Coming out

Catalogue Reference:(LMG) LEEDM/E/1983/54/3/8

An invitation to the 1936 Debutantes Ball at the Jewish Institute in Leeds. Traditionally a debutante was a young woman from a wealthy or aristocratic family whose main task was to find a suitable husband. The 'coming out' dance or ball was one of the ways of advertising a woman's availability to potential candidates. It marked the beginning of what was known as 'The Season' - a round of parties and social events designed to introduce girls to a wide circle of eligible young men but always under the watchful eyes of mothers and aunts.