Big white puffy princess dresses.

The perfect hair doo with a storm of hair spray that would give fashion week a run for its money.

Makeup trials to get just the right look.

The odd tiara and more blooms than a flower shop.

Weeks of dance lessons to make sure the couple can bust out the right steps.

And a four-tiered cake with four different flavours to ensure every guest is catered for on the big day.

But it's not the big day you might be thinking about.

This is a debutant ball, also known as the deb ball.

The age-old tradition where a young woman was presented to society is as strong today as it was in the 1780s.

The gals still wear the sweeping white ball gowns and the lads don a tux.

While critics say the deb ball is outdated and sexist, there are a swarm of supporters who are keeping the tradition alive because it gives every teenager their chance to shine.

Others just reckon it's a good chance to frock up for the night.

I put the question to the trusty folk on social media as to what they thought about the deb ball, in which 67 per cent said they were not outdated while 61 per cent in fact did their deb.

But it's simply more than just wearing a pretty dress.

The young men and women, usually in year 10 or 11 are schooled on dances 10 weeks out from the big night.

They learn everything from the waltz to the Canadian three step and the gypsy tap and get the chance to carve up the dance floor.

Skills that also come in handy for blokes.

Just a tip fellars, women love a bloke who can dance.

And it doesn't hurt today's generation to learn a bit of etiquette and manners - and in some cases actually how to use a knife and fork in public.

So I'm all for the deb and all its glory.

I did mine 27 years ago and loved everything about it.

Even though I was only ever seen wearing basketball shorts and t-shirts, when I stepped out in that white floaty dress for the first time I was seen as more than just one of the boys.

So you could say that was my introduction to society.

I just hope they are still in fashion by the time my daughter hits her sweet 16.

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