In this feature, Arielle Hixson takes you inside the International Debutante Ball. Following Elizabeth Quick as she makes her formal introduction to society. All part of her series "Coming of Age in America."
I'm a deb myself, and what this doesn't show is the standard deb experience which usually involves four years of service, usually to an artistic institution in a community like a ballet or orchestra and additional community service through food pantries, public institutions, etc. The ball is just sort of a ritual, and though a lot of the comments seem to view it very negatively (and on the surface I 100% see why) it's just a silly tradition, which everyone has in one way or another, and not the core purpose of a debutante program, which is really to support some sort of institution. I kind of got tricked into being a deb by my friend who told me about the free classical concerts but not the big white dress, however the whole thing was a blast, and it was fun to get a little creative planning for the ball, finding a $150 gown on clearance and using my sewing skills to alter it to perfection. The video does get the party being a big, communal, sweet sixteen right, though. I didn't have a sweet sixteen, so a little "coming of age" ceremony before college was actually very fun. Of course I wasn't on the big name deb circut (nor did I want to be) but being a debutante in the modern age really isn't as horrific as some might imagine it to be. Like, yes it's very bougie and when unbridled capitalism inevitably sparks an American communist revolution we will be the first to die, but there's nothing sinister- big ritualistic sweet sixteen- nothing more.
Rebekah Needham Thanks for asking! No, nothing like this International Deb Ball. I was a deb through an organization in my suburban community that raised money for the arts and ushered at concerts. And the ball was more like a mini prom.
Lmfaoooo.....I saw it! & I ummmm was appalled but I did lmfao when that one girl did like the only single clap!!! & it was a dead silence besides that one single clap!
This is also done in the Philippines, but not just white dresses. We have big 18th birthday debuts, which I’m personally having in a few months. But instead of many debutantes, I’m the only debutante and basically it’s my own debutante ball. I’m so excited👏🏻👏🏻
The 18th birthday début in the Philippines is more like a "Sweet 16" party or a latino Quinceañera party. It may not look much in the video but this débutant ball's presentation fee is a whopping $22,000 (1.1 Million Philippine Pesos) 😱. That's the fee for attending only, not counting the gown, jewelry, etc. Plus, it's by invitation only. You can only be a débutante there by being recommended by the committee or by a previous dèbutante. No wonder why they call it very elitist! The débutante event at Vienna Opernball is much, much enjoyable, elegant-looking than this Interantional DB and a plenty times cheaper too (even cheaper than one lavish Philippine debut party).
@@rainbowgirlism yes and no. some debutants are there just because the family is known enough (or you are current "Miss/Mister Austria"), but everybody between 17-24 years could file for admission. cheaper not so much, if you want a box for the whole family or the family travels to vienna from far away and thus needs hotel rooms. :)
@@rivenoak I didn't say it was open to everybody, just to a somewhat wider range of people than some debutante balls. For example, the St. Cecilia debutante ball in Charleston, S C. is by heritage, and you basically have to be in a long line of descendants going all the way back to Charleston's original wealthy founders. Now that's VERY exclusive!
So in conclusion it's not a pretentious snob party, it's more like a prom for rich kids who enjoy the history and tradition......seems a lot more benevolent than people think
They're also expected to do a lot of community service for several years prior, and the proceeds usually go to a charity. There's no way to get around the rich kid part though. I've heard some "only" cost a few hundred dollars, but here in Dallas, each debutante has to pay $14,000 to attend. That doesn't include the dress or anything else. Ticket packages sell for as much as $50,000.
id say yes you are ok. it is kinda stupid but todays society is missing all these rights of passage and initiation leaving people wondering where they stand. when are you a man if you never have a bar mitzvah or put your hands into the bullet ant mitts? when are you a woman when you havnt been a debutante or had a bat mitzvah? its hard for a father to be prepared to see his daughter as a woman and its hard for a young daughter (or any young person) to respect that they are not grown even when they think they are but all this is made easier when we all know there is a clear time when this change happens and we can expect it from birth through childhood and teen years until that day comes instead of having some long drawn out transition where the start and end are unclear and it is different for every person. another point is the whole glamour of the deal. western women are definitely brainwashed to want and desire big glamorous parties with fancy dresses where they get to be the center of attention. other events of note are proms and weddings where men are involved but clearly not the focus. but we are all brainwashed in different ways so again yes its valid to ask "am i okay" but id say yes considering the world we live in and the level of brainwashing we are exposed to.
In Ireland the Deb's is just prom. It takes place the summer after graduating. Everyone can take part and it carries a little more class than a prom because it takes place in a fancy venue instead of the gym.
My grandmother was a participant in a debutante Ball in 1914. We have a picture of her. She was absolutely beautiful. She said it was a right of passage for a young women. She was expected to do it, as her mother had done and her grandmother.
I dont get how people are so critical. Im into tradition. I know this seems silly to alot but this is their life. If you're not wealthy, you just dont understand. Just like they have no clue how it is to be a "normal" person that works hard 5 days a week, has bills to pay and grown up responsibilities. Many of them have never even been in a supermarket. Its night and day. I find their kind of life fascinating. I also like all the pomp with the royals. Tradition that goes back 1100 years and their still celebrating it.
Right! Because poor people aren’t passing down wealth, they care less about who thier children end up with Debutante dads engineered these balls for just the opposite! They want thier daughters introduced to the worlds most eligible bachelors to maintain the dynasty’s strength
I love the idea of getting dressed up and being fancy or whatever, but “being presented”, and “going into society”, or “coming of age” is so bizarre to me. I don’t have anything to prove to society, let alone I big group of high class men. This just screams beauty competition lol
Part of it is forming connections with other members of high class society. You don't have to prove anything to society, but if you're rich and you want to "play the game", so to speak, a debutante ball has its purpose. Essentially, it's for people who want to become part of society and thus desire to prove themselves.
Lovely. So happy that some people still see the value of elegance. But why is the announcer wearing white at the ball. No one but the debs should be in white. A total faux pas. If she really was a Deb, she would know that.
Faux pas or not, they showed a photo from her debut so I’m not sure what else you need to know about whether she was a deb or not. Let’s not forget that elegance is about being gracious as well...
Well we only saw the too of her dress, so maybe the skirt was colored .otherwise, yeah that's a little too close.. Just like for a wedding, since one is not supposed to wear white, I also don't wear eggshells, ivory, etc. Although the journalist was a debutante, I don't think she was one at the New York Waldorf Astoria ball.
forget it, dress code is paramount. :D i know balls in europe who will gladly deny a gentleman landfall for the fail of necktie vs. bow tie and for ladies for the fail of incorrect robe length. whatever the mistake, you are out. amount of money spent already on admission fee and table reservations is irrelevant. ;)
I am more impressed with someone who works at McDonald's because they work hard for what they have and earn it, not through their parents or what society hands to them. There is something deeply wrong with a grown woman who wants to wear a tiara on her head.
It is sad to me that you even think this. A Debutante does work and is a scholar student. If you take the time to listen to the presentation, the young lady's career, goals, and college or University plans will be outlined in detail. It is by no means just handed to her by society. NOTHING is "deeply wrong" with a young lady coming of age as a confident, strong young woman that may want to become a debutante and EARN the title. Especially in the South, a young lady has worn many tiaras by the time she makes her debut. It usually is a familial honor handed down from many generations and signifies her ability to surmount all the world's obstacles and become a confident grown woman. She has classes, and a solid year or more (some programs actually have up to 4 years of dedicated work) before she can be presented and "make her bow". There are many hours dedicated to charity work as well. It is a wonderful honor that will be cherished throughout her life. As a side note; many of the young ladies may have worked at Mcdonald's in their lifetime...I know I did.
Heads up! I found a code word for this when a teenage girl feels She is ready to debutante She says "GO TIME" in a message. This can be as Young as 14. I'm not being a creepy dude on the matter, it's just there is a lot of Code talk People don't understand.
01:15 This narrator has an excellent voice but seeing her visage, particularly with that nothing-behind-the-eyes, expectant dog expression...no, just no. This mini-documentary needs additional editing and I shall leave it at that.
