Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven

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Hon. Alison Mary Barran (née Hore-Ruthven)
The Ralli Twins

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven, Lady Barran (1902–1974) was one of the Ruthven Twins, or Ralli Twins, a pair of Bright Young Things scandalizing society for their antics.

Biography[]

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven was born in 1902, the daughter of Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland and Mary Ruthven, Lady Ruthven of Freeland.[1]

As a young woman, Alison and her sister Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven, nicknamed "Peggy", were among the founders of the unofficial society of the Bright Young People and were dubbed by newspapers the "Ralli Twins" and by society as "A&P".[2] They used to dress-alike and were basically identical.[1] They were used to scandalize society, like when, at the coming-of-age party for Loel Guinness, went with very short, close-fitting silver dresses.[1][3]

Both sisters modelled for a dress-making establishment. They were among the firsts in society to wear the low-heeled slippers making them fashionable. Under the name of Ralli Twins, they had a career dancing on stage, but family pressure had them renounce to this venture.[1][4]

According to Cecil Beaton, in his The Book of Beauty: "The Ruthven Twins are the most striking pair, always identically dressed; even to the brass necklace, they are indistinguishable from one another. Richly carved with large full mouths, high cheek bones, and knobbly noses, they are as decorative as a pair of Assyrian rams. They are Byzantine goddess, dressed like fairies in a circus design by Picasso, with their dark locks tied with little tinsel bows, their spangled ballet-skirts, and low-heeled shoes."[5]

In 1928 Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven married Commander Sir John Leighton Barran, 3rd Baronet.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Twins to Separate - 07 Dec 1928, Fri • Page 3". Pensacola News Journal: 3. 1928. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. ^ Dudgeon, Piers (2011). Captivated: J. M. Barrie, Daphne Du Maurier and the Dark Side of Neverland. Random House. p. 4. ISBN 9781446476574. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Amusing Turns Brighten Coming-of-Age Party - 16 Jul 1927, Sat • Page 33". The Winnipeg Tribune: 33. 1927. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  4. ^ Balfour, Patrick. Society Racket. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. ^ Beaton, Cecil (1933). The Book Of Beauty. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
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