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Having a Ball
Life’s a baLL for the young beauties
who grace Paris’ annuaL coming-out
party
queens gaLa. Natasha Fraser-CavassoNi meets
from left
Autumn
the debutantes at the 2009 le Bal at
Whitaker, the hotel de Crillon
Adishree Singh,
Jasmine Li, Ariel n photography tim griffiths
Ho Kjaer, Kitty
Spencer, Natalia
Zobel, Francesca
Fisher-Eastwood
hong kong tatler february 2010 hong kong tatler february 2010
hen we’re done, are you up for hot choco-
late and French fries?” asks Lady Kitty Spencer.
Wearing her hair in curlers, the late Princess of Wales’
niece is calling out to new pals Francesca Eastwood
and Autumn Whitaker. Dressed in identical Crillon
Hotel bathrobes, they are sitting in front of make-up
mirrors and having their faces done for the evening’s
much-anticipated 19th Le Bal at the Hotel de Crillon.
Every year, pr guru Ophelie Renouard
gathers girls from a heady mixture of titled,
wealthy and famous families in order to organ-
ise what she terms “Le Bal” and others refer to
as the Debutante Ball. Former debs include the
daughters of Silvio Berlusconi, Neil Bush, Phil
Collins, Alain Delon, Mariel Hemingway, Kristin
Scott-Thomas and Danielle Steel. And although
Renouard stresses that “every girl for her is a
star” and no preferential treatment is ever given
to anyone in particular, media interest tends to
zero in on a chosen few. Last year, the journalists
party piece
clockwise were hot on the Louboutin heels of Scout Larue smile. “Everyone kept banging on the door and telling us to get The trio’s banter confirms that being part of Le Bal at the Hotel Her attitude, albeit
from top Willis, the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce out but we wouldn’t.” Spencer who looks more beach bombshell de Crillon means two days devoted to girly fun and “princess-for- understandable, caused
Lady Kitty Willis. This time, it is Lady Kitty, daughter of Earl than English rose – her hair is peroxide blond and her curvy figure a-day” pampering. “It’s important that all the debs enjoy them- a secret bout of letters
Spencer and Spencer and first cousin to Princes William and is extremely tanned – puts their fast friendship down to her being selves,” says the dynamic and good-natured Renouard. “For most being sent to certain
Francesca Fisher Harry; Francesca who’s the daughter of Frances raised in South Africa and Eastwood and Whitaker being brought of them it’s the first time they have hair and make-up.” The charity debs, prior to the
Eastwood; a
group photo of Fisher and Clint Eastwood; and Autumn, whose up in California. “We are much more relaxed than Europeans,” side of the ball is important – “this time we’ve chosen Les Enfants event. Spencer was
all the girls; father is Forest Whitaker. she says, then wiggles her way over to Whitaker’s freshly deliv- d’Asie,” says Renouard – but then so is its fashion side. “The jewel- one of the recipients.
Jasmine Li gets No doubt the “in the limelight” connection ered club sandwich. “Ooh can I have some?” she asks. “Der! Go lery is sponsored by Adler and every girl wears a dress from a top “I was told not to
made-up; the brings the three girls together, and they rap- right ahead,” says Whitaker, her face breaking into a broad smile. fashion house,” she explains. “The ball’s programme is always do the ball because
proud mother’s – idly become thick-as-thieves. “Yesterday, we Eastwood joins them and is about to grab a few potato chips but illustrated by a famous designer; this year it’s Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz.” of the emphasis on
Frances Fisher;
Kathy Lette; hid ourselves in my room and ate pizza!” says then stops, perhaps remembering her pale blue Dolce & Gabbana Since most of the dresses are model sizes, the girls need to be fairly thinness,” she says. “It did slightly worry
Keisha Whitaker 19-year-old Spencer who, like her famous aunt, dress. “I need to control myself otherwise I’ll eat them all,” she slim. “It’s true, I want girls who are both exceptional and can fit me. Mind you, looking around, no one looks
and Judy Aldridge is quick to giggle and flash her pearly toothed says, and pulls a silly face. into dresses,” admits Renouard. remotely anorexic.”
role call: The belles of The ball
Jane aslisah Victoria Francesca Victoria Frey alix de angelica ariel ho-
aldridge alkoclar aristeguita Fisher- Granddaughter gramont hicks kJaer
The author of A member of the garcia-luJan eastwood of the minister A descendant of Prince Charles’ The grand
blog “Sea of Turkish national The daughter of The daughter of Roger Frey, she noble families, god daughter daughter of
Shoes,” she wore ski team, she wore founding families Clint Eastwood wore a dress by she wore John wore Lanvin Stanley Ho
Chanel Haute Cengiz Abazoglu of Venezuela wore and Frances Balmain Galliano wore Dior
Couture Angel Sanchez Fisher wore D&G Haute Couture
Although Eastwood’s Still, his daughter eventually gets into the swing. Two standouts access to fewer boutiques. “It’s so different being in the moun-
famous father “couldn’t make for flawlessly whirling around the parquet floor include Autumn tains after living in New York,” she says. “I had to learn to sleep
it,” Spencer is the only debu- Whitaker who later reveals, “I took lots of lessons” and fellow without the noise!”
tante to have neither parent debutante, the very chic Chinese-born Jasmine Li. The latter, Meanwhile, Alix de Gramont, Ho-Kjaer’s roommate and best
in tow. “Mum is with my whose grandfather is Jia Qing-lin, number four in the Chinese gov- friend is sick. “I’m praying to St Jude, the patron saint for hope-
siblings and Dad apologised ernment, dances with Stanley Willers whose grandfather is Macau less cases, that she’ll be alright,” says her mother Patty de Gramont, your best,” she says. “The
that he couldn’t make it,” casino magnate Stanley Ho. a Santa Barbara resident, who has known Angela Ho, Ariel’s feel is, ‘I am here, I am independent and I am
she says. “But I am relieved. Li, who attends a boarding school in Connecticut, plans to mother, since their teens. making my own way.’” The Titanic actress then
Who wants to hang out work in the art world. “My dad has a joint venture with Christie’s De Gramont and Ho became close at boarding school in adds, “Francesca and her friends are exhausted smile!
with your parents on and I love going to auctions with him.” However, for the ball, she Switzerland and it’s hard not to think that years later, certain girls from all the fashion shoots. They are learning that this page,
Saturday night?” No doubt was happy to push her books aside and fly to Manhattan for her will remember their very first encounter at Le Bal at the Hotel wearing high heels can be hard work!” from top
Stanley WIllers,
this explains why Spencer fittings at Carolina Herrera. “Choosing the dress was exciting,” de Crillon. “That’s why I agreed on Autumn taking part,” says her Mere hours before the ball, the noise of Jasmine Li, Ariel
misses Friday night’s waltz she says. “I think my one isn’t as sparkly and shiny as the others.” mother, former model Keisha Whitaker. “It’s an amazing opportu- Strauss’s waltz music floods the Crillon’s cor- Ho Kjaer and
rehearsal. She arrives late, Of course, Whitaker, who wore Jason Wu’s simple strapless gown, nity to meet girls of her own age, from all over the world. Believe ridors, the name cards are being arranged, the Stéphane de
wearing a tight black mini-dress. might disagree. me, due to Facebook and Youtube, they have all checked each florists from Au Nom de la Rose trail in and Watazzi; Jane
It is a shame because it’s a chummy, lighthearted Ariel Ho-Kjaer, Willers’s half-sister, came to Paris for her other out beforehand.” out, carrying vast glass vases while looming Aldridge
opposite
moment. “I’ve never seen Angelica look so embar- Christian Dior dress. “The three ‘try on’ sessions were fun! I do Frances Fisher readily agrees and also notes that “the days of tv cameramen prove to be a potential liability. The opening
rassed,” says architect and royal cousin Ashley love fashion!” says the exquisite just-turned-16-year-old. But now meeting the right man at a ball are over. The Bal at the Hotel de “Please be careful,” says Natalia Zobel, when a dance; the
Hicks, whose grandfather was Lord Mountbatten. that she’s locked away in Aiglon’s Swiss boarding school, she has Crillon is about being celebrated and being photographed looking cameraman treads on her Dominique Sirop dress. stunning setting
Jasmine li antonella sasha kitty adishree Virginia carinthia pandora
Grand daughter de lutio noVikoVa spencer singh tournon pearson pearson
of a high ranking Her father is the Russian-born Earl Spencer’s A descendant of Writer Benedetta She lives in The daughter of
member of the Italian ambass- Sasha wore daughter and the the last maharaja Cibrario’s eldest Cowdray Castle in Samsonite’s
Communist Party ador to Ethiopia. Carven Haute late Princess of of Jammu and daughter wore Britain, and she creative director
in China, she wore She wore Zuhair Couture Wales’ niece wore Cashmere, she Versace wore Alexander wore Christian
Carolina Herrera Murad Bruce Oldfield wore Ritu Beri McQueen Lacroix
behind the
scenes
clockwise
from top
The lead up to
the ball itself
involves a lot of
rehearsals; the
The ravishingly pretty to be less personal.”
Zobel, a member of Hopefully, she will have
the Spanish/Filipino changed her mind because
dynasty, is one of the she defines grace when mak-
few debs to have worked for ing her grand entrance at
Enfants d’Asie. “I went to the orphanage and the ball. Covered in Adler’s
taught English,” she says. “Since I live in the Indian-inspired jewels, it looks as if she belongs to another century.
dance oFF
this page, Philippines, I believe in giving back.” The same cannot be said for Spencer who is wearing a sexy and
Although “exhilarated” by all the ball’s pro- leg-revealing Bruce Oldfield dress. “I took a leap of faith allowing
“It’s leading into the next phase
clockwise
from top left ceedings, Zobel is quite “tired.” Fortunately, her him to design it without my input,” she says, after dinner. “Now, I
The cavaliers; roommate is the mild-mannered Princess Adishree want to keep it.” Ariel, on the other hand, had to be unlaced. “She
Jasmine Li’s
of the young women’s lives,”
Singh, a student at Parson’s fashion school in almost fainted,” says Patty de Gramont. “Her Dior dress had two
proud parents;
Carintha Pearson New York. Unlike Zobel, the Indian princess has corsets!” But perhaps no transformation was as dramatic as the
chosen to wear a dress by a fellow countrywoman, flame-haired Frances Fisher. Having held court at dinner, wearing
imAgES: AdLEr JEWELLEry
takes a turn;
Antonella
De Lutio
opposite
Oscar-winning
designer Ritu Beri (although, for the group photo-
graph she wears a pale blue Alexander McQueen
gown). Singh describes her turquoise and gold
an emerald necklace and a mermaid-tight Dolce & Gabbana dress,
she then returned to the Crillon bar sporting sweat pants. “I kept
the hair and makeup and lost the dress and jewels,” she said.
said the oscar-winning actor
actor Forest embroidered gown as “a perfect mix of Western All in all, it was hard not to agree with Forest Whitaker that the
Whitaker and his and Indian dress” but she bristles at the idea of occasion felt both “special” and “historic.” “It’s leading into the next
daughter Autumn putting any images on Facebook. “My entries tend phase of the young women’s lives,” said the Oscar-winning actor.
Johanna georgina cosima tatiana shin- marie- dakoto autumn natalia
piaton de robertson sarno- botin Victoire de warde-leVie whitaker zobel
turckheim The daugther of pigozzi Although from kergorlay A close friend of Step-daughter of Natalia is from
Jo’s mother is a author Kathy The daughter of Spain, Tatiana’s The daughter of a Francesca Fisher- actor Forest the Philippines
scriptwriter and Lette wore writer Caroline father is of Korean count and Easwood, she Whitaker, Autumn and wore
comedian. She Collette Dinnigan Pigozzi wore origin. She wore countess, she wore Oscar de chose a dress by Dominique Sirop
wore Elie Saab Stephane Rolland Andrew Gn wore Herve Leger la Renta Jason Wu couture
Family ties
From top
dressed
Ariel Ho Kjaer
to impress
with her brother
Ariel Ho Kjaer
and mother; Ariel
tries on dresses
and her mother;
at Dior in Paris
the final dress;
preparing for
the big night
In Bloom
ariel ho kjaer, the ball’s youngest deb, talks about her
dress and gives thanks to her grandfather, stanley ho
Hong Kong TaTler: How did you come to wearing was the best choice.
attend the Crillon Ball? HKT: How many fittings did you have? Can
ariel Ho Kjaer: I was aware of the ball you talk us through process?
because a close family friend, Tara Sutin, aHK: I only had one fitting, in Paris,
had previously attended. I decided to a month or two before the ball. My
do the ball this year with my friend mother and I flew there and went to the
Alix De Gramont. I was able to go Dior building where there was a room
because of my grandfather’s success upstairs with dresses hanging on a rack.
and notability. The dress I picked already fitted so I
HKT: What did the lead up to the didn’t need to get it let out or anything.
ball involve? HKT: What happened on the night itself ?
aHK: I went to Paris to choose a aHK: We got our make-up and hair done,
imAgES: tim griFFitHS; griFFitHS;cHriStopHE guibbAud/AbAcAprESS dress from Dior that I wanted to then we went to the dressing room to
wear. The day before the ball the put on our dresses. We waited a little
girls and I had to spend the day while for the guests to settle, then all the
in a photo shoot for maga- girls lined up in the hallway and one at a
zines. The night before, we time we went through the dining room
learned to dance the waltz on our escorts’ arms as the announcer
with our escorts and we got said our names.
to know each other. HKT: Who was your cavalier?
HKT: How did you select aHK: A boy named Stephane de Watazzi
the dress? who is from Belgium and currently
aHK: I actually saw the dress studying at law school.
on the internet beforehand HKT: Who attended the ball with you
and fell in love with it. But (family/friends)?
when I went to the [Paris aHK: My friend Alix de Gramont was a
Dior] store I tried on three deb as well. My brother [Stanley Willers]
or four dresses. Everyone was a cavalier for Jasmine Li. My mother
thought the one I ended up and father attended as guests.
