debutante dress stores - The World of Fashion
One of the most prestigious, most exclusive, and most expensive debutante balls in the world is the invitation-only International Debutante Ball held annually at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, where girls from prominent world families are presented to high society. Debutante, a young woman who is making a formal entrance into society. So-called debutante balls, dating back to at least the 18th century, were originally intended as an avenue through which to present young women eligible for marriage to prospective high-society partners.
Understanding the Context
Debutante balls mark the formal introduction of young women, ages 16 to 21, as members of society. Cotillions focus on teaching social graces, while debutante balls emphasize community involvement and celebrate maturation. In their earliest form, debutante balls allowed families to present young women to potential marriage partners as symbols of family wealth and status. The meaning of DEBUTANTE is one making a debut : debutant; especially : a young woman making her formal entrance into society.
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Key Insights
Deriving from the French word ‘debuter’, meaning ‘to begin’, debutante balls have traditionally served the purpose of presenting young, blue-blooded women to society in the hope that they might marry into wealth and status. The debutante ritual flourished roughly from 1780 to 1914—beginning with the first debutante ball in London and ending with the outbreak of World War I. What the History of Debutante Balls Says About Women's Lives - TIME