Le Bal Des Debutantes

[shalu]

Can someone please explain to me more about this ball? What exactly is it? How are the debutantes chosen? Do you have to be well known and what age are these debutantes? Thanks!

 

[Pegged Wrong]

They are talking about a debutante ball that occurs every year in Paris at the Crillon hotel to usher young women into society.

The Debutante Ball is held every year at the pucker Hotel Crillon, overlooking the Place de la Concorde. It is a strange throwback to the days when prince so-and-so of Russia would meet princess so-and-so of France and live, in true fairy tale style, happily ever after.
The annual ball, sponsored by the ultra-chic Crillon hotel and by Mikimoto pearls of Japan as a benefit for the Pierre and Marie Curie Foundation, has been taking place for a decade. Money raised goes to Aids and Cancer charities. Admission is strictly by invitation only - but it helps if you have blue blood in your veins.

These days the ball brings together the great fashion houses, from Vivienne Westwood to Christian Lacroix, and the budding roses of the international social scene - nowadays more used to wearing jeans and trainers than the sweeping gowns of Haute Couture. Each of the 24 invited débutantes represents a leading international fashion house, so you can just imagine the excitement of these teenage girls, given the chance in a lifetime to dress up, get snapped in Tatler and Harpers & Queen...and then return to the real world.

The guest list, although dominated by the international aristocracy, also includes celebrities from the world of art and sport - an attempt, perhaps, to bring the ball into the 21st century. Debutantes are introduced, accompanied by their brothers, boyfriends and emotional mothers (who remember the romance of their own deb balls) before sitting down for a meal, then being swept off their feet on the dance floor.

 

[Pegged Wrong]

Photo from the year the Traina sisters and the Hearst sisters were presented.

There are regional debutante balls around the world, but the most exclusive and well-known of them all is at the Crillon in Paris.

For more pix:
http://lebalhc.free.fr/en/introdeben.html

 

[sandra]

The Parisian Debutante Balls may be exclusive (what ever passes for exclusivity these days) but it's not the most fabulous. That title goes to The Viennese Debutante Balls. The Vienna Opera and Vienna Imperial Ball are highlight of the Vienna social season as well as for Debutantes. This time of the year is when media from all over the world spotlights these visually stunning events. Unfortunately, they are sticklers for traditions so the Debs can only wear white couture gowns. It's still visually stunning...everyone waltzing. PBS always puts on a program around this time of the year about them. I hope to witness it one year in person. those who don't know what a Debutante is...do a search.

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

President Bush's niece Ashley Bush was a debutante this year..if you look at the pict/list on the site listed in #23! How I wish I was a wealthy debutante!

 

[Pegged Wrong]

The Parisian Debutante Balls may be exclusive (what ever passes for exclusivity these days) but it's not the most fabulous. That title goes to The Viennese Debutante Balls. The Vienna Opera and Vienna Imperial Ball are highlight of the Vienna social season as well as for Debutantes. This time of the year is when media from all over the world spotlights these visually stunning events. Unfortunately, they are sticklers for traditions so the Debs can only wear white couture gowns. It's still visually stunning...everyone waltzing. PBS always puts on a program around this time of the year about them. I hope to witness it one year in person. those who don't know what a Debutante is...do a search.

www.societyballs.com

Just found that site and they have links to some pix of these Vienna balls you mentioned. I live and die for fashion so they don't seem as fun in that sense to me, but they are amazing to look at and I'm sure a very interesting event in which to take part.

 

[eternitygoddess]

I wish I was a deb...

 

[Constance]

who was the "best dressed" debutante in this year's ball?

 

[sandra]

The Viennese Balls take place in Vienna, Austria. Everyone worldwide tries to attend these balls that take place from the end of Devember to early January. Only the Debs wear white but everyone else attending can wear color. But it's very strict..it's gotta be a glam ball gown. There are so many sites about this social season here's one.

http://www.vienneseball.org

 

[Constance]

any other pics from this ball?

 

[eternitygoddess]

bump bump.The ball has some of the best fashion. Wayyy better than awards shows.

 

[Suburban Snob]

Thanks for bumping this up. I would love love love love love love to see more recent photos of this event.

 

[eternitygoddess]

bump

The 2008 ball took place last night. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's youngest daughter (Scout) debuted wearing Lacroix couture (*sob*).

dailyglobal

 

[MissMagAddict]

bump

The 2008 ball took place last night. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's youngest daughter (Scout) debuted wearing Lacroix couture (*sob*).

Tallulah Belle is their youngest daughter. Scout is the middle child.
Gorgeous dress!

 

[Suburban Snob]

OMG I can't wait until the pics emerge.

 

[eternitygoddess]

First picture I can find.

The other dresses range from meh to ugly.

lamom blog

 

[Ella Petrovsky]

These girls cannot work the dresses to their fullest potential

 

[eternitygoddess]

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/slideshow/9583/23/0/18th-annual-paris-crillon-ball.html

Picture of attendees and dresses. Some of the dresses are really nice.

 

[stl]

Thanks for the pictures, I'd love to see more!! Or do you know where to look for pictures from previous years?

 

[BerlinRocks]

^ in L'Oeil de Vogue when Bee S. (Wintour) and Julia RR were debs ....
not the same year, though ... Julia RR was debs before Bee, i think ...
Bee wore Chanel and Julia ... i can't remember but it was a leopard print dress or something ... maybe Versace ...