Let me tell you something about the Ashley Graham JCPenney collection. It’s one thing to see the pieces online. It is another thing entirely to slip into a room glowing in a stunning pink and red maxi dress, sit down to an intimate dinner, and celebrate fashion that was actually designed by a plus size body with plus size bodies in mind.
When I say we stepped into ZZ’s Club NYC and it felt like Moulin Rouge met grown woman luxury, I mean it. Plush red decor. Dim lighting. A table dressed like she had somewhere to be. And in the middle of all of that glamour was a celebration of a collection that runs from 14W to 30W. Not extended as an afterthought. Not hidden in a corner. Front and center.
And that is where the magic started.
Okay, But Why Did It Feel Like Our Movie Premiere
We were invited to an intimate dinner at ZZ’s Club NYC to celebrate the Ashley Graham JCPenney collaboration, and the decor alone deserved a slow clap of its own. Think deep reds, velvety blues, dim lighting bouncing off crystal glassware. Very grown. Very, “we belong here.”
And the guest list? Models. Creators. Industry insiders. All of us, plus size and fly, dressed like we knew we were about to eat well in every sense of the word.
We sat down to dinner, clinked glasses, and before the first course even hit the table, we were gifted diamonds. Yes. Diamonds. Served on a platter in a little grey box with a shiny red bow. A moment that felt equal parts celebration and reminder that we deserve luxury too.
Tell me that is not a statement.
Ashley Is Exactly Who You Think She Is
Ashley did not float in and out like a distant celebrity. She sat. She leaned in. She gave us her number. We chatted about the collection, about fit, about why this collaboration matters.
And if you know Ashley’s track record, this makes sense. She has consistently advocated for size inclusivity in fashion. In her own words, “The mission behind it has always been that I want women who look like me to feel comfortable in their own skin.”
That mission was all over this night.
At one point, we were literally recording TikTok trends together. Picture a table of plus size women in glam, propped phones, trending audio playing, and Ashley right there with us. No ego. Just energy.
It felt less like a press dinner and more like a group chat brought to life.
Okay But The Clothes…
The Ashley Graham JCPenney plus size collection runs from 14W to 30W, and that range alone deserves applause. So, when a major retailer leans into plus size fashion with intention, that is not a niche moment. That is meeting the majority.
Here are seven must-have pieces from the Ashley Graham JCPenney collection that had me gagged:
7 Head-Turning Pieces from Ashley Graham’s JCPenney Collection
This dress is that throw on and shut it down kind of piece. It hugs in the right places, moves with your body, and proves that plus size basics can still serve main character energy without doing the absolute most.
Available in sizes 0X-5X
This sleeveless mesh maxi dress is giving soft drama in the best way. It skims the body, shows a little skin, and reminds everyone that plus size fashion can be sheer, bold, and completely unforgettable.
Available in sizes 0X-5X.
This faux leather wrap dress is pure confidence in fabric form. It hugs and flatters without fuss and instantly gives you that “I walked in first and still own the room” kind of energy.
Available in sizes 0X-5X.
Look, this Ashley Graham faux fur coat is basically a giant, stylish hug that says, "I have my life together," even if you just ate a burrito in your car.
Available in sizes 0X-5X.
This Ashley Graham mesh bodycon dress is like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, except the cocoon was a pile of laundry and the butterfly is ready to order three appetizers just for herself.
Available in sizes 0X-5X.
This dress has that slinky, effortless vibe that says you’re ready to break hearts and possibly a few "no dancing on the table" rules at the local bistro.
Available in sizes 0X-5X.
This Ashley Graham bustier mini dress is so snatched it’ll have you looking like a high-fashion secret agent who only accepts missions that involve bottomless mimosas.
Available in sizes 14W-30W.
Dinner Was Delicious, But the Real Course Was Community
Between courses, we rotated seats, chatted it up, exchanged Instagrams, and hyped each other up the way only plus size women who get it can.
There is something powerful about sitting in a room where your body is not the exception. Where you are not the “diversity add.” Where you are just fashionable. Desired. Celebrated. Where no one is shrinking themselves at the table. Where no one is over-explaining their presence.
We laughed. We recorded content. We admired each other’s outfits. And somewhere between dessert and diamonds, I realized this was bigger than a launch.
It was a reminder.
A reminder that community is not just cute for photos. It is necessary. It is the difference between surviving an industry and reshaping it. When plus size women gather, we share resources. We pass along contacts. We say, try this brand, it actually fits. We create our own infrastructure in rooms that were not always built for us.
Community is where confidence gets reinforced. It is where you see someone built like you owning the room and think, oh, that is possible for me too. It is where collaborations are born, where ideas get sharpened, where we stop competing for the one “plus size spot” and start realizing there is room for all of us.
So, What Are We Taking Home Besides Diamonds?
First, the Ashley Graham JCPenney collection is worth trying on in real life. The fit, the range, the intention. It is giving options.
Second, that plus size women are not asking for permission anymore. We are asking for our size. Our seat at the table. Our moment in the red velvet room.
And finally, that nights like this are not rare because we are lucky. They are happening because the industry is finally catching up to what we have known. We are the moment.
Now I want to hear from you.
If you could design your dream plus size collection, what is the one piece you would make first and why? Let me know in the comments below!
