
The sky is never the limit when it comes to the MTV Video Music Awards.
The annual gathering is a celebration of the music and videos that you couldn't take off of repeat and were essential to your ever evolving life soundtrack over the past year. And this year, it will go back to the basics and return to its Radio City Music Hall roots in New York City, where it first took place in 1984. Back then, Bette Midler and Dan Akroyd were the hosts and they dressed up as the original moonmen. They decided to switch it up in 2018 by having a hostless ceremony and allowed the presenters like Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart, along with performers, to keep the show rolling. One of the highlights included goddess Jennifer Lopez receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
It was amazing to see the array of looks this year with some celebrities glamming it up while others kept it casual. Flip through the gallery to see some of our favorite looks of the night!
Cardi B
Kulture's mom, Cardi B, introduced a new look on the carpet and she killed. This custom creation by Nicolas Jebran is pure perfection. And the Lorraine Schwartz jewelry make this rap queen look like royalty.
Which look was your favorite? Spill the tea below!
- MTV VMA Vanguard 2018: Jennifer Lopez Style Evolution at VMAs ... ›
- VMAs 2018 Red Carpet Dresses, News, and Nominees ›
- 2018 MTV VMA Red Carpet: Watch Live Stream Free – Footwear ... ›
- How to watch MTV VMAs 2018 Live Streaming including Red Carpet ... ›
- Look Back at the MTV VMAs Red Carpet From 10 Years Ago! | 2018 ... ›
- Watch the 2018 MTV VMAs Red Carpet Live Stream ›
- Best Looks From 2018 MTV Movie Awards - Celebrity Red Carpet ... ›
- How To Watch The 2018 MTV VMAs Red Carpet Because The ... ›
- Jennifer Lopez MTV VMA Red Carpet Outfits | PEOPLE.com ›
- the MTV VMAs ›
This article is in partnership with Lexus.
Luxury is often defined by someone else’s standards. But what if the finer things in life looked different through the lens of those crafting and shaping Black culture?
In Redefining Excellence, a two-episode short-form video series presented by Will Packer Media in collaboration with Lexus, we dare to broaden how we think about luxury. Here, it’s not just about the price tag. Luxury is a practice.
At its core, Redefining Excellence is a celebration of intention woven into every detail of how we live: our joy, our spaces, our craft, but also our rituals of care. These are the Black creators who not only give the best to themselves in what they build, but also pay it forward to the communities around them.
Through their vision, they embody the same precision and artistry that Lexus embraces when in pursuit of a higher standard, the Standard of Amazing.
In Episode 1, “Ingredients of Success,” the series follows chef, restaurateur, and Lexus Culinary Master Kwame Onwuachi, whose artistry is imbued with rich cultural storytelling. We see him wander purposefully through a garden, gently testing the ripeness of fresh fruits and vegetables. “Luxury isn’t about exclusivity. It’s about being intentional with your choices and craft,” he says.
The article continues after the video.
“Now, because of my work and the ingredients I use, luxury means something different. I am boldly setting a new standard of amazing and innovation.”
As he chops vegetables, plates vibrant dishes, and loads the finished product into the sleek Lexus LC Convertible, he continues, “For me, luxury means ingredients that carry memory… dining experiences and locations that honor the stories that raised me and feel like us.”
In Episode 2, “The Texture of Luxury,” the lens turns to founder and CEO of CurlyCon LA Ava Pearl, whose ingredients take a different form. As the trunk of her Lexus LX 700h lifts, she says, “When I think of luxury, it isn’t expensive, it’s expansive.” The scene shifts, and we watch Ava lay down a bouquet of fresh flowers upon entering her home before using aloe vera leaves to prepare gel by hand.
The article continues after the video.
“When I was younger, I thought luxury was something you bought. Now I know it’s about living up to a higher standard… Black women have always defined what’s next, setting the standard for beauty, luxury, and excellence.”
Like Kwame, she builds with intention, pouring care into the details, believing, like Lexus, that “luxury isn’t just a finish, it’s a standard. One that’s built to amaze.”
Through these stories, Redefining Excellence serves as a reminder that the journey is not just about the destination, but also the ingredients you choose along the way.
Watch both episodes now and learn more about how Kwame and Ava set their own standard of amazing.
Featured image by xoNecole/Will Packer Media
I Tried Tracee Ellis Ross’ Pattern Body Collection & This Is What I’d Actually Restock
Tracee Ellis Ross is a masterclass in self-preservation. Even through her Girlfriends era, we saw it: spa days, workouts, time with her girls—care as a lifestyle. On Black-ish, we saw it again: a woman centering her family while still claiming space for herself. And more recently, with her Roku series Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross, she’s still modeling rest and exploration on her own terms for women all over the world.
In her everyday life, when she isn't spreading the gifts of her ethos on-screen, Tracee takes to her 11 million Instagram followers, giving us the 411 on all things dry brushing, gua sha, derma-rolling, facial rollers, massage tools, oils—and I never miss a workout video where she’s sharing her Tracy Anderson class recaps.
Pair that with the curl-defining legacy she’s built as the CEO and Founder of Pattern Beauty, and it’s clear: she’s always been intentional about care—and invites us to be, too.
Her latest launch, Pattern Body, feels like a natural extension of that—a full line designed to make body care a ritual, not an afterthought. The collection includes the Moisture Rich Body Cream ($36), Nourishing Body Oil ($36), Hydrating Body Lotion ($32), Moisturizing Body Wash ($32), and Dry Exfoliating Scrub ($36), plus bundled sets.
Why I Wanted To Try Pattern Body
I’ve been using Pattern Beauty for years. Long before I could afford it I’d use my mom’s Ulta card to swipe and get what I needed, I’ve legitimately loved Pattern since day one. It’s what works best on my hair no matter the style, wash & go, slick back ponytail, braids, and blowouts. The Palo Santo ensemble is my new favorite after using their signature collection for years. That shampoo and conditioner, paired with the scalp serum and Pattern’s shower brush, whip my curls into shape like nothing I’ve ever used. I can go from a 'fro to defined coils in minutes with water, conditioner, and that brush.
Pattern is my daily go-to, so when Tracee expanded into body, I wanted to see if the same love affair I have with Pattern Beauty would carry over to Pattern Body.
The last body care launch that truly spoke to me was Taraji P. Henson’s Body by TPH, with its distinct daytime and nighttime routines—it pulled me into body care in a way I hadn’t felt in a while. Another product I’ve loved is OUI the People’s Clean Slate Lactic Acid Body Wash, a formula that exfoliates gently while leaving my skin soft.
Pattern Body feels similarly intentional but distinctly Tracee—rooted in the rituals we’ve seen her share for years. This launch feels like her way of ensuring that our bodies can finally get the same level of care she’s modeled all along.

Courtesy of Pattern Body
My Relationship With Body Care Rituals
Body care is where I’m not as consistent as I’d like to be when it comes to self-care. I dry brush daily, I’m particular about the body washes I use, and I’m intentional about organic feminine products. But when it comes to moisturizing, I’ll be honest: I usually just slap on whatever lotion is nearby or a body butter when I remember. What I want is to be more intentional—not just moisturize, but actually lean into rituals.
I want to use my bath salts more, soak with scrubs, and treat body care as something to luxuriate in, not rush through. Pattern Body felt like a call inward to take that next step.
Even the bold orange packaging felt joyful and unapologetic—a reminder that prioritizing yourself can be fun.
The Ingredients That Set Pattern Body Apart
Pattern Body isn’t just about the ritual—it’s about what’s inside the bottles. When I connected with someone from Pattern’s team, I asked how they envisioned the body line fitting into Tracee’s larger ritual. For them, it wasn’t just about moisture; it was about creating a layering experience that mirrors the way Tracee cares for herself daily—step by step, from exfoliation to oil to cream.
The line is built with nourishing ingredients that make sense for long-term care, like:
- Dead Sea Salt — natural exfoliation and mineral-rich polish
- Aloe Vera — hydration and soothing
- Baobab and Sunflower Oils — deep moisture and skin barrier support
- Cedarwood, Musk, and Midnight Amber — warm, grounding fragrance notes
- Shea Butter & Hyaluronic Acid — for softness, bounce, and lasting hydration
And according to a third-party study shared by Pattern, 100% of users experienced an immediate boost in hydration, luminosity, and the silkiness of their skin texture. As someone who always asks questions before folding new products into my routine, seeing both the story and the science behind the line mattered to me.

Courtesy of Pattern Body
My Honest Thoughts After Testing Pattern Body
How I Used Pattern Body
I followed Tracee’s recommended Pattern Body ritual:
- Prepare Dry Exfoliating Body Scrub (pre-shower to buff away dullness, unclog pores, and smooth skin)
- Cleanse Moisturizing Body Wash (a gentle lather that cleans without stripping, leaving skin refreshed)
- Protect Nourishing Body Oil (applied on damp skin to lock in moisture and add a silky finish)
- Hydrate Hydrating Body Lotion (lightweight hydration layered on top of oil for all-over softness)
- Nourish Moisture Rich Body Cream (thick, buttery cream for elbows, knees, and areas needing extra TLC)
The Products I’d Actually Repurchase
I tried the full line, but these are the three I’d keep stocked and repurchase:
- Dry Exfoliating Scrub — I’ve been looking for an exfoliant that’s effective without being harsh; I could see the scrub being a regular for me.
- Nourishing Body Oil — I love how it sealed the moisture in post-shower. It’s lightweight, smells heavenly, and I’ll keep this one in the rotation for sure.
- Moisture Rich Body Cream — I prefer a thicker moisturizer over lotion; this one delivers deep, buttery hydration that actually sinks in.
Pattern Body is consistent with Tracee’s legacy of care: bold, joyful, intentional. And while I won’t reach for every product daily, the ones I do remind me that tending to my body isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Because if Tracee Ellis Ross looks this good at 50 and says something is good for your body? I’m taking notes.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image courtesy of Pattern Body



















