Ashley Graham JCPenney Collection Review and Night Out

Let me tell you about the Ashley Graham JC Penney Collection. Viewing works online is one thing. It’s one thing entirely to slip into a sparkling room wearing a stunning pink and red maxi dress, sit down to an intimate dinner, and celebrate fashion that was actually designed with plus-size bodies in mind and by plus-size bodies.

When I say that walking into ZZ’s Club NYC felt like Moulin Rouge meets adult women’s luxury, I mean it. Luxurious red decoration. Dim lighting. A table dressed like it’s where she’s supposed to be. And in the middle of all that glamor was a celebration of collections from 14W to 30W. It wasn’t expanded on a whim. Not hiding in a corner. front and center.

And that’s when the magic began.

Okay, but why did it feel like our movie premiere?

We were invited to an intimate dinner at ZZ’s Club NYC to celebrate Ashley Graham and JC Penney’s collaboration, and the decor alone was worth the slow applause. Think deep reds, velvety blues, and dim lighting reflecting off crystal glassware. I have grown a lot. Indeed, “we belong here.”

And what about the guest list? model. Creators. Industry people. All of us plus sizes, and those of us who fly, dressed like we knew to eat well in every sense of the word.

We sat down to dinner, clinking glasses, and before the first course hit the table, we were presented with a diamond. yes. diamond. It is presented on a platter in a small gray box with a shiny red ribbon. It was a moment of celebration and a reminder that we too need luxury.

Please say that’s not a statement.

Ashley is exactly what you think she is

Ashley didn’t come and go like some far-flung celebrity. she was sitting. She leaned over and gave us her number. We talked about the collection, the fit, and why this collaboration is so important.

Knowing Ashley’s track record, this makes sense. She has consistently advocated for size inclusivity in fashion. inside her my own words“The mission behind it is that I want women who look like me to feel comfortable in who they are.”

That mission ends tonight.

At one point, we were literally recording TikTok trends together. Imagine a table of plus-size women wearing glamorous clothes. Ashley is there with us, ringing our phones and playing trending audio. No ego. Just energy.

It felt more like a lively group chat than a press dinner.

Well, but the clothes…

Ashley Graham JC Penney’s plus-size collection ranges from 14W to 30W, and the range alone is commendable. So when a major retailer leans into plus-size fashion with intent, it’s not a niche moment. It means satisfying the majority.

Here are 7 must-have items from the Ashley Graham JC Penney collection that captivated me. gagged:

7 notable pieces from Ashley Graham’s J.C. Penney collection

Dinner was delicious, but the real course was the community

In between courses, we swapped seats, chatted, swapped Instagrams, and promoted each other the way only plus-size women can.

There’s something powerful about sitting in a room where your body is no exception. Where you are not “adding diversity”. It’s just a stylish place. desirable. It was celebrated. Where no one cowers in front of the table. A place where no one overexplains their existence.

we laughed. The contents have been recorded. We admired each other’s outfits. And then, somewhere between a dessert and a diamond, I realized that this was something bigger than a launch.

It reminded me.

The community reminds us that it’s more than just pretty pictures. it is necessary. It’s the difference between surviving the industry and rebuilding the industry. When plus size women come together, they share resources. Give your contact information. Try this brand, I think it’s actually a good fit. We create our own infrastructure in rooms that were not necessarily built for us.

Community is a place that strengthens your confidence. It’s a place where you see someone owning a room the same way you do and think, oh, I can do that too. This is where collaborations happen, ideas are honed, and we stop competing for just one “plus-size spot” and start realizing there’s room for all of us.

So what do you bring home besides diamonds?

First of all, the Ashley Graham JC Penney collection is worth trying on. Fit, scope, and intent. It’s giving you a choice.

Second, plus size women don’t ask for permission anymore. We are asking for your size. our table seats. A moment in the red velvet room.

And finally, we are lucky, so nights like this are not uncommon. This is happening because the industry is finally catching up to what we know. We are the moment.

Now, I would like to hear everyone’s opinions.

If you could design your dream plus size collection, what would be the first dress you would create and why? Let us know in the comments below.