Palmer was on hand at the American Museum of Natural History on Nov. 2 to host the annual event

NEED TO KNOW

• Keke Palmer is hosting the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards in head-turning style
• For the ceremony, she wore a Bob Mackie-designed look previously worn by Raquel Welch in 1975
• Palmer recently won a Daytime Emmy for her KeyTV series Glam Through the Ages

Keke Palmer is a golden girl.

The actress, 33, turned heads in a vintage golden gown previously worn by Raquel Welch more than half a century ago when she walked the red carpet at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Nov. 2.

Palmer, who is on hand as host for this year’s ceremony, presented by Amazon Fashion, spoke with PEOPLE exclusively on the red carpet about the inspiration behind her outfit. She revealed that it’s the same dress worn by the late American actress during her 1975 performance with Cher on The Cher Show.

“It’s Bob Mackie, vintage. Actually, it’s the dress that Raquel Welch wore when she performed with Cher,” she tells PEOPLE ahead of the award ceremony of her structured gold halter gown with chain detailing. “A little vintage moment,” she emphasizes.

Palmer’s hair brought the glamour! Rocking a bob-length cut, the actress curled her red locks — a bold color transformation that she debuted in 2025 — for a voluminous, old Hollywood vibe.

“Having red hair is way more fun. It’s funny because I was red before, but I don’t think that the color was giving what it’s giving now,” she previously spoke exclusively to PEOPLE of being a redhead at the 2025 Essence Fest in New Orleans. “I’m living my best life and I’m never going back,” she said at the time.

Ahead of the award ceremony, which celebrates the best in American and global fashion, Palmer opened up in a press release about why she’s honored to host the prestigious event.

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“Fashion is one of my favorite ways to tell a story before even saying a word,” she said. “To host this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards presented by Amazon Fashion is such an honor because it is a night that shines a spotlight on the visionary creatives who keep pushing culture forward with their imagination, craftsmanship, and fearless originality.”

She added, “I can’t wait to have some fun and celebrate the talents that are shaping the present and future of American fashion.”

Palmer last attended the CFDA Fashion Awards in 2022. She wore a floral Carolina Herrera ballgown with matching boots. The baby blue number featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and a voluminous skirt with a thigh-high slit to display the matching boots.

She accessorized with delicate jewelry, including a necklace and earrings, and wore her hair swept back off her face.

Most recently, Palmer stepped out for the Daytime Emmys on Oct. 30 in Los Angeles. She wore a strapless, structured red gown with a sequin bodice and ankle-length skirt. She matched the look with sparkling red heels and wore her red hair in a sleek bob. She rounded out the sparkle with a delicate necklace.

She took home the award for Daytime Short Form Program for Glam Through the Ages through her network KeyTV. In an Instagram post after the ceremony, she shared gratitude to all involved.

“@keytvnetwork was once just a thought in my head,” she wrote, adding, “From that thought, we built a community. A space for creatives to PRACTICE, to share their work, to build their portfolios, and to discover what they’re capable of when given the opportunity.”

She continued, “That’s what KeyTV is about. Giving people the KEYS to unlock their potential by creating the space, support, and opportunity to discover it for themselves.”

She concluded her heartfelt post, writing, “I give praise for continued to grow, and I’m so thankful to the @televisionacad for this empowering recognition. What a blessing to see a thought become something that makes room for others to dream. ❤️”

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