STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

californiavintage · Nine West

debutante event?

Chic · Marc Jacobs

First off, I love the Care Bear!

I was a Debutante in Atlanta a few years back and it depends on what event you will be going to. Is this the formal presentation of the girls where they will be wearing white dresses? Also if you don't mind me asking what state this will be in, it might depend on the formality of the event.

californiavintage · Nine West

it's going to be in north carolina...i think it's the event where the girls debut to society because she's having another event that takes place month before this black tie thing.

as you can tell, i have no idea what happens at one of these - can you help out at all? i don't want to look like a moron in front of the fam!

Chic · Marc Jacobs

I would be glad to help. I think that in NC it should be around the same speed as it is in Atlanta. New York is a whole other ball game, so I can help!

The girls will be debuted to society and tradition is that they will be wearing white "wedding" gowns and it will be formal.

I would get a fantastic long black dress that you feel comfortable and beautiful in, add some fun accessories! To my sister's debut I wore a long black dress with sequined detail, but since this is with your boyfriend's family you probably don't want to stand out too much. My first instinct was something classy and sophisticated. I also love color so a fun clutch would add some punch or a great wrap.

Maybe just a classic black strapless gown that is a-line or straight, I would stay away from something too full. This might be cute but in black:

Kelly · Hermes

I don't have any experience with these sorts of things, but could you ask the bf's mom for tips? She'd probably know more exactly what the event will be like, and I'm sure she'd be super flattered that you asked

californiavintage · Nine West

thanks ttara123, that would normally be a great idea, but it's a stepsister and wicked stepmom situation...so i have to look good on top of the uncomfortable family drama.

thanks for the help chic! i'll stick to simple, elegant, and no white!

Chic · Marc Jacobs

Glad I could help!

Tashina · Kate Spade

i don't know how much you've got to spend, but this one was on bluefly for $450.

littlebean · Kate Spade

Hi there,

First post on the board! I went to a debutante ball three years ago with a friend and wore a floor length, champagne colored BCBG dress. I think that they would be a great store to check out for this! Also, Nordstrom's has some really lovely and relatively inexpensive occasion dresses.

One thing to consider: Will you have to wear gloves? At least at the ball I went to, all the ladies had to wear long gloves (99% of which were white) so you might want to to keep that in mind while imagining outfits!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Just wanted to pipe in and say floor length and gloves were a must in my home town. I never went to one but did have to deal with returning dresses to bluefly, returning shoes to zappos, and thinking of where to find gloves for my boss at the time. My boss wore I think a maroon floor length abs dress with shoulder length gloves.

californiavintage · Nine West

wow i know it's a black tie event, but it's really formal...in LA you can get by with a nice cocktail dress, but it seems that people really go all out.

i was thinking a long evening gown, but you guys think i should go for the gloves too? i just don't want to "sell out" and look stiff-and-boring. that's totally not my style, but if that's what the event calls for...

bumblebee · Coach

i don't think you need the long gloves. i am normally a big supporter of the "short cocktail dress is fine for black-tie" school of thought, but it seems for this you will look more appropriate in a long dress. i love the one tashina posted.

littlebean · Kate Spade

I think that most debutante balls are white tie events, not black tie ones, which means that gloves are mandatory for women. Do you have an invitation or can you find out somewhere if it is black tie vs. white tie? At all the balls that I know of, which weren't even in the South, but the Midwest, nearly every female wore long white gloves and then the few remaining females wore black gloves. If your ball is like those, I think that you'd feel really uncomfortable if you weren't dressed with the appropriate level of formality...

sfclinevandy · Coach

I debbed in Atlanta (different presentation than Chic) and my best friend debbed in North Carolina at the state-wide ball. Not sure which specific ball in NC you're going to, but from my experience I would say gloves are not required but if you want to wear them go ahead.

We had 3 balls... one in June, one the Friday after Thanksgiving, and one at Xmas. The first was less formal and the last 2 were white tie. Despite being white tie, typically only the debs wear white gloves because they have to.

Personally, I hate gloves. Everytime you touch your face you get makeup all over them and they get hot and itchy.