A slew of celebrities, influencers, models, and nepo babies put on their most glamorous dresses and partied the night away during the annual Le Bal des Débutantes on Saturday.
The event, which was held at the lavish $1,000-a-night Hotel Shangri-La in Paris, France, is designed to introduce young ladies from some of the most important families in the world into society – and has become the epitome of glitz and glamor.
Between its star-studded attendees and esteemed reputation, millions of socialites strive to get an invitation to the prestigious ball.
But how exactly does one get in? Well, host Ophélie Renouard previously lifted a lid on the lengthy and intense process that she goes through to curate the perfect guest list.
‘We like accomplished boys and girls who fit with the story and vision of our event,’ she told Arabian Moda last year.
Each year, around 20 women are chosen to be the debutants, and they are then matched with a ‘date’ to escort them for the evening, known as a cavalier.
As for how she picks the couples, Ophélie explained that she studies them to a tee to ensure they’ll be perfect together.
A slew of celebrities, influencers, models, and nepo babies put on their most glamorous dresses and partied the night away during the annual Le Bal des Débutantes on Saturday
Between it’s star-studded attendees each year and its esteemed reputation, millions of socialites strive to get an invitation to the prestigious ball. Apple Martin is seen at the event on Saturday
The two must have ‘chemistry,’ and should be aligned in everything from their personalities to their heights.
‘I pay attention to their heights, the languages they speak and their ages,’ she dished. ‘Then I go by personality and what they like. There should be a sort of chemistry.
‘I am constantly asking people around me for new profiles who would seem outside the box of what a debutante or cavalier is considered to be.’
Just as important as the debutants’ dates are their ensembles, and Ophélie and her team spend an entire year finding the perfect gowns for each woman.
‘We spend the year matching dresses with the girls. My team is very patient, we don’t go by designers, but rather by dresses and the personality of the girl,’ she shared.
‘Our rule is only one designer per debutant. We have couturiers from all around the world, French of course, but also Lebanese, British, Chinese and more.’
According to Vogue, the ladies ‘go through months of fittings and endless hours searching for the right dress.’
The annual ball was first started in 1958, but fizzled out in the 1960s. Ophélie then revived it in 1992, and has been running it ever since.
But how exactly does one get in? Well, host Ophélie Renouard (seen) previously lifted a lid on the lengthy and intense process that she goes through to curate the perfect guest list
Each year, around 20 women are chosen to be the debutants, and they are then matched with a ‘date’ to escort them for the evening, known as a cavalier. Apple is seen with her date
As for how she picks the couples, Ophélie explained that she studies them to a tee to ensure they’ll be perfect together. Some attendees are seen at this year’s ball
Just as important as their dates are their ensembles, and Ophélie and her team spend an entire year finding the perfect gowns for each woman. Some of the debutants from this year are seen
‘The focus is more on achievement than ancestry. It’s primarily a fashion event,’ Ophélie told DailyMail.com back in 2008.
‘The purpose of traditional deb balls was marriage, but our girls are not concerned with that.
‘There may be love affairs at the ball – they never tell me – but I don’t think anyone has met a husband there.
‘The girls are far too young. The idea is to make new friends and wear haute couture for the first time.’
Now, the event has been branded as the ‘Met Gala for teenagers’ by TikTok star and model Lara Cosima von Donnersmark, who was of the lucky few who got attend this year.
It has also been called the ‘nepo baby’ ball by some, as a slew of famous offspring have attended in recent years, including Lily Collins, Margaret Qualley, Ava Philippe, Scout Willis, and most recently, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s daughter, Apple Martin.
‘Even if they are the daughters of megastars, we treat them just like any other kids. They sleep two to a room at the hotel,’ Ophélie previously insisted.
‘Lauren Bush was already very famous when she came, but she was normal and polite and shared a room [with Italian princess Irina Strozzi].
According to Vogue , the ladies ‘go through months of fittings and endless hours searching for the right dress.’ Apple is seen at the event with her date
The event has been branded as the ‘Met Gala for teenagers’ by TikTok star and model Lara Cosima von Donnersmark (seen), who was of the lucky few who got attend this year
‘Mariel Hemingway and Andie MacDowell both brought their daughters, and they were wonderful.
‘When it comes to Hollywood, I only deal with the ones I like; and those tend to be the ones who like us.’
The Le Bal des Débutantes is also a charitable event, and raised money for two causes connected with children’s health this year.
It begins with an opening dance that sees the debutants waltzing with their fathers before being ‘passed onto their cavaliers,’ per Vogue.
There is then a ‘runway-like presentation of each debutante in their chosen dress, before more dancing, socializing and chic champagne glass clinks echoed throughout the night.’
This years Le Bal des Débutantes looked like it had a rebellious streak, as attendees shared a handful of photos afterwards that featured the rich and famous guests indulging in alcohol and cigarettes.
The images showed the women partying the night away, holding up champagne glasses, smoking together on a rooftop, and dancing on top of one another.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk