I’ve always been fascinated by Keke Palmer’s red carpet style, and her outfit choice for the 2024 NAACP Image Awards—a borrowed-from-the-boys tuxedo suit—did not disappoint.
Keke Palmer, real name Lauren Keyana, is a style chameleon with the natural talent to easily switch between different styles. I love how she’s never afraid to experiment with her looks and take fashion risks, always giving fans something to look forward to whenever she sets foot on the red carpet.
Her NAACP Image Awards tuxedo suit, a testament to her eclectic style sense, is something only a few can pull off, in my opinion.
Keke Palmer nails menswear look at the 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on March 16, 2024 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
A Nod to Vintage Glamour
The 30-year-old actress looked sharp in a Tom Ford tuxedo suit, channeling her inner Big Boss. In case you didn’t know, Big Boss is Palmer’s 2023 visual album, narrating her real-life struggles as she navigates a male-dominated music industry.
Keke’s ensemble consisted of a white dinner jacket with satin shawl lapels, a white dress shirt with black buttons, and a black bowtie from the American luxury fashion house Tom Ford.
The Details Make the Look
Teamed with a wide black satin cummerbund and a large red rose pinned on her jacket’s lapel, the exquisite outfit exuded a vintage feel. Though the wide-leg pants by Dolce & Gabbana gave the look a dash of contemporary flair, I still think the retro vibe she was going for is impressive.
Keke Palmer looks sharp in a white tuxedo jacket with a white shirt and a black bowtie from Tom Ford teamed with a pair of wide-leg trousers and pumps by Dolce & Gabbana (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Adding a black cane to the ensemble, the Alice star perfectly finished the vintage entertainer look.
Honoring Entertainment Legends
In a quick red-carpet interview with Terrence J before the ceremony, the mom-of-one said that her outfit for the night was “a little ode to entertainers, the vaudevillians, the Sammy David Jr.’s, Julie Andrews, a little Victor/Victoria.”
Stylist Seth Chernoff completed Keke Palmer’s look, adding a pair of black Dolce & Gabbana pumps and a few diamond stud earrings to give the menswear outfit a sense of femininity.
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Beauty in Balance
I adore how her glam team, Kenya Alexis and Lace Assasin, enhanced her beauty, striking the perfect balance between macho and feminine elements.
Lace Assassin prepped Palmer’s hair with the Maui moisture coconut shampoo and conditioner. After blow-drying her tresses, he straightened them with a ceramic flat iron before sculpting her ponytail with hairspray. Using the Maui moisture flax seed edge control, he smoothed the edges back and twisted her hair in a neat bun.
Kenya Alexis, meanwhile, used vegan makeup by Merit to give Palmer a “cool toned makeup look.” She used the Great Skin Instant Glow Serum to give the actress plumper and brighter skin before adding The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick in the shade Amber to even out her skin tone.
After prepping her skin, Alexis gave Palmer a bronzed glow with the Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer in shade Monarch and the Day Glow Highlighting Balm in Citrine. She used the Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara in the shade Perfect Black and the Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color in Nelson to draw attention to her eyes, and she rounded out her glam with ombre mauve lipstick.
Keke Palmer glams up with smokey eyeshadow, dramatic lashes, mauve lipstick, and a sleek bun (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Keke Palmer at the NAACP Image Awards
Keke Palmer was up for four awards at this year’s NAACP Image Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special for Big Boss, Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, and Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast for Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. Unfortunately, she went home empty-handed.
Family Support on the Red Carpet
Despite her losses, Palmer’s dad, Larry, remained by her side throughout the ceremony. He supported his daughter, wearing a three-piece black suit, a pleated white shirt, a tie with a crystal brooch, a white pocket square, and black leather oxford shoes.
Keke Palmer is joined on the NAACP Image Awards red carpet by her father, Larry Palmer, who looks dapper in a three-piece suit (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)