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Comment: Anti-French bravado is an embarrassing British anachronism
Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes that the xenophobic jibes now only appear to go one way
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'My language skills mean I am just not funny in French'
Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives advice on how to convey your humour while learning French
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Letters: France's wasteful healthcare system needs a rethink
Reader says it would not be fair to ask people to pay more based on their age
Big sizes are not stylish
I roared with laughter when I read your latest [online] article about weight discrimination in France.
I’ve lived here for over 15 years and I’m a curvy size 18 in the UK. However, here it is a different matter as most shops selling the (almost) equivalent size – somewhere between 46/48/50 – have unstylish clothes that I don’t think I will ever be old enough to wear!
It is indeed galling to see a gorgeous frock in the window, then go inside to find that the largest size is about a UK 10, with the vendeuse looking you up and down. In Paris, it is possible to find smart classic clothes in shops such as Weil – at a price.
I suppose it isn’t overt weight discrimination but the looks between shop staff and the shake of the head can cause you to creep out of a French shop.
It is generally easier to buy online from UK stores with modern, flattering designs.
On the plus (sic) side though, I always receive kind comments on my fair skin and unlined face. Not bad for a pensioner?
Beryl DENNETT, Charente-Maritime