HI, society!

'it is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming, or tedious.'

Oscar Wilde

A quick cursory glance at this blog will reveal that i am indelibly fascinated with society and wealth, as i suppose in one way or another, we all are. But for me it's more a real interest in things like the landed gentry and having a title (how i long for one, i think it would be uber uber cool), the Hon. Hannah-Rose (!), being a bit of a Bright Young Thing with oodles of money... I have a taste for the finer things in life that extends beyond fashion, although that is where it begins of course, into things like food (mmm lobster and champagne!), architecture (mmm castles and manor houses), cars, lifestyle, jewellery (diamonds and rubies and emeralds, oh my!) and generally into things like high society.

I don't read tatler or anything, but i have to admit that my guilty pleasure is reading about the glamorous and fabulous lives of socialites and members of the 'high-flying' set, whether today or in the past (the 1920s was filled with fashionista socialites whose lives were so very interesting!). Just the other day my sister and I were discussing how much fun it would be to have a boat, a really nice one, like a yacht maybe. And anchor it just offshore a greek island, far enough that it would be a distance to swim, but close enough that they could still see you and be jealous as you popped champagne and frolicked in the water. Of course such a scenario is nothing more than a dream, but still. 

So it should come as no surprise that one of my (not so secret) wishes was that i could have been part of the Hotel Crillon Bal des Debutantes. It is an extravagant and glamorous party thrown every year at the Luxury Hotel de Crillon in Paris where 20 or so young women are 'launched' onto society, like a ship. It is a measure of the times that the mixture of debutantes has been extended from the daughters of gentry, oil tycoons, financiers and the very wealthy to those of actors, actresses and musicians as well. This year Tallulah Belle, the middle child of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis made her debut. Other famous debutantes have included Julia Restoin-Roitfeld (Carine's daughter), Amanda Hearst, Victoria and Vanessa Traina, Lily Collins (Phil's daughter), Bee Schaffer (Anna Wintour's daughter), and i think a Dellal girl, not Alice surely, also made her debut there. Certainly Charlotte Casiraghi did, and she looked stunning too in Givenchy.

Oh right, didn't i mention? The best part about the whole shebang, and that's including the magnificent 3 course meal prepared by a 2 michelin star chef, the luxurios and sumptuous ball room with real louis XVI furniture overlooking Paris' place de la concorde, the live music, the obliging male partners outfitted in tuxedos... All the debutantes wear beautiful, breath-taking, mesmerising and absolutely amazing haute couture dresses.

What i wouldn't give to be a part of such an extravaganza. My own formal has nothing on this, seriously, nothing. it sounds like it would be a night that you would remember for your whole life, and an experience that would never be forgotten. The chance to wear couture is a thing unto itself, but its also the opportunity to dress up in a floor-length gown and be the centre of attention for one night. Diamonds around your neck, dancing the night away with some dashing boy in a tophat and tails.... I'm such a hopeless dreamer, aren't i? 

These are some of the gorgeous gowns that i would think about wearing, were i a debutante at the ball. Of course, i want to wear them all, so possibly i could change after each course? Or perhaps i could attend many different debutante balls at the hotel crillon, maintaining i was still 18 for each different one. That's certainly one way to stay young, isn't it? 

Nina Ricci

It looks like liquid silver, so whispy and whimsical and absolutely beautiful. Don't you think that there is a real sense of movement about this dress, even though the picture is static? i mean, look at the bottom, that train seems to be blowing in the wind. How lovely! Wouldn't it be just marvelous to walk down the presentation aisle in the hotel crillon in such a dress as this? 

Rochas

A more structure dress from that most talented of designers, Olivier Theyskens. I just love the neckline of this dress with the multi-straps and the fitted bodice down into a fishtail skirt. This dress would also be a dream to walk in, i think. With a little tiara, perhaps!? 

Sophia Kokosalaki

Classic black with an edge, i love the whispy tiers. Can you imagine dancing in this dress? I can see myself being twirled around the ballroom by some lovely tuxedo clad man and the tiers whirling around me in some whispy cloud. 

Christian Lacroix

the model's facial expression says it all, this is the kind of dress that makes you feel like a supermodel. I love the off the shoulder, accentuating that most favourite of body parts, the collar bone and shoulders, and the deep burgundy is such a gorgeous gorgeous colour.  

Chanel 

this is the hundreds of thousands of dollar dress that is featured in the 'Editorial Goodness' pic in my sidebar. It took over 150 hours to make, with Chanel Ateliers applying the thousands of feathers by hand. Wearing this dress would be like something from a dream, a sartorial paradise. This is THE dress, really. I just love everything about it, the fantasy, the colours, the atmosphere that it would create. Truly beautiful. 

Elie Saab

A favourite of the hollywood actresses, and one can see why when looking at this kind of dress. It just screams glamour, doesn't it? the neckline is so clever, and very well executed, and the tulley skirt would be just lovely when walking down a presentation platform or dancing. And i also love the model's KERAZY bouff hair haha. 

Valentino

Oh my god. This is a really really really really really beautiful dress. I love these kinds of dresses with separate bodices and skirts, and this is a perfect example. The bodice is a pale pink chiffon confection with ruffles, exaggerated shoulders and frivolous flounces contrasted against the straight, no-nonsense skirt in silk. Together the two are just dynamite, a study in contrast and paradox, and definitely a captivating, stunning dress. LOVE!

Givenchy

I just love the cape. This is such an edgy dress, i'm not sure i could pull it off, but wouldn't it just be so cool to wear this dress among a sea of silk and satin. You'd be like the rock queen .:D

Chanel

mmm another beautiful creation from the hands of Karl. the sequins of the top are glamorous and glitzy, the feathers and beading of the skirt is romantic and whimsical. Black and White. tailored and flowy. I just love the difference between the two halves of the dress, and can't help imagining how magical it would be to walk around in such a beautiful skirt.

Armani

Jean Paul Gaultier

saving the wackiest for last... This is the original version of the modified dress that Marion Cotillard wore to the Oscars last year (she wore it in grey/silver/white). I definitely prefer her colour, but it's the cut and style that i am more interested in here. I adore the fish scale pattern, the fitted bodice, the halter neckline and the flared skirt. It is so lovely and quirky, and would definitely take a real personality to pull it off. Do you think that could be me? I can just see myself decked out in diamonds in the marion cotillard version of this dress, sipping from a champagne glass. Can't you? :D 

aren't the colours of all these dresses just divine? Like jewels. 

[all images from style.com]

And the best thing about it all is that the proceeds of the ball go to charity. the debutantes vote and decide what charity, so it changes every year. Isn't that just wonderful? dressing up is made that much grander when it is done for a good cause. 

Mum says this obsession of mine with high society is a bit dangerous. It's not that bad, is it?  A little dreaming can be healthy, right? 

haha. love to you all! 

X

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