Black and White Ball: Legends, looks and Lunatics news. Y’all’s timelines were flooded with the moment that was Nelly’s Black & White Ball 2025, so you already know what it was. I won’t bore you with what you already saw on social media: Busta Rhymes killed it, Ashanti is adorable and Doug E. Fresh can get the party started like few people on this planet. The Four Seasons was litty lit! And the folks came through with looks on top of looks on top of looks.
I do want to shout out Mai Lee’s classic Hollywood glamour, tell Vanessa Townsend-Vann I loved her gown, and say that I’m to the point where I’m sick of Micha Brown making the slay look so easy. It’s one thing to eat. Ms. Brown has been pulling up a chair to the buffet and throwing down every time she popped out for the nights of a thousand galas from September through December 2025.
But let me stop beating around the bush. What should have been all over the internet is the fact that The St. Lunatics are dropping a new project in 2026—produced by Metro Boomin! Let that marinate for a second. When the announcement was made, I almost fell out. 2026 can’t get here fast enough!
Okay, now that I’ve given up that tea, let’s talk about another fun fact I learned at Black and White Ball 2025. I was Sunday years old when I found out Nelly was the one who got Busta Rhymes on the “Look At Me Now” remix with Breezy. Busta told the story as part of his headlining set. I was like, “look at Mo…and look at STL!” Our city had a hand in bringing forth one of the most epic verses in hip hop history.
All props to Power 100. A day before the Black and White Ball was another can’t-miss gala of the season. It was Black excellence takeover at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch thanks to Delux’s Power 100. I would need this whole Partyline to shout out all the folks I want to give props to amongst the 2025 cohort, so take this as a collective “y’all did that” for all of the honorees.
Now let’s get into the outfits. Was I the only one who felt like the menfolk stepped their formalwear game up into 2029? Bennie Gilliam-Williams, that velvet lapel tux jacket had me ready to pose you with a glass of cognac and a cigar on the cover of somebody’s R&B album.
And while I’m on the subject of velvet, let me flip what’s left of this “Girl 6” wig-inspired silk press bob in honor of Lamar Harris and Will Henton—who will from this point forward be referred to as the Blue Velvet Brothers. I don’t endorse his Snickers-nougat colored turtleneck, but everything else about that beach-house blue suit was a slay—right down to the matching shoes. Hear me out, Will was very much giving Jeremy Strong in Loro Piana at the Golden Globes. I didn’t see it for Jeremy’s turtleneck either—but just like Will, I was here for every single thing else about the ensemble.
And Lamar’s navy jacket had me ready to rename him DJ Nune Blue. If I had to name a favorite couple, Jimmie Howlett and Angel had it on lock with their impeccably coordinated burgundy.
As for the ladies, Pierre McCleary was giving in her black and gold gown. But my favorite look of the evening was Nikole Shurn’s green dress with the built-in gold belt. Girl, that neckline was plunging—and I wasn’t mad. Too bad my bosom and my spare tire have been warring longer than The Crusades, or I would steal that whole look. But just my luck, the day I try to pull it off my midsection would be peeking through that V-neck like my niece when she’s supposed to be under the covers sleep.
But for real, shout to Jami Ballentine, Keith Griffin, and the whole Delux crew for another Power 100 for the books.
Daytime gala energy. My soul wouldn’t be well if I didn’t shout out the 100 Black Men for their winter-wonderland midday gala Saturday afternoon. When I tell you the folks were so fresh and so clean that I want to rewrite “The Wiz” so that Emerald City has an all-white moment!
Melanie Johnson: first of all, congratulations on your new gig at 5 On Your Side. Secondly, Miss Girl, where did you get that jumpsuit? I’m going to have my seamstress make a version of it for my next wedding ensemble. Somebody hurry up and find me a second husband before I forget what it looks like.
Eric Benét’s holiday heat. Speaking of the holiday spirit, before I scooted over to the Black and White Ball, I spent time with my forever boo Eric Benét at City Winery. His flight was delayed, which meant we had to wait almost an hour to get into our seats while they did an abbreviated soundcheck.
City Winery did their best to be hospitable, passing out complimentary wine and constant apologies. But they should have been passing out Icy Hot and Salonpas lidocaine patches. His fanbase is no longer the type of crowd to be waiting in a line. And by fanbase, I mean me. By the time I got to my seat, these dogs were barking.
But Eric made up for every bit of my discomfort with that wonderful show. I started to follow suit when he took his shoes off halfway through. Do you know how handsome, talented, and charming you have to be to distract me from the fact that your feet look like you’ve been rolling out Christmas pie crusts with your toes? And that’s exactly what he did.
He already had my full attention, but his spot-on impersonation of Prince’s speaking voice locked me in for the rest of the night. And then he took “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and made it all his own. Him and that “elf on the shelf” suit were the reason for the season!