Debutante Etiquette Day for 2012

The debutante Etiquette Day is an exciting opportunity for the girls to acquire new skills and also make friends. It is the first time all the new debutantes come together and so is a lovely day to get to know each other.

This year not only welcomed the new debutantes of 2012 but also offered an informative opportunity to the twelve girls picked to take part in the first international Far Eastern Debutante Ball hosted at the Waldorf Astoria, Shanghai in January. I attended personally as one of the Shanghai girls and fondly recalled my first debutante Etiquette Day in 2010, which proved the start of an amazing year.

Sir Tobias Clarke Bt., who will be accompanying us on the trip to Shanghai, welcomed us with an intriguing talk on the history of the London Season from the perspective of a deb's delight! He has such a wonderful way of capturing one's attention in his wonderful narratives and kept us all greatly entertained.

As well as learning about dress codes and table manners, a huge part of modern etiquette for young ladies is career orientated. Former debutante Mrs Marcus Dyer gave a highly useful talk on interview techniques, including practical examples with brave volunteers! Interviews can really be very intimidating but Etiquette Day, and indeed the whole debutante experience, is wonderful at showing how to make a good first impression and get the very best you can out of an interview. This is so important for all the girls as they progress in further education and work, and I have found what I have learnt through the London Season to be such a great help.

Mrs Annabel Keville is a most valuable source of knowledge on Far Eastern protocol thanks to her extensive work overseas. She gave us a fascinating glimpse into Chinese culture and what we can expect in Shanghai. She very importantly taught us what would be thought polite and impolite when visiting and equipped us with some basic phrases to speak.

The Etiquette Day for 2012 was held at the Mayfair Hotel, which was a welcoming and sophisticated setting. When it was time for lunch we stepped down to Quince, the magnificent restaurant of Silvena Rowe. The restaurant opened in June 2011 with an interior which decadently harks to Rowe's Turkish heritage. Rowe is a renowned expert on Eastern Mediterranean cuisine and brings this to an intriguing menu. The meal was an absolute treat enjoyed by all.

We also sipped Quince's signature cocktails, which were simply delicious. The sommelier gave us wonderful, practical advice in a talk on wines, cocktails and the key to opening a bottle of champagne gracefully!

Thank you so much to Silvena Rowe, Quince and the Mayfair Hotel for hosting our fabulous day, and of course to London Season Chariman Mrs David Hallam-Peel and Vice Chairman Mrs Jonathan Woodall for organising such an enjoyable and informative experience.

Photographs kindly provided by Mike Daines at Photocall Events

The Mikimoto Debutante Feather and Pearl set

The Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011 was kindly sponsored by Mikimoto. This wonderful jewellery brand was founded by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1893. Mr. Mikimoto was the first to develop a technique for the cultivation of pearls, and to this day Mikimoto pearls are of the very highest quality and stand out in their exquisite beauty. All the girls were matched to their own set of jewellery for the night. Mikimoto also sponsored my own Queen Charlotte's Ball in 2010, so I know just how special the jewellery and the chance to wear it is. It really was the perfect finishing touch to my beautiful white dress and all the girls felt fabulous in theirs for the night.

One such set of jewellery worn by one young debutante of 2011 was Mikimoto's third Debutante necklace, in a feather and pearl design which was the object of much admiration. The piece made its debut at the event and was generously auctioned for charity.

The Mikimoto Debutante Feather and Pearl necklace captures the innocent and ethereal quality of the young debutante. It comprises of a strand of the finest Akoya cultured pearls with a pavé diamond ball for a timeless, sophisticated look. It also features an absolutely stunning 18k White gold feather detachable clasp with diamonds. The design harks back to when the traditional court dress for debutantes required ostrich feathers in their hair attached to a tulle veil.

The delicate feather has angelic connotations and reminds us of nature. The feather has been used in ornamentation for centuries and we are still drawn to its soft, gentle qualities today. The set is finished off elegantly with classic pearl stud earrings which are all that is needed to perfect the look, and it comes presented in a gorgeous bespoke box.

Second photograph by Mike Daines at Photocall Events. Other images kindly provided by Mikimoto.