Institut Alpin Videmanette
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The Institut Alpin Videmanette was a finishing school in the municipality of Rougemont, Switzerland. It was an all-girl school where the lessons were
skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee ( ...
, cooking, dressmaking and French. In 1973, the school was headed by Monsieur and Madame C. L. Yersin. In 1981, it was reported to have an age range between sixteen and twenty and to teach language and commercial programmes through the medium of the French language. The main facilities were in Château d'Œx.
Tamara Mellon Tamara Mellon (; born 7 July 1967) is a British fashion entrepreneur who co-founded the luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo. Subsequently, Mellon founded her namesake luxury footwear brand, Tamara Mellon, with co-founder and CEO Jill Layfield and ...
was at the school in the mid-1980s, when it had some sixty girls and was still headed by Madame Yersin. She later wrote of it that "The assumption was that you were a dunce and that the only hope for you was to attach yourself to what was known as a good provider." In her day there was a smoking room and in the winter months there were skiing lessons every afternoon. Girls would often meet boys from Le Rosey at a nightclub in
Gstaad Gstaad ( ; ) is a town in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Bern in southwestern Switzerland. It is part of the municipality of Saanen and is known as a major ski resort and a popular destination amongst high society and the internati ...
. The winter campus of Le Rosey was nearby. The school closed in 1991.


Alumnae

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Alexandra Aitken Uttrang Kaur Khalsa (born Alexandra Penelope Aitken; 14 March 1980), also known earlier as Ally or Ale Aitken and still known as Alexandra Aitken, is a British model, actress and socialite. She has worked with some of Europe's leading fashion a ...
, model, daughter of Conservative British MP
Jonathan Aitken Jonathan William Patrick Aitken (born 30 August 1942) is a British author, Church of England priest, former prisoner and former Conservative Party politician. Beginning his career in journalism, he was elected to Parliament in 1974 (serving un ...
* Diana, Princess of Wales: 1977 to 1978. *
Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, ( el, Ειρήνη; born 11 May 1942) is the youngest child and second daughter of Paul of Greece and his wife Queen Frederica. She is the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain and of the deposed Const ...
* Alexandra "Tiggy" Legge-Bourke *
Tamara Mellon Tamara Mellon (; born 7 July 1967) is a British fashion entrepreneur who co-founded the luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo. Subsequently, Mellon founded her namesake luxury footwear brand, Tamara Mellon, with co-founder and CEO Jill Layfield and ...


References

Girls' schools in Switzerland Defunct schools in Switzerland Educational institutions disestablished in 1991 Finishing schools 1991 disestablishments in Switzerland {{Switzerland-school-stub