belles

Belles is the plural form of belle, a noun borrowed from French meaning a beautiful or charming woman. In English, a belle often refers to a socially prominent woman, especially during a social season or debutante era. The term is frequently linked with gatherings such as dances or balls, where the phrase the belle of the ball describes the most admired woman at the event.

In broader usage, belles-lettres is a well-established French-derived phrase used in English to denote literature valued for its aesthetic style and elegance rather than its argumentative content. The expression reflects a historical distinction in literary criticism and is used primarily in discussions of literary history and criticism.

Contemporary usage of the plural belles can appear less frequently or carry historical or regional connotations. The word also appears as a proper noun in various contexts, where Belles or belles may be adopted as a name for artistic works, organizations, bands, or brands. In such cases, the term is used for stylistic or thematic reasons rather than to convey a precise social category.

Overall, belles centers on the notion of beauty and social presence, with its most enduring associations rooted in historical and cultural contexts of social events and refined literature. Related terms include belle (singular) and belles-lettres, as well as broader discussions of debutante culture and gendered language.