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 The annual Debutante Ball held at the ultra-chic Le Crillon
hotel has been a major event on the international social scene for more than a
century now. These days the ball brings together the great fashion houses, and
the budding roses of the international social scene. The guest list, although
dominated by the international aristocracy, also includes celebrities from the
world of art and sport. Debutantes are introduced, accompanied by their
brothers, boyfriends and emotional mothers before sitting down for a meal, then
being swept off their feet on the dance floor.
Back in the 19-th century, young ladies from aristocratic
families in Britain waited eagerly for their eighteenth birthdays, when they
would be presented to the Queen. This was the start of the season's balls.
These young ladies were known as debutantes, and this Anglo-Saxon tradition
would go on to influence balls throughout Europe. In France, the Couture House
Jean Patou restored the tradition in 1957. It became an annual event, taking
place at either the Versailles Palace or the Opera in Paris. Mr Jacques Chazot
presented the debutantes dressed in white gowns, with white gloves and tiaras.
The political events of May 1968 saw the end of the debutante ball in France. In
1991, the tradition was revived and adapted to the modern world, and the
Debutante Ball was created, a French fashion event whose success has been
increasing every year. The Ball is rated ‘one of the top 10 parties in the
world' by Forbes magazine.
Present-day Ball, however, only partly resembles those sumptuous
balls, held in the salons of French crème de la crème; it's far more open and accessible.
To a foreign eye, it may seem that any young girl from a rich family can be a
part of this exclusive event, though this is not true. Each year, the Ball attracts
an increasing number of debutantes from Asian countries - Japan, South Korea
and China - and from the United States. For instance, this year's debutantes
included Autumn Whitaker, daughter of actor Forest Whitaker and model-actress
Keisha, Francesca Eastwood, daughter of Clint Eastwood and his former
girlfriend Frances Fisher, and ‘Sea of Shoes' blogger Jane Aldridge, who is a
Japan-based American.
Previously, the debutantes were traditionally required to wear
only white gowns and diamond diadems. However, today debutantes have a choice,
and the Crillon Hotel is flooded with a multitude of colors, from bright green
to understated black. As the Ball is becoming more accessible every year, the
choice of dress is correspondingly getting more democratic. Twenty-four girls
from all over the world are trussed up in high-end prêt-au-porter or couture,
from Lanvin and Chanel to Elie Saab and Jason Wu. In 2009, the debutantes from
the US were outfitted exclusively by the American designers: Sarah Mellon,
selected luxurious Oscar de la Renta evening gown, and Autumn Whitaker opted
for a creation from the young Taiwanese stylist Jason Wu, known for designing
Michelle Obama's dress for the inauguration party. India Oxenberg, daughter of 'The
Dynasty' star Catherine Oxenberg and granddaughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia
chose a modest blue dress by J. Mendel.
However, since for many girls the Ball has become one of the
few opportunities to flaunt a truly gorgeous gown, the creations of top European
designers are still very popular. For instance, Scout Willis, daughter of Bruce
Willis and Demi Moore, was wearing white dress by Christian Lacroix, and Jane Aldridge
chose black evening dress by Chanel Haute Couture which was also the choice of Billy
Laurd, daughter of American actress Carrie Fisher. Francesca Eastwood, daughter
of the legendary Clint Eastwood, was a vision in a dress, specially created for
her by the Italian duo Dolce & Gabbana, in the same turquoise as her eyes. Alix
de Gramont, daughter of Count Guy de Gramont and Countess Patricia de Gramont, was
dressed by John Galliano. Angelica Hicks, great-granddaughter of Lord
Mountbatten and a daughter of fashion designer Allegra Hicks, was wearing
Lanvin for the ball. The Australian debutante Georgina Robertson has chosen to
wear a creation by another Australian, the designer Collette Dinnigan, while Kitty
Spencer, niece of the late Princess Diana, struck the balance between alluring
and demure, wearing a selectively thigh-high, tiered black and white gown.
Appropriately, the dress was by Bruce Oldfield, a U.K. designer favored by the
Princess of Wales herself.
The last Debutante Ball once again proved that the
international fashion truly knows no boundaries: Asian debutantes opted for gorgeous
ball gowns by European designers, while girls from Italy and France chose in
favor of foreign designers. The Italian debutante Antonella de Lutio has chosen
a gown from the Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad, and most Asian debutantes were
dressed by the European luxury brands:
Nathalia Zobel (Philippines) chose her first haute couture dress from the
Dominique Sirop collection, and Jasmine Li has chosen a dress by Carolina Herrera
for her Parisian debut. Few Asian
debutantes decided in favor of domestic designers: Indian princess Mahakumari
Adishree Singh has chosen a dress from the beautiful Indian creator Ritu Beri,
considered as the first lady of fashion in her country.
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