A young woman who made her debut in society at Le Bal des Débutantes alongside Apple Martin has revealed what it’s really like to be a debutante in 2024.
Apollonie Halard, a fashion design student at Central Saint Martins in London, attended the prestigious Le Bal des Débutantes last week with the daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.
The annual event, first held at the Palace of Versailles in 1958, sees 20 young people from some of the world’s most important families introduced to society.
Now, the daughter of the British landscape designer Miranda Brooks and the French architect Bastien Halard, Apollonie, revealed that the young women arrived at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel, where rooms cost $1,000 a night, at 9 a.m. morning of the dance .
She revealed that they ate fancy pastries from Boulangerie; La Maison d’Isabelle and played Go Fish, before partying all night in Paris.
talking to tatler She revealed that she made full use of the prestigious hotel’s pool before joining the other debutantes to get their hair and makeup done in room 54.
She said: ‘We posed for photographs, roaming wildly through the 101-room Louis XIV-style palace. I marveled at each of my beautiful new friends, dressed to the nines in dresses like Chanel, Valentino and Oscar de la Renta.’
Apollonie, who donned a pink satin dress with a black velvet back and a corset top designed by Daniel Roseberry for the high-profile event, said the highlight of the day was helping photographer Jonathan Becker set up the group photo in front to the Eiffel Tower. .
Apple Martin’s friend Apollonie Halard, (pictured) a fashion design student at Central Saint Martins in London, revealed what it was really like to be a debutante in 2024 at the prestigious Le Bal des Débutantes
She added: “After the photo, we took off our dresses and briefly collided before the evening’s event: the waltz.”
Apollonie revealed that her mother forced her to start ballroom dancing a year ago to prepare her for the glamorous event.
The beauty revealed that they had a day filled with photographs, interviews, a meal and then dancing, and said that “the security team was closely guarding our jewelry” throughout the night.
However, Apollonie claimed that the real fun began at 11 p.m. when they decided to “go out,” and without revealing much, she said that “what happens in Paris stays in Paris.”
This year’s event was held at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel and the proceeds were split between the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in the US and the cardiology research unit at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital.
For their introduction into high society, the debutantes, carefully selected by the organizers, wore designer ball gowns from some of the world’s leading fashion houses, including Chanel, Valentino and Oscar de la Renta.
For the event, Apple Martin wore a custom-made strapless baby blue dress, which took 750 hours to create and was designed by Alessandro Michele, Valentino’s creative director.
After descending the hotel’s grand marble staircase, the debutantes left the room, which was filled with proud parents and noble families, before waltzing with their dates on the dance floor.
Speaking to Tatler, she revealed that she made full use of the prestigious hotel’s pool before joining the other debutantes to get their hair and makeup done in room 54.
This year’s event was held at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel, where rooms cost $1,000 a night and proceeds went to the city’s Necker-Enfants Malades hospital.
However, Apollonie claimed that the real fun began at 11 p.m. when they decided to “go out,” and without revealing much, she said, “what happens in Paris stays in Paris.”
However, Chris Martin’s daughter, whose date was Austro-Hungarian aristocrat Leo Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck, was not the only ball debutante with a Hollywood connection.
On Saturday night, Sophia Loren’s granddaughter, Lucía Sofía Ponti, who lives in Los Angeles, also made her grand entrance into society.
During the glamorous event, Lucia, who studies at Brown University, was accompanied by her date, Count Alberico di Carpegna Brivio, a descendant of Italian nobility.
Following in her grandmother’s footsteps, Lucia opted for a strapless, tiered Giorgio Armani ball gown.
The Italian designer is known to have had a close working relationship with Sophia Loren during the height of her fame, and the Hollywood icon even wore a custom-made Armani suit to her 90th birthday celebrations in September.
Talking to Hello! Before the dance, Lucía explained: ‘My grandmother always believed in timeless elegance and the importance of wearing something that reflects your true personality.
“Growing up, she taught me the value of simplicity, tailoring and always adding a touch of originality to your outfit.”
Countess Alienor Loppin de Montmort, who was the only debutante of French origin to attend the event, was also inspired by her grandmother’s style before the ball.
The young aristocrat wore a haute couture dress by Emmanuel Ungaro, which first belonged to her grandmother Myriam Laffon.
UK-based Skye Wong, currently studying classics at St John’s College, Cambridge, shared a series of behind-the-scenes snaps on her Instagram.
The debutantes danced all night at the ball and let their hair down after 11:00 p.m.
For their introduction into high society, the debutantes, carefully selected by the organizers, wore designer ball gowns from some of the world’s leading fashion houses, including Chanel, Valentino and Oscar de la Renta.
Mina Muniz Tschape, daughter of Vicente Muiz and Janaina Tschape, both artists from Brazil, looked stunning in a designer white bridal gown by Gaultier Pari.
Meanwhile, Sophie Kodjoe, daughter of And Just Like That’s Nicole Ari Parker, looked elegant in a purple Oscar de la Renta dress embellished with flower appliqués.
Fellow debutante Sofia Yadigaroglu wore a sparkly dress by Dutch designer Iris van Herpen.
The Amherst College student is the daughter of well-known Spanish artist Inma Barrero. His father is Greek of Byzantine and Swiss descent.
Oona Finch is the granddaughter of legendary English-Australian actor Peter Finch, who was the first person to win an Oscar in an acting category posthumously. For the dance she wore a tight lilac Chanel dress.
Apollonie Halard, daughter of Vogue contributor Miranda Brooks and architect and designer Bastien Halard, wore a pink satin dress by Italian brand Schiaparelli.
Sienna Gallienne, granddaughter of Belgian businessman Albert Frere, chose a Dior dress for the occasion. She was joined by Beltrán Remiro Imaz, from Spain.
Cornelia Manou looked stunning in a crystal-embellished dress by Greek designer Celia Kritarioti.
Alienor Loppin de Montmort, who comes from an aristocratic family with Argentine heritage, chose a dress from French fashion house Emanuel Ungaro.
Isabel Quirot de Poligny, of Argentine and French descent, chose a daring outfit by French fashion designer Stéphane Rolland.
The aspiring curator, who is currently studying at the Courtauld Institute in London, paired a black bustier with a cream satin skirt with a diamond-encrusted buckle.
Rysa Panday is the sister of the well-known Indian actress Ananya Panday. His father is the actor Chunky Panday.
She was dressed in an ethereal dress by Lebanese brand Elie Saab.
Olivia Meijer, born in the Netherlands, is the daughter of an influential Athenian family prominent in real estate and wine. They own the French vineyard Chateau Giscours.
Olivia, a student at IE University in Madrid, wore a stunning lilac dress by Italian designer Luisa Beccaria.
Princess Eugenia de Borbón Vargas, who wore a sparkling Carolina Herrera dress, is the daughter of Prince Luis Alfonso, Duke of Anjou.
If the French monarchy had not been abolished in 1792, Prince Louis Alfonso would be in line for the throne.
The first debutante ball was held at the Palace of Versailles in 1958 and resumed in 1992. However, debutante balls date back to the 1780s.
They served the purpose of introducing young women from the world’s most prominent families into society, thus suggesting that they were ready to enter the marriage market.
Young women taking part in Les Bal des Débutantes in Paris are chosen by organizers based on their achievements and family legacy before being paired with ‘cavaliers’, young people from equally privileged backgrounds.
This year’s event was held at the former home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, which has been moved to a five-star hotel.