Fans say Lena Dunham’s new plus-size clothing line isn’t as inclusive as it should be

Actress and writer Lena Dunham announced this week that she’s launching a new plus-size clothing line, which is awesome. Clothing should be accessible to everyone and inclusive of all body sizes. But fans are expressing their disappointment over Dunham’s line, which they say isn’t really “plus-size” at all.

In an interview with The New York Times Times, Dunham makes a good point about society’s perspective about larger bodies and trendy fashion. “If a thin girl wears sweatpants, it’s kind of cute — like, ‘I’m having a rough day!'” she explained. “But for a chubby girl it’s, ‘You’ve made a lifestyle choice to give up.'”

She was inspired to create the collection because of her own personal experience with fashion and her body and being in the public eye.

“The only way I’ve been able to make the red carpet interesting, or in any way meaningful, is to be myself with no concern for whether the people who are watching are going to anoint it best or worst anything, because then at least I’m saying something about being a woman in this body that only I can say,” she shared. “And maybe there’s some girl at home going to her prom and she feels like she doesn’t have the right body and she sees me in this weird nutty dress and she feels like, ‘If that girl can go to the Emmys dressed like that, then maybe I can show up to my junior prom dressed like this.'”

Fans are taking issue with two major components of Dunham’s line, however. The 11 Honoré x Lena Dunham line consists of just five items sized 12 to 26. Prices for the “capsule collection” range from $98 to $298 for each item. Too often, plus-size clothing is listed at a higher price than conventionally-sized clothing, and many people on social media are expressing their disappointment that Dunham’s line is a little pricier than they can afford.

She’s also facing criticism for the limited sizing. One Twitter user is saying the plus-size line isn’t actually plus-sized at all. After all, the average clothing size for a woman in the U.S. is a size 16, according to a recent study.

Apparently Lena Dunham is making a plus size clothing line that only goes up to a size 26. That’s… not a plus siz… https://t.co/HOZMTEtb8e

— Devon Cantwell (@devon_cantwell)
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The phrasing for Dunham’s collection states that it will include sizes “up to” a 26, which, as the same Twitter user pointed out, “means that they likely will actually have limited stock in 22-26.”

A few other people pointed out that a lot of bodies are larger than a size 26, and that the line isn’t as inclusive as it could be.

it should surprise no one that lena dunham’s plus size line cuts of at a US 26, leaving out the same people that ju… https://t.co/nuAubBStVG

— sgt. pepper’s juicy ass club band (@lovelylandfill)
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Another Twitter user pointed out the cost of Dunham’s clothing items. “My only real thought about the Lena Dunham clothes thing is that its always a little tiresome when a marginalized person thinks they are making a huge statement by making an exclusive and expensive experience slightly more accommodating for themselves,” Lux Alptraum tweeted. “Like yes expensive clothes should be size-inclusive but also most people of any size can’t afford them so what are we doing here.”

Here’s hoping after the line launches, it will expand to include many more sizes and perhaps a few awesome capsule pieces that are more affordable to the masses.