A Letter from Larissa, Deb of the Year 2011

Dear Mrs Hallam-Peel,


I cannot thank you enough for organising such a beautiful evening!! I had a magnificent time - everything was perfect: the ballroom, the dresses, the food, the music... It truly was magical, and I am so incredibly grateful to both yourself and Mrs Woodall for providing me with such a wonderful year. I've had such an amazing time, and I've learnt so much, thanks to the infallible help you have provided not only me, but all the debutantes with. And I would like to especially thank you for honouring me with the title of Debutante of the Year. It was a privilege to be not only involved in the Season, but also to be able to participate to the fullest extent possible as Chairman of the Junior Committee. Thank you so, so much!!


I hope the evening lived up to your expectations - everyone had such a lovely time!! Thank you once again!!


Warmest regards,


Larissa

Photographs of Larissa at the Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011 kindly provided by Mike Daines at Photocall Events.

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.

Choccywoccydoodah at the Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011

The Queen Charlotte's Ball dates back to the era of King George III, when the event was held not only as a key part of the London Season but to honour his wife Queen Charlotte. As such the cake is an integral part of the event, dating back to Queen Charlotte's birthday celebrations. The cake is always quite a spectacle in scale and this year was no exception. It was carried in by six dashing young RAF servicemen, making quite an entrance. The magnificent design was by Choccywoccydoodah and when you look closer the detail on it is stunning. One can only imagine the work that went into it. I looked to Gavin Munro of Choccywoccydoodah to find out a little more about this year's design and the brand behind the chocolate.

Choccywoccydoodah is quite a name, could you tell me a little history about the brand?  Choccywoccydoodah started as a tiny chocolate shop, next door to Christine's first cafe. The shop was opening and the shelves looked a little bare so Christine baked a batch of her infamous cakes to fill the spaces – they were a hit, then someone asked for one as a wedding cake and the whole thing grew from that one cake.

What is it about your cakes that sets them apart and makes them special?

Each of our bespoke cakes is unique and individually crafted for each occasion. We don’t listen when we are told that we cannot do something with chocolate, we just do it.

The cake is such a key part of the Queen Charlotte's Ball, how did you go about making your mark on a tradition that is hundreds of years old?
We echoed cakes of the past, including a design by Cecil Beaton and gave it a modern chocolatey twist.

Photographs kindly provided by Mike Daines at Photocall Events.

Soprano Zoë Turner

I first came across Zoë's stunning vocal talent at the charity drinks party organised by myself and the rest of the debutante Executive Committee of 2010. Then at the Queen Charlotte's Ball in 2010 she gave a gorgeous rendition of Puccini's O mio babbino caro as the debutantes made their entrance. An emotional moment, I think, for the parents! I know it brought a tear to my father's eye. It was wonderful to see her again at this year's event and so I thought it would be lovely to find out a little more about her musical background:

How did your love of singing and classical music begin?
I was always involved with music growing up and with two musical older sisters there was no escaping the recorder trios!
I am always in awe of the way opera singers can belt out notes with such projection, where did you go for your training?

I moved on into the local groups and took the leads in many a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Mabel in Pirates of Penzance for example. This then moved me into the world of opera and I studied singing at the Royal Academy of Music and then Trinity College of Music London. 

What is it about classical music that you love?

I  love classical music as the music speaks more than words can. It evokes deeper emotions to me than anything else ever can. I love my job as a singer as I get to travel around the world and meet new people and discover new things.

Is there a particular piece or character you love to perform?

My favourite opera roles are Lucia from Lucia di Lammermoor, Violetta from La Traviata and of course the Queen of the Night from Mozart's The Magic Flute! I love singing the Queen of The Night as it's so high and fiery! Full of temperament!

Do you have any exciting projects or performances coming up?
I have just returned from singing opera highlights in India and the role of Violetta in La Traviata. My next exciting project is to perform The Four Last Songs by Strauss early next year.
To hear me sing and for any further details please visit me at www.zoeturner.net  

Photographs kindly provided by Mike Daines at Photocall Events.

Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011 in Hello! magazine

The Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011 is featured in the current issue of Hello! magazine, dated 3rd October 2011. Phillipa Lepley stands amongst the beautiful ivory gowns she created for this year's debutantes. The amazing Jive Aces can also be seen in the stunning Lancaster Ballroom at the Savoy in a photograph by Mike Daines at Photocall Events. Don't the girls look absolutey gorgeous?

Backstage at the Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011

After being a debutante of the London Season myself last year I was really excited to attend the Queen Charlotte's Ball 2011 at the beautiful Savoy and see this year's lovely debs.
The gowns for this year's event were provided by London based couture wedding dress designer Phillipa Lepley, who also kindly donated a gorgeous red evening gown to the auction raising money for the Children's Trust. Phillipa is a lovely lady and incredibly talented, having worked with the shape and style of each girl at fittings. The work and attention to detail in the dresses is truly amazing. Each had a lot of fabric in the skirt and train, making manoeuvring round the area a little tricky. Of course one normally finds just one girl in a wedding dress at once, so all that tulle is quite a spectacle!
The dresses were complimented perfectly with stunning Mikimoto jewellery, again chosen for each girl and also her dress. Mikimoto kindly donated not one but two sets of striking jewellery to the auction, the Debutante necklace 2011 with pearl studs and the Pearls in Motion set.

Whilst the ball ran smoothly it was thanks to careful planning and rehearsals that day and the day before. Creative Director of the London Season Lukas Kroulik was in his element backstage, directing a team of talented hair and make up artists whilst Phillipa's team arranged the gowns just so and the Mikimoto team introduced the girls to their beautiful pearls for the night. The hair was backcombed, pulled back elegantly and finished with a plait made into a pretty bun. The make up was fresh and dewy for a flawless finish, whilst the make up artists collaborated with each girl with regards to specific eye make up. I must say the girls looked absolutely gorgeous and I am so looking forward to sharing with you the rest of the evening.

If you would like to be a debutante of the 2012 London Season please see here for application information.

Photographs kindly provided by Mike Daines at Photocall Events.

London Season Application Form 2012

If you are a young girl wishing to partake in the London Season as a debutante you must fill in the application form below and email it to Mrs David Hallam-Peel at jhp@londonseason.net. With interviews held on Saturday 8th October I must encourage you to get the application sent as soon as possible so that an interview time may be arranged.

Photograph of the Queen Charlotte's Ball 2010 by Mike Daines at Photocall Events.

THE LONDON SEASON 2012 – APPLICATION FORM
Patrons
HH Princess Olga Romanov
Their Graces The Duke and Duchess of Somerset

Correspondence to: The Chairman, Mrs. David Hallam-Peel,
26 HANS CRESCENT, KNIGHTSBRIDGE,
LONDON SW1X OLL
www.londonseason.net
email:jhp@londonseason.net
TELEPHONE 0203 006 1660

NAME IN FULL

NAME OF FATHER/MOTHER

FULL ADDRESS

PARENT AND DAUGHTER’S TELEPHONE NUMBERS LAND AND MOBILE

EMAIL ADDRESSES

NAME OF SCHOOL

INTERVIEWS ,WHICH MUST BE ATTENDED BY BOTH GIRLS AND THEIR PARENTS, WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER AT THE BERKELEY HOTEL KNIGHTSBRIDGE-AN ALLOCATED TIME WILL BE GIVEN TO EACH GIRL FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION FORM

Queen Charlotte's Ball 2010

Being a debutante is a truly wonderful experience and certainly one I'll never forget. The highlight for both parents and debs alike is of course the magnificent Queen Charlotte's Ball. The event has a history stretching back hundreds of years to when King George III first instated the ball to honour his wife, Queen Charlotte. The ball has long been associated with debutantes being presented to royalty. Staying true to tradition my fellow debutantes and I were provided with the most exquisite white bridal gowns from the wedding dress and evening gown company Pronovias. I fell in love with my dress the moment I tried it on at my fitting at the Bond Street store, and must admit I gave it up quite unwillingly at the end of the night!

In preparation for the ball, held at the stunning Inner Temple Treasury House, we partook in a day of rehearsals beforehand, followed by more nervous preparation on the day. We were pampered by a team led by Claire Hanson so that our make up, nails and hair were all beautiful. Having been helped into our dresses we were then decked in bedazzling Mikimoto jewellery. Each set was chosen to work with the girl and dress and I think each girl was in love with the jewellery picked for her. I certainly adored my rose blossom inspired earrings and necklace with pearls, diamonds and pink sapphires.

Whilst we anxiously but excitedly waited for our turn in the procession, guests were treated to a champagne reception greeted by HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, HH Princess Olga Romanov and Their Graces The Duke and Duchess of Somerset. The event was kindly sponsored by Maserati GB and its London retailer HR OWEN Sports Cars.

Following a march by the Jive Aces and the entrance of the guests of honour, my fellow debutantes and I processed in to a beautiful rendition of Puccini's O mio babbino caro from Zoe Turner. A stunning piece of music which I know brought a tear to my father's eye! The famous cake is a replica of the birthday cake of Queen Charlotte herself, and was just gorgeous. London Season Chairman Mrs David Hallam-Peel and Vice Chairman Mrs Jonathan Woodall spoke and announced the Deb of the Year, who I was delighted for as she is the most graceful, lovely girl.

Guests and debutantes alike dined on a simply delicious meal and a fabulous auction took place with lots such as Mikimoto jewellery, art work from Broad Gallery and one gorgeous unique handbag from Clive Christian.

To the sound of the wonderful Jive Aces the dancing began with a father daughter dance.
I made some great friends throughout the Season, helped raise money for charities Veterans Aid, Help For Heroes and The Smile Train, gained new skills and grew a lot in confidence and as a young lady. The evening of the Queen Charlotte's Ball was an amazing experience and the perfect finale to a wonderful year.
Next week it will be the turn of the debutantes of 2011 to come out at the Queen Charlotte's Ball and I am so looking forward to the event.

Photographs kindly provided by Mike Daines at Photocall Events.