I walked forward two steps, mentally preparing myself for the curtsy of a lifetime. Head raised and arms extended, I bent my knees the way the coordinator had showed all of us, fortunately my white ball gown that flowed to the floor hid whatever weird shape my legs were making. A wide white-toothed smile spread across my face as I lowered myself slowly; the smile was not on my face because they told us to put it there, but because I had never been happier. Applause and music filled my ears as I rose and my hands found a bent elbow on each of my two escorts. Thus commenced our slow and thought-out promenade across the dance floor.
This was part of my presentation, a small portion of what made up the best night of my life. I was a debutante at the New York Junior League’s Thanksgiving Eve Ball, along with nineteen other first year college girls. This ceremony honored our “coming into society” and was attended by close family and friends in the main ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City.
The day started with a trip to the salon to get hair and makeup done, then rehearsal for the presentations, donning the wedding dresses every girl had spent so much time looking for and getting altered to perfection, family pictures, cocktails and then dinner, and, finally, the highly anticipated ball. Dancing lasted into the night.
This event may seem like an elitist socialite one, which it is, but to me it means more. I’m not one of those girls that lives on the Upper East Side and who went to an extremely prestigious single gender school there. I am from an affluent New York City suburb in Connecticut, but I most certainly don’t live in a McMansion backcountry or walk around carrying a Céline purse or wearing Chanel flat espadrilles. What I mean to say is, I feel that this is the world I am a part of (one of frequent SoulCycle trips and Nantucket summer homes), but I am on the border of it. I am grounded enough to know the value of money, and that the way I live is not the way the rest of the world does, but also fortunate enough to join in on elite Manhattan festivities on the rare occasion.
My mom came out with the New York Junior League when she was my age, which is the main reason why we pursued this event. I was so happy to continue the tradition and do something just like she did. When the presentation was over I ran to her and gave her a hug - I knew she was proud and happy, just what I like to see from my mom. Preparing for the ball was a process that we went through together, starting all the way back in January, and the memories are something my parents and I will have forever. My dad looked so handsome in his tux, and we had so much fun during our slow dance.
The entire event was so old school, reminding me of a black and white scene from a 1950’s movie. I loved being a part of something that was set in tradition and exclusive. As the title references, this was my fairytale moment, my princess evening, my peek into the Gossip Girl world, and it is one that I can pass onto my daughter and share with her.
