Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven
Born
Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven

(12 June 1901)
Died1974 (aged 72–73)
NationalityEnglish
Other namesHon. Alison Mary Barran
Occupationsocialite
Known forRalli Twins
Spouse(s)
Commander Sir John Leighton Barran, 3rd Baronet
(m. 1928)
Parents
RelativesBridget Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland (sister)
Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven (sister)

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven, Lady Barran (1901–1974) 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 the daughter of Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland and Mary Ruthven, Lady Ruthven of Freeland.[1]

The Ralli Twins

As a young woman, Alison and her twin 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 used to scandalize society, like when, at the coming-of-age party for Loel Guinness, they wore 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 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.