"BRIGHTER DANCES"

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 19

"BRIGHTER DANCES"

ENTERTAINING AT HOME

The revival of entertaining in'private houses is one of the interesting developments of the approaching season, writes Marianne Mayfayre in the London "Daily Telegraph." "This does not mean small parties," said a Mayfair catering expert. '"There is a demand for private houses for balls for 500 guests. There are very f&w suitable town houses left. Some hostesses are willing to 'let' their homes for an evening. Others can be persuaded to do so on occasion. The vogue for the private house is a return to the entertaining fashions of the Edwardians." Modern conditions are responsible for the revival. There are. the families 1 who have given up their town houses J and are now living in the* country, and who come up to London just to give a party to meet all their friends. They like to hire a private house where the atmosphere is more intimate. Others have given up their houses for flats, where large parties are out of the question. • Entertaining. at res-1 taurants is popular, but dates are often difficult to arrange, as West End ballrooms; are booked up so' long in advance. .A private house is the alter- j native. ! "Brighter dances" is the motto of I this season's hostesses. Even awnings are to be gayer. Striped orange and white and green arid white bunting has been ' popular for some time—but is rather prosaic looking. The posts holding the awnings are to be draped this year. At a wedding reception in Belgrave Square these posts were concealed by the colours of the hunt to which the bride belonged.