Plus size 26 - Jennifer’s story

Well I’m off again on my travels to have a lunch and catch up with one of the many friends that I have made over the years in the plus size 26 fashion business.

Today I have a date with Jennifer Saunders. We have become close friends over the years and have supported each other through many ups and downs in our lives. By that I mean both ups and downs in weight and personal events. For the last few years Jennifer has been a plus size 26, but like me has been every size in the spectrum over her lifetime.

She has just celebrated her 65th birthday but has no plans to give up working as a freelance book editor. Five years ago she tragically lost her husband Sam, a brilliant fiction writer, after forty years of happy marriage.

Lucky old me, Jennifer lives in Taplow near Maidenhead just 33 miles from London and only a short hop from Bray-on-Thames. So we’re heading for the legendary Roux brothers restaurant The Waterside Inn for a belated 65th birthday lunch.

Leanda           Happy Birthday Jen it’s brilliant to see you it’s been ages, I can see you’ve bagged the best table in the place; I love the view from this side of the restaurant.

Jennifer          Just one of the perks of being a “local”!

Leanda           Tell me how life is treating you?

Jennifer          Well the arthritis is worse, I’m afraid.

Leanda           I’m so sorry

Jennifer          You know the worst of it is I’ve had to really rethink the way that I dress.

Leanda           Tell me in what way it’s affecting you?

Jennifer          Well, first problem is I’m a size 26, I can never wear skirts any more because it’s absolutely impossible to wear any kind of attractive shoe.  Heels are out of the question and since the arthritis is in my feet I’ve ended up with shoes from a mail order catalogue that fasten with Velcro.  My hands are quite bad as well so it’s easier to wear pop sox than trying to fight with tights.  Because of my size I prefer flowy palazzo trousers however when you walk with a stick and you are unsteady on your feet it’s easy to trip when trousers are too long.  Palazzos that are too short look terrible.

Leanda           Jennifer you are quite tall I’m guessing 5’10” what size shoes do you wear?

Jennifer          I’m a size 42. 

Leanda           Well I think you should look at classic men’s shoes. They will be wider in the foot and are often extremely well made. Soft Italian loafers with linen trousers and a short ankle boot – which will give you support and could mean that you can look at a narrower leg or even a jean.  This doesn’t sort out your skirt problem though.

Jennifer          Thank you what a wonderful idea I’m definitely going to try that.

Leanda           What about shopping for a full length skirt, with your height it will fall just below the calf then you could wear hold ups under it and the ankle boots again, it’s a great look you don’t need a heal.

Jennifer          Fabulous idea! I don’t want any arguments lunch is on me.

Leanda           Anyway, enough of business talk…now lets get serious – the duck or the lamb?

Leanda Walters
© 2009 Beige Plus Ltd

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