A few nights ago in New York, I hosted a small dinner with women from my community — women who have shown up for me in different ways over the years, whether that’s sharing feedback, supporting my work, asking for advice, or just being part of the conversation. There were 15 of us total, myself included. It was about bringing together women I admire and wanted real time with. On paper, it sounds simple. In real life, it meant so much to me.
I really just wanted a room where we could all sit down, have a meal, and talk — no pressure, no expectations, just us girls catching up and connecting.
We met at ZZ’s Club on the West Side at 6:30PM on a Thursday night and gathered in a private room. I was actually one of the first people to arrive — which almost never happens for me — so I got to greet everyone as they walked in. That alone felt like a little gift. It was really special and honestly kind of fun to flip the script for once.
(Shoutout to Noah and Billy at ZZ’s for taking such incredible care of us — you treated us like queens and kept the Lambrusco flowing all night. We love you!!! Thank you!)
One thing that completely stopped me in my tracks: every single woman showed up wearing a piece from my JCPenney collection!!! That was absolutely not a requirement. Seeing everyone style the pieces their own way and show up with that kind of support honestly meant everything to me. It reminded me why choosing partners like JCPenney matters so much — they’ve always given me the freedom to build community, create experiences like this, and make it feel personal instead of transactional. Seeing how everyone styled the pieces even gave me ideas for how I want to wear them differently. Moments like that are exactly why this work means so much to me.
This wasn’t some formal event with an agenda. It was literally just dinner! Girls hanging out. Taking photos. Making TikToks. Laughing. Throwing out ideas for what to film next. They’re always way more tech-savvy than me, and I love watching the creativity unfold and just jumping in where I can.
Before dinner even started, the first “course” arrived on silver platters: diamond necklaces from JCPenney. (Thank you so much, JCPenney — truly!!! Nobody was expecting to walk out with real diamonds 👀.) Each one was wrapped in a black box with a red ribbon, and watching everyone unwrap them was such a moment. All my girls deserved to be celebrated, and that felt really perfect.
The menu was very me. Lambrusco flowing (of course). Sushi on repeat. Carbone’s famous rigatoni — UNREAL and forever my favorite. We also had spicy tuna rolls, steamed lobster dumplings, miso Caesar salad, salmon and yellowtail sushi, skirt steak, Dover sole, pea shoots, garlic fried rice, key lime pie, and donuts. A little bit of everything. And yes — this is literally the menu I sent back to the ZZ’s team. Just me, a pen, and a lot of circling.
Everyone went home with a goodie bag — one-carat diamonds from JCPenney, a hair straightener, a gift card, and a bottle of my favorite Lambrusco. A little reminder that the best nights don’t have to end when dinner does. 😘
More than anything, I wanted to celebrate these women. I’ve been in this industry for over 25 years, and I’ve seen trends come and go. Bodies celebrated and ignored. Platforms rise and fall. What lasts is staying the course, doing what you love, and building something that feels true to you. Every woman at that table is doing exactly that — and it felt important to pause and honor it.
I wore a black-and-white polka dot dress from my JCPenney collection with a dramatic black-and-white vintage Valentino fur — very Cruella energy — and white Charles and Keith Heels. Comfortable. Grounded. Confident.
Mostly, I just wanted to say how grateful I am. For these women carving out time in their calendars. For getting dressed, showing up, bringing incredible energy, and being fully themselves. Building community doesn’t have to be loud. Sometimes it looks like a shared table, good food, great wine, and women choosing to show up for each other in real life.
More nights like this, please!!
xo,
Ashley
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