Keke Palmer, star of Jordan Peele’s latest scary flick Nope, wore a look to the premiere that makes us say “Yep.” Stepping out on the black carpet at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre on July 18, Palmer combined about six different trends to create an ensemble that reminds us of the days of TLC.
Palmer, our latest cover girl, flaunted her midriff with a figure-accentuating cropped white corset top and low-slung black skirt. But the devil is in the details. The skirt (we’re not sure which designer her stylist, Mikiel Benyamin, tapped for this ’fit) seems to be made from women’s slacks. There’s a buttoned pocket on her thigh and leather suspenders just kinda hanging out by her hips. An answer to the day-to-night challenge that we hadn’t thought of, TBH!
The rest of the outfit is more glamorous. Palmer’s hair is in long braids, and she’s got high, high platform strappy heels over sheer stockings, leather gloves, and a bracelet and necklace made of diamonds. Hoops and a natural makeup look complete the ensemble.
The plot of Nope—seemingly a sci-fi…thriller?—was top secret, but Keke Palmer was allowed to talk about what Peele’s movies, like Get Out and Us, have meant to her as a Black woman in the audience and in the industry. “What I love about Jordan Peele is that he normalizes Black people in leading roles. And being in the leading role is no commentary on being Black. Obviously, there was that connection with Get Out, but that wasn’t the case with Us. It’s not the pivotal connection of his work. The most consistent piece in his work is its social commentary that the audience can chew on afterward,” she told Glamour.
“However, it is about normalizing and putting Blacks and people of color at the forefront. Telling their narratives and stories effortlessly that includes their culture but doesn’t tie their identity to being Black in a way that’s victimized or subservient. It’s important for creators like Jordan Peele, actors, and all of us, to continue to push that envelope as it pertains to Black representation being very robust because we are robust people.”