A beautiful Story
At the time of Facebook, the Debs need not to make their
social débuts, le Bal is rather the unforgettable
moment of their couture and media premieres.
Le Bal is culturally linked to the 18th century English tradition of the débutante ball, wherein the young ladies were introduced into society.
The débutantes were curtsying to HM the Queen, wearing white gowns, white gloves and tiaras.
In France the traditional débutante ball started in 1957 and ended in 1973.
In 1994, Ophélie Renouard invented a modern version that she named “le Bal”.
Its purpose is to raise money for Charities to help young women.
Of course now, due to Facebook and other social media, the Debs need not to make their social débuts,
le Bal is rather the unforgettable moment of their couture and media premières.
Each year, Ophélie Renouard brings together about only 20 vibrant young women and their cavaliers. The cavaliers wear white tie, and the haute couture and couture houses each dress a Deb for the event.It is the only Charity ball in the world where the Debs wear haute couture and couture.
Le Bal in Paris is also the only débutante ball in the world which is by invitation only.
It is not possible to buy tickets to attend or take part in le Bal in Paris.
Le Bal is about the empowerment of young women and young men as well as the harmony of nations.
The Debs and cavaliers come from about 12 different countries, and thus brings together movers and shakers from all sorts of cultures and walks of life across the globe. The guests come together to celebrate the Debs and their cavaliers, and help some less fortunate ones.
The event’s modern and international image has been established by Debs such as: Princess Lorenza de Liechtenstein, Princess Fawzia Latifa of Egypt, Princess Sarah Poniatowska, Princess Adishree Singh, Princess Gauravi Kumari of Jaipur, Princess Akshita Bhanjdeo, Ananya Panday, Isha Ambani, Ashna Mehta, Elisabeth Senghor, Diane and Chloé Bouygues, Caroline and Nadine Ghosn, Kareen and Natalia Fares, Delphine Arnault, Anouchka Delon, Clémence Rochefort, Marie de Rohan Chabot, Marie-Solène d’Harcourt, Sonia Ben Ammar, Tess, Marion and Olympia Taittinger, Bélen Domecq, Amina Martinez de Irujo y Casanova, Julia Puig, Princess Charlotte de Nassau, Princess Maria Francisca de Bragança, Daniela Figo, Izumi and Yuki Mori, Haruni Klossowska de Rola, Ségolène Frère, Princess Alexandra de Croÿ-Rouelx, Countesses Gloria and Angélique de Limburg Stirum, Lady Amelia Windsor, Eva Rice, Lily Collins, Lady Tatiana Mountbatten,
Sophie Coleridge, Barbara Berlusconi, Princess Costanza della Torre e Tasso, Princess Melusine Ruspoli, Princess Fabrizia Ruffo di Calabria, Countess Lavinia Borromeo, Princesses Anastasia and Costanza Pallavicini della Vittoria, Countesses Sofia and Anna de Pahlen, Zoë Springer, Countesses Victoria and Sarah von Faber Castell, Emily Madrigal, Paloma, Monica and Nathalia Zobel de Ayala, Ariel Ho-Kjaer, Alice Ho, Bao-Bao Wan, Jasmine Li, Xiaodan Chen, Olivia Peï, Lara Lau, Ksénia and Anastasia Gorbacheva, Anna Wallenberg, Viola Mikkelsen, Bee Shaffer, Sophia-Rose Stallone, Amanda and Lydia Hearst, Bronwen Carter, Lauren and Ashley Bush, Dree Hemingway, Kathleen and Kyra Kennedy, Scout and Tallulah Willis, Laila Blavatnik, Francesca Eastwood, Autumn Whitaker, Maïa Twombly, Isabel and Ella Beatty, Skye and Paris McCaw, Olivia Hallisey, Ava Phillippe, Noema and Klio Kosuth, Diana, Angela and Sarah Mellon.
Ophélie Renouard
Ophelie Renouard has an international background that is reflected in le Bal. Born in Saigon to Frenchparents, who returned to Paris when she was 10 years old, she spent summers in San Francisco with her American godmother. Ophelie now divides her time between Europe, the US and Asia.
After graduating from the Sorbonne with a degree in psychology, she began working in 1991 for the Taittinger family, organising events, like le Bal, for their hotel group.
In 2010, when the group was sold, she continued to organise “le Bal” through her own company.