will ever again."

In 2008, French actor Jean Rochefort's daughter Clémence, who wore Nina Ricci, said that it was her first time in haute couture.

The couture houses contribute to the international fame of le Bal. Some couture houses have produced special gowns for the event, for instance Carolina Herrera in 2003 for Diana Mellon, and, in 2014, Danish designer Jesper Hovring for Viola Mikkelsen, Chinese designer Guo Pei for the Brazilian débutante Ginevra Williams, and the Belgium house Natan for Alexandra, daughter of HRH Princess Esméralda of Belgium.

The Event

Pre-ball preparations

Deb Sokhna N'dour dressing for le Bal in 2008

Planning and preparations for le Bal are year-round. This includes inviting the débutantes and their cavaliers, meetings with the debs and their families, and the selection of their gowns in haute couture houses in Paris, London, and NYC. Also, of course, the jewels are prepared and the many aspects of the event are planned down to the smallest detail.

The débutantes and their families spend Thanksgiving weekend in Paris in the hotel of le Bal, the Crillon, where the preparations, rehearsals, and photo shoots for magazines from around the world are held. While the Crillon is closed for renovations, however, the weekend's events are held in another hotel and le Bal itself takes place in a separate location. The Hôtel Raphael, which is known for its English bar and its Turner painting, was the hotel of le Bal in 2013 and 2014.

The Friday Before le Bal

Friday, or the eve of le Bal, is when the 25 débutantes come together for the first time. The makeup and hair styling sessions start at 9:00am. Then the débutantes don their dresses, shoes, and jewels, and the individual and group photo sessions last for the rest of the day. On Friday evening, the débutantes’ fathers and cavaliers take part in a waltz class with two teachers.

Saturday, the Day of le Bal

On Saturday the rehearsal starts at 11:00am.

The remainder of the day is devoted, as with the day previous, to sessions with Mac Cosmetics for makeup and Alexandre de Paris for hair, and to shoes, jewelry, photo follow-up, and interviews with French and international media outlets.

At 7:00pm, the débutantes and their cavaliers are driven in Renault-Espace vehicles to the site of le Bal, where, away from prying eyes, they wait to be presented; this happens as soon as the guests have taken their places at their tables.

The Night of le Bal

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

The evening begins with a cocktail as the guests enter and take their assigned places at the tables. The débutantes are introduced in alphabetical order on the arms of their cavaliers by journalist and author Stéphane Bern, who describes each girl and her tastes, personality, and aspirations.

Then the dinner is served. It is prepared by Christopher Hache, a Michelin-starred chef, who since 2009 is at the helm of the Crillon's kitchen.

After dinner, the débutantes who are the most followed by the media open le Bal, followed by all of the fathers with their daughters. In 2008, Bruce Willis and Alain Delon launched le Bal together, leading Scout Larue Willis in Lacroix Haute Couture and Anouchka Delon in Elie Saab Haute Couture, with the waltz from Luchino Visconti's film Il Gattopardo.

Le Bal was launched in 2012 by Sylvester Stallone and his daughter Sophia-Rose in Elie Saab Haute Couture, in 2013 by Robert Kennedy Jr. and his daughter Kyra in Dior Haute Couture, and in 2014 by HSH Prince Charles-Emmanuel of Bourbon Parma and Princess Elisabeth in Alexis Mabille Haute Couture.

The fathers then cede their daughters to the cavaliers, and the waltz is replaced with contemporary music with a live band playing until about 2:00am. The debs then return their dresses and their jewels. The débutantes and their cavaliers finish the evening out clubbing, far from their parents' supervision.

The Debs

History

Originally, the débutantes, or "debs" were girls from the aristocracy or the wealthy English classes who were making their débuts in the world upon finishing school. This meant that the girl was of the age to find a husband, become an adult, and to take part in the life of the court. The concept of the débutante has mainly British origins, but it has spread around the whole world. Since the 19th century, débutantes have been mentioned in books, e.g., in Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and in The Great Gatsby and other novels by Francis Scott Fitzgerald.

Invitations to le Bal

Vanity Fair photo shoot with the 2011 Debs

Le Bal is unique from other such events in that there are only 25 débutantes each year from about 12 countries, and the invitations cannot be purchased. Even some very famous young women are not accepted, such as was the case with Paris Hilton.

Money is not a criterion for selection. The criteria for invitation are looks, brains, and famous parents. Also taken into consideration is the personality of each one, and whether she would make an exceptional débutante about whom a story can be told. Organizers look at the girls' history of behavior and how they were brought up, and of the common values which determine affinity, as friendships will be made over the course of the soirée. “Spoiled” children are not accepted.

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.

The debs come from different backgrounds. Some belong to royal and aristocratic families; some are the daughters of artists, writers, business people and politicians. Others are invited for what they have already accomplished in spite of their young age, such as in blogging or high-level sports. In 2013 Lauren Marbe, a 17-year-old British student and a member of Mensa, was selected by le Bal due to her IQ of 161, which is higher than that of Einstein.

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.

Transformations

The majority of the participants must undergo a bit of a transition in wearing haute couture dresses. Rory Ross of the Daily Telegraph described the débutantes’ transformations like this: “Trading fashionably frayed jeans, trainers and fruit-scented lip gloss for heels, tiaras and haute couture gowns worth up to £30,000 each, they undergo a semi-Cinderella transformation (‘semi’ because most of these girls already have a head-and-shoulders start on Cinderella).”

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.

Scout LaRue, a 2008 débutante and the daughter of the actors Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, said, "It is a unique experience to be dressed like a princess in Paris and to have my whole family with me, which only happens rarely."

The Débutantes' Careers After le Bal

Lady Sophia Hamilton, a 1992 débutante who wore Givenchy Haute Couture, has designed shirts that were worn by Claudia Schiffer and Samantha Cameron.

Three have become jewelry designers: Harumi Klossowski de Rola, a 1993 débutante who wore Hanae Mori HC; Baobao Wan, a 2003 débutante who wore Lanvin; and Théodora Warre, a 2005 débutante who wore Neil Cunningham.

Discovered through le Bal 2000, Lauren Bush, who wore Dior Haute Couture, modeled during her studies at Princeton. She appeared on the cover of Vogue and posed for Tommy Hilfiger and Abercombrie & Fitch; she later started the organization Feed.

2007 débutante Lily Collins, who wore Chanel Haute Couture, told The Telegraph, "I'm about to start studying broadcast journalism so I wanted to get the inside scoop on the whole débutante thing." The following year, Lily covered the American presidential campaign as the host of the program Kids Pick the President on the channel Nickelodeon. In 2008, she was picked as international model of the year by the Spanish edition of the magazine Glamour; she posed on the cover of this magazine in August 2009 and then began a career as an actress.

Dree Hemingway, the great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway and a 2003 débutante who wore Dior Haute Couture, became a model and made the covers of Vogue and Elle.

The American blogger Jane Aldridge, who founded Sea of Shoes, was already well known when she took part in le Bal in 2009 in Chanel Haute Couture. Her blog continues to grow.

Some debs have gone on to head up businesses: Delphine Delafon, a 1998 in Olivier Lapidus is the creator of a line of bags that bear her name; Cordelia de Castellane, a 1997 débutante in Emmanuel Ungaro Haute Couture, now runs a line of children's clothing; and Caroline Ghosn, who created Levo League, a business in which other débutantes whom she met at le Bal 2006 participate.

The Cavaliers

Each débutante is escorted by a cavalier. This can be by a young man of her own choosing, such as a brother, cousin, friend, or boyfriend. However, nearly half of the débutantes don’t bring their own cavaliers, particularly those travelling from abroad; these rely on the organizers of le Bal to find a cavalier. They look for cavaliers who are age- and language-compatible, and, if possible, who share the same interests. The cavaliers wear white tie and some return to le Bal several years in a row (Franco-Peruvian twins Felipe and Rodrigo Olaechea hold the record — they were photographed each year by Vanity Fair US at le Bal from 2004 to 2009, when they reached the age limit).

Journalists do not, however, focus on the cavaliers; the débutantes are the stars of the show. For example, in 1996 Prince Louis de Bourbon accompanied the Italian Deb Robinia Mentasti-Granelli and was only recognized by Stéphane Bern. In 2003, Tomas Terry y Gonzales de Gregorio almost remained incognito, but was eventually noticed by the Spanish press.

Media Coverage

The 2011 Debs photographed at le Bal.

Since 2000, le Bal has been covered by Vanity Fair photographer Jonathan Becker every year. Teen Vogue and the New York Post cover le Bal every year as well.

In 2014, le Bal made the cover of the Chinese daily newspaper Southern Weekly and the Japanese magazine 25ans had 20 pages on the event the same year. Saudia Arabian and Australian journalists generally cover le Bal as well.

Mother-daughter relationships are sometimes covered, as was the case with Andie MacDowell and her daughter Margareth Qualey in 2011 in the French magazine Madame Figaro.

Coverage often emphasizes the cachet of the event and its elegance. The writer and historian Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni said, "Le Bal has really maintained its exclusivity; all the top designers participate, and there have never been any sleazy photographs of the débutantes."

The work of Ophélie Renouard in creating le Bal and maintaining the quality of the event is also a subject that is frequently tackled by the media. Charlotte Methven described her like this for the British magazine You: “Ophélie Renouard is an extremely determined French PR woman with a deft touch for networking and a bulging contacts book, who has masterminded le Bal since 1991, when she invented it as a fresh alternative to the dated débutante concept. And 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.”

See also

• Debutante
• Débutante dress
• Hôtel de Crillon
• International Debutante Ball