It is hard to look at these beautiful young women in their haute couture gowns and not long to spend a day in their designer shoes. Since le Bal des Débutantes was launched in 1992 by the French PR maven Ophélie Renouard, it has become the most coveted gala of its kind among the daughters of European aristocrats, Asian tycoons, and American business and showbiz types. A number of debutante balls take place around the world, from Queen Charlotte’s Ball in London to the Vienna Opera Ball, but le Bal remains the pinnacle.

This is partly because it is strictly by invitation only, and it’s the only one that requires debutantes to don couture gowns— with the debs and designers matched by Ophélie—paired with jewellery by Payal New York. Add to that the old-world style of Parisian palaces like the Shangri-La, and you’ve got the kind of party that drowns its guests in glamour and gossip.

The event also raises money for two charities that support women, continuing the feminist theme. Participating families are asked to make donations to the Seleni Institute, a non-profit organisation that helps women and teenage mothers deal with mental health issues, and Enfants d’Asie, a humanitarian association that promotes the education of girls and women in South East Asia.

On their big night in the Shangri-La’s stunning ballroom, where the gilt mirrors and Louis XV furniture battled for the limelight with vases overflowing with pink peonies, the young women shone. Presented by radio and television host Stéphane Bern, they wended their way confidently and elegantly through the tables on the arms of handsome cavaliers.

The 19 debutantes came from eight countries, reflecting the diversity of the new global elite. Mainland China’s Annabel Yao, a 21-year-old Harvard computer science student and ballerina, is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei. “All the girls were down-to-earth and friendly. No one was pretentious,” said Annabel, who was dressed in pale pink J Mendel on the night. “All of them attended top universities like Stanford, Brown, and Columbia, so it’s a group of girls who are privileged but also work really hard.”

Flying the flag for Hong Kong was Angel Lee, a University of Hong Kong student whose father is Robert Lee, an avid art collector with a keen eye for 18th- and 19th-century French and Italian pieces. “This is my first time in Europe, and what a way to experience it,” said Angel, who was wearing a delicate pale blue Dorian Ho dress as she took the arm of her cavalier, Edouard Lanvin of the famous French couture family. “I am so proud to be here representing Hong Kong. It is such a privilege. I want all my new friends from le Bal to come and visit Hong Kong.”

One firm friend in the making was Gabrielle de Pourtalès from France. Her aristocratic family might have fled the French Revolution, but this young beauty in Dior had not the slightest hint of hauteur, chatting enthusiastically about her job in Hong Kong, where she promotes the wines of Bordeaux. Her ancestors had probably known those of another descendant of aristocracy present, Ludmilla von Oppenheim, a law student from Germany who lives in London and switches smoothly between four languages as she talks to her new friends.

Also from Asia was Kayla Uytengsu, the daughter of Alaska Milk Corp CEO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu. The Filipina wore a beautiful gown by Italian couturier Antonio Grimaldi. She became firm friends with the three debutantes from India—Ananya Raje Scindia, whose family once ruled Gwalior; Shloka Birla, whose family owns the Aditya Birla Group; and Aria Mehta, daughter of Payal Mehta, who designs the jewellery for le Bal’s debutantes.

The Americans were also out in force. Juliet Gordy James, granddaughter of Motown record label founder Berry Gordy, is a young woman who is going places. Her exquisite Elie Saab gown had a full princess skirt, and she oozed such cool confidence that everyone remarked on her star quality. Quite right, too, as the young actress had just started shooting a Netflix television series, so expect to see her on your screens in the near future.

Another scene-stealer was Julia McCaw, who floated through the room on the arm of her former boyfriend Harper Peck, a young man with a notable resemblance to his late grandfather, the actor Gregory Peck. When asked if it was a little awkward attending the ball with her ex, Julia, who has moved to Paris for the year, laughed it off with the confidence of a woman twice her age. “He’s lovely, but we’re friends for now,” she said. “There are a few French boys on the scene, anyway.”