I’m no cultural expert, but I’ve always believed people naturally gravitate toward the fashion and beauty trends of the era that shaped their childhood. Personally, I’ve always loved the relaxed silhouettes and iconic hairstyles of the late 1970s. And judging by her latest look, Keke Palmer seems completely captivated by the playful beauty trends of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Although Palmer was still very young during that era, she appears to be embracing the glittery, experimental, and ultra-fun aesthetic that defined the time — and she’s doing it flawlessly.

While the actress has recently been embracing a pixie-cut phase, she proved this week that she can still switch effortlessly into dramatic long-hair glamour. Palmer was photographed Monday while leaving a building in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, but the look felt less like modern street style and more like a scene pulled straight out of a 1998 music video.

The entire vibe channeled classic girl-group energy reminiscent of the Spice Girls, B*Witched, and early Destiny's Child.

Her outfit already leaned heavily into late-’90s nostalgia, featuring embroidered low-rise jeans, a cropped satin top, and chunky accessories. But it was the beauty styling that truly transported the look back in time.

Palmer styled her hair with braided cornrows that transitioned into two oversized, messy space buns filled with dramatic swoops, teased texture, and sparkling crystal clips. Adding even more retro flair, she wore two perfectly curled face-framing tendrils — a signature hairstyle detail from the era.

Her makeup completed the nostalgic transformation. Glossy lips, shimmering eye shadow, rosy blush, and thinly shaped brows all echoed beauty trends that dominated magazines and red carpets in the late ’90s. Even the color palette coordinated perfectly with her vibrant fuchsia top.

What makes the look especially successful is that Palmer manages to capture the essence of the era without appearing costume-like. Instead of looking like she’s attending a themed party, she modernizes the aesthetic in a way that feels stylish, wearable, and fresh.

The result is a perfect blend of nostalgia and contemporary fashion — proof that some beauty trends never truly disappear.