ARTS & CULTURE

Le BaL des deBUTaNTes

AT HOTEL DE CRILLON | by Gabrielle Duchess of Schoeneberg

Le Bal de Crillon celebrated its 20-year anniversary over Thanksgiving weekend at the Hotel de Crillon Paris. This event is a debutante ball of grand merit, founded in 1992 by Parisian Ophelie Renouard. Its one of the top 10 social events in the world. Debutante balls began as an English tradition where 18-year old women from aristocratic families would be presented to the Queen wearing white ball gowns, gloves, and tiaras. The tradition of debutante was followed by a season of balls. Ophelie revived the tradition and gave it a modern twist. The purpose of Le Bal is to raise money for charity and to help the girls at a young age understand the importance of fund raising for charity. Proceeds from the event have benefited several different charities over the years, including Melita Bern-Schlanger foundation for diabetes research, Enfants dAsia to help underprivileged children in east Asia, and the FEED foundation to fight malnutrition. Each year, twenty-five debs hail from exceptional families internationally. Every deb represents a couture house and wears a couture gown made especially for them to be worn to the event. Its is a 3-day event consisting of dance lessons, makeup, and etiquette lessons. The Friday night before Le Bal there is a waltz rehearsal for the debs, their families, and the cavaliers (escorts). It gives the girls a great occasion to bond and prepare for Le Bal together. This is a very special opportunity for the girls to come out in old world Paris high society. This will be the first year the girls will have the glorious experience of wearing rare vintage and extraordinary estate jewelry provided by FD gallery, owned by the very glamorous Fiona Druckenmiller.

After a highly successful career on Wall Street, Fiona turned her passion for phenomenal jewelry collecting into a magnificent curated Madison Avenue boutique specializing in one of a kind, rare pieces from antiquity through the 20th century. Sharing her jewelry expertise and refined taste with the world gives clients an opportunity to purchase not only unique pieces but also an amazing investment. FD collection has spectacular pieces from the most prestigious houses in the world. Fiona graciously agreed to lend some of her marvellous pieces to the debs for this most magical evening. There were some very special local girls that came out this year. Sophie Rose Stallone, daughter of Jennifer Flavin and Sylvester Stallone, wore Elie Saab Haute Couture. Lily Rivkin, daughter of Susan and Charles Rivkin, US ambassador to France, wore Ralph Lauren haute Couture. Zoe Blue Sidel-Arquette, daughter of Rosanna Arquette, wore Gaultier Haute Couture. On the international front, Isha Ambani of India wore Dior Haute Couture, (Ishas father is known as Indias richest man) and Contessa Filippa Brandolini of Italy wore Giambattista Valli Haute Couture. Other debs came from France, Belgium, England, Scotland, Spain, Greece, Turkey, China, Vietnam, and Japan. The night of Le Bal dinner was served to family and guests as they awaited the entrance of the debs. The young women were then presented in a fashion parade on the arms of their cavaliers and introduced by the master of ceremonies. The evening promised a magical aspect, and both debutantes and families were much impressed by the order of events. The evening was nothing short of spectacular!

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