In 1994, a public-relations executive named Ophélie Renouard decided to revive the débutante ball (a tradition in both 18th-century England and the American South) for a new era. Le Bal des Débutantes, held each November in Paris, quickly became an important moment on the social calendar. Renouard cultivates around 20 young women from all over the world—and their cavaliers—and ushers them onto an international stage via a couture-clad gala dinner at the Shangri-La hotel. In addition to its splashy coverage in newspapers and magazines globally, the event also raises money for charity. As le Bal returns, on November 26, after a two-year hiatus, Renouard shares her key components to the good life. —Ashley Baker
Airlines: La Compagnie and Singapore Airlines.
Airport: Le Bourget, near Paris.
Alibi: The truth.
App: WhatsApp and WeChat.
Bag: Renaud Pellegrino, exclusively.
Bike: My stationary one.
Birthday: An excuse to celebrate.
Boyfriend: P.A.E.
Breakfast, weekday: Espresso with petit-suisse.
Breakfast, weekend: Espresso and toast with butter.
Car: A nondescript, anonymous one with two doors.
Child: My ancestor Édouard Bertin, as painted by Greuze.
Cocktail: An Alexandra—small, strong, and sweet.
Cocktail appetizer: Little black fish eggs from the Caspian Sea.
Couple: Ennio Morricone and Maria Travia.
Date: November 26—the 2022 edition of le Bal.
Diet: Healthy.
Dress: Giambattista Valli.
Drive: Following the coast anywhere in Greece—and I’m not at the wheel.
EnemIES: Vulgarity, dishonesty, and disloyalty.
Escape: Walking.
Excuse:
“I’m talking to a debutante.”
Family: My loved ones.
First MAN/First LADY: His Majesty the King of England and his Queen Consort.
Flaw: Perfectionism.
Friend: “Parce que c’était lui, parce que c’était moi.”
Good-bye: “A bientôt.”
Hideaway: An island in Asia or Greece.
Hotel: Shangri-La in Paris.
Indulgence: V Muse jewelry.
Insult: Not worth it.
Kiss-off: “See you soon.”
Movie: Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness.
Nonfiction book: The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion.
Pants: In silk, made to measure.
Piece of advice: “Do well and let it be.”
President: Emmanuel Macron.
Restaurant: Restaurant le Duc, in Paris.
Saying: “In each cloud there is a silver lining.”
SHOES: Custom-made by Jennifer Chamandi.
Spouse: P.A.E.
Street: Egerton Gardens, in London.
Storm: Monsoon.
Television series: Succession.
Theme song to your life: “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien,” as sung by Edith Piaf.
Time of day: Morning.
Vacation: In a village by the water, with magic light.
Wake-up time: Early.
Weekend bag: Renaud Pellegrino.
WRITING IMPLEMENT: Faber-Castell pencils.
Ophélie’s Essentials
