The Old Soul Keke Palmer: Dwells in the 80s, 90s, & Today
Remember little Akeelah, from Akeelah and the Bee? Well those days are long gone as she substitutes the reading glasses and Micro-Braids for shades and stilettos. The actress, singer, dancer, and as she likes to call herself, “creator” makes a grand entrance in the world of fashion. With inspiration from the eighties and nineties, she makes a spin on today’s modern style. Keke doesn’t follow the trend she is the trend!
Lady of the 80's
“Stop, Hammer time!” Keke is tuning her inner MC Hammer in this photograph with Nike metallic workout pants and grey Nike sports bra. Her foot action consists of black sneakers. She is wearing a white jacket, which contrasts the grey ensemble. Her haircut reveals her the eyes and cheekbone structure, as for makeup the lips are gold and eye shadow is grey. In this look, the Nike pants makes the outfit, they catch the eye. The remainder of the pieces Keke is wearing compliments the pants; staying true to the color scheme, grey. Ms. Palmer doesn’t need to hit the gym in this outfit; she’s working it out just fine!
Pinstripes are right? Yes, Ms. Palmer makes the pinstripes relevant again, in her baggy, pinstripe, black suit, made by the designer Vivienne Westwood. The bottoms stop just at the ankle, leaving room for her black pointed toe Christian Louboutins heels. On the top, a grey graphic tee, designed with a spiral-shaped clock and a black pinstriped blazer sits just off the shoulder. Her eye makeup is more on the dramatic side, as Keke “smizes” with the smoky eye. The maroon lipstick, with a matte finish gives this classic look a pop of color, not to mention her jewelry. Keke’s finger candy are all gold, having a ring on every finger with nude pointed fingernails. In hand, Keke holds a small black purse. The hairstyle, a short haircut with bangs above the brow works with the pinstripe very nicely. By keeping the short haircut the pinstripes are enough to stand on their own, making Keke’s styling choices critical. She kept it simple and easy with this ensemble, allowing the pinstripes speak for themselves.
This ScreamQueen’s pants scream the eighties. The off-white colored high-waist pants are pleated with solid black stripes. The black belt and silver buckle, accessorizes the pants drawing attention to the mid-section. Keke Palmer is wearing a black crop top and necklaces the color of black and gold. The black necklace stops at the mid-section with a tassel decorated with silver. The gold necklace, which is just at the collarbone is Middle Eastern inspired. The orange overlay has black designs and black tassels, looking Middle Eastern as well and makes the white and black outfit more vibrant. On her feet are black, suede, and closed-toed heels. Her hair: long, black, and spiral curls are flowing just as the orange overlay. The makeup is natural with a nude lip and smoky eye. This ensemble is modernized with the long, curled hair and black crop top, leaving the rest nothing but the eighties.
Who run the World? Girls! Keke Palmer looks empowered in this look, as her backdrop is an enlarged globe. She owns the long jet-black straight hair, and natural makeup. Her blouse by Carven Paris is white collared and is multi-color. The blouse is an array of dark blue, light blue, cream, pink and burnt orange. Held up with a drawstring, the pleated burnt orange Capri pants makes the blouse work due to the common color of burnt orange. Her shoes are electric blue Louboutins, polishing this look. No jewelry is necessary in this look, because the colors are what are important in this look. This is a pure example of how having numerous colors is acceptable; it is how you use color in the wardrobe that matters.
90's Baby, Stuck in the 90's
If this look isn’t the nineties, I don’t know what is. From the over sized puffy jacket to the black leather skirt, it just works. In order to make a nineties look work it is important to choose your pieces wisely, as Keke has done here. Her short jet-black hair is the perfect length, not attracting too much attention. The white baseball cap brings out the red jacket, as it shares the color of white. The puffy, red, black and white jacket gives off a chill and athletic vibe that makes the white baseball cap work. The black leather skirt has a zipper, which is more on the formal side, however it makes the ensemble look effortless, as if Keke did not try, which is the intention. The white Adidas sneakers were very popular in the nineties, again great choice from Keke. The small detail of the sneakers being white is a smart choice because they do not take attention away from the jacket. Her makeup is subtle but pops with a red matte lip and dramatic eyes. Keke’s only jewelry is a small gold bracelet to her right. Ms. Palmer is #unbothered, you would be too if your outfit looked this good!
If you haven’t noticed by now, the short jet-black hair style is Keke Palmer’s go to look! The haircut shows off her bone structure and elongates her neck, making her look taller. Her makeup is natural and her only jewelry consists of a silver long necklace that reaches her mid-section. The off-white, distressed tank top stops at the mid-section, showing off the belly button. She is wearing washed out boyfriend blue jeans that are also distressed. The baggy look with rips gives off a more relaxed look along with the cream sweater tied at the waist. On the feet, are nude, open-toed, strapped heels. Trying to achieve this look? This look is chill but sexy, and just a few pieces could give you that same look! Baggy and distressed may seem bad, but they are actually great pieces to have in your wardrobe, when trying to accomplish the nineties vibe.
This look is an example of how Keke Palmer is versatile and has the ability to not only achieve a nineties casual look, but she also has the ability to achieve a more formal nineties look. Keke’s dress is created buy Giulietta Resort. This white dress is short, showing off the leg. The sleeve stops at the wrist as the remainder of the dress contours the body. The dress is outlined in black above the mid-section as well as the bottom of the dress. On top, a black v- shape is created and follows through to underneath the arm. The lavender plays along with the theme of a sweet look, just as the hair. Keke’s hair is long, jet-black, and with bangs. Her makeup is natural with a winged eye, and nude lip. Her accessories are a black choker by Vintage, and two black rings, one on each middle finger. Her clutch by Edie Parker is glittered with sliver and black. Her stilettos designed by Stuart Weitzman are the colors of black and iridescent that is strapped at the ankle. Keke Palmer works this sweet but sassy look by staying true to the nineties.
TLC Scrubs much? This ensemble resembles TLC’s Scrubs music video. The astronautic appeal makes it look futuristic just as TLC created in their hit music video. The orange puffy coat is long, outlined in black. Underneath she has on a fishnet turtleneck long sleeved shirt. Underneath that, Keke is wearing a light green strapless bra, which also plays along with the futuristic look. On the bottom, are black skinny jeans that are cut at the knee and her shoes are black pointed toe heels. Her makeup consists of a dramatic eye due to the heavy eyeliner. Her lipstick is gold. Keke’s hair also plays along with the futuristic look being a grey, short haircut. Ms. Keke definitely doesn’t want any scrubs, especially if they can’t dress!
Modern Day Cinderella
Keke Palmer was on Broadway as Cinderella but it’s no surprise as to why. In this first look, she looks like a modern day Cinderella in her black dress by the designers Bec and Bridge. The top of the dress gives an illusion of a bodysuit, and a skirt. The top cuts into the mid-section and the bottom stops below the knee. Spaghetti straps, exposing Keke’s back, support the entire dress. Her heels are by Stuart Weitzman, black and open-toed. As fabulous as the dress is her hair attracts the most attention in this photograph. The jet-black, big, wet, and curled look gives the ensemble an edge. This hairstyle falls onto Keke’s shoulders as well as in her face. Her makeup consists of dark eye shadow with extended lashes and a nude lip. This look makes Keke look classy with a touch of spice.
Looking angelic in this ensemble, Keke is wearing a linen white shirt, with rolled up sleeves, leaving only two buttons buttoned. The white skinny jeans are ripped stopping at the ankle. Her shoes are silver heels that strap around the ankle. Her hair is long, black, wet and wavy. As for makeup, Keke’s pink blush highlights her cheeks while her eye shadow gives off a smoky eye. For her lip, a light shimmery gloss. The white nail polish is a perfect finish, making this ensemble look simple but clean!
The very beautiful Keke Palmer looks majestic in this look created by Georges Chakra. This plum jumpsuit makes her skin glow and shows off her athletic stature. This ensemble is horizontally crossed at the front, falling off the shoulder. There are also straps falling down vertically. The bottom half of the jumpsuit are form fitting Capri pants. Her black pointed-toe Louboutin heels make this look classic and strong. Her makeup is straight with a lose curl at the end. The makeup highlights the cheeks with a gold shimmer. The lips are a matte plum, matching perfectly with the jumpsuit. Her clutch is black and gold, which was designed by Corto Moltedo. This ensemble is strong and sexy, as the pose says it all.
Keke Palmer, born on August 26, 1993, was meant to live in the nineties, as the majority of her fashion derives from this incredible era. In some looks she resembles the singers Monica and Aaliyah and after while, she’ll convince you that she’s experienced the nineties full-fledge. She does nineties fashion justice by paying close attention to detail and not only dressing as if she is present in the nineties, but embodies the feeling and swag of this great time. Even though she enjoys the eras of the eighties and nineties she has a way of taking trends of today and incorporating the eighties and nineties, and makes it still look relevant. She’s an innovator. She’s a star. She’s Keke Palmer, and simply cannot be defined.
Article Written by: Destiny Diggs
Follow me on Twitter @destiny_diggs
Photos Courtesy of: Keke Palmer’s Instagram, and Getty Images Credit: Jason LaVeris
