Last Week’s Best Beauty Looks Took A Unique Spin On Retro Glam

Black women have long set the tempo for beauty trends, consistently revisiting the past and reshaping it into something unmistakably current. Last week, that creative instinct surfaced again through retro-inspired glam beauty looks that drew from the ’60s and ’90s, yet remained grounded in present-day confidence. From dramatic cat-eyes to sculpted flipped bobs and graphic liner, these moments proved that nostalgia, when filtered through individuality, becomes innovation.

There’s something especially powerful about watching familiar references return with renewed intention. Time and again, Black celebrities demonstrate that looking back can actually move beauty forward. Although each detail carried echoes of memory, none of the looks felt like a costume. Instead, through sharp lines, deliberate structure, and sculpted silhouettes, they reinterpreted history without losing individuality. In their hands, retro codes feel fresh again, reminding us that glam never truly disappears; it simply waits for reinvention.

The Looks

Makeup

Keke Palmer stepped confidently into full-glam territory with a look rooted in classic screen siren drama. Her complexion appeared smooth and matte, subtly sculpted with precise contour and lifted by warm peachy-pink blush. However, the true focal point was the eye. A bold black wing extended outward in a razor-sharp cat-eye, mirrored by definition along the lower lash line and framed by voluminous lashes. Meanwhile, neutral matte lips grounded the overall effect, allowing the liner to command attention. The result was a modern interpretation of vintage glamour—structured, self-assured, and deeply aligned with retro-inspired glam beauty.

In contrast, Storm Reid offered a fresher, more directional take. Her two-tone eyeliner, paired inky black with a brown-toned accent, created a shape that felt architectural yet wearable. Rather than leaning into full drama, she balanced the liner with glowing, youthful skin and glossy lips. Consequently, the look blended minimalism with bold artistry, proving that retro influence can live powerfully in subtle detail.

Hairstyle

If the makeup nodded to cinema and mod eras, the hairstyles amplified those references even further. Monica Denise embraced a flipped bob that instantly evoked nostalgia. Her jet-black hair featured a rounded fringe cut straight across the brow, while the ends curved outward in a sculpted 1960s-style flip. Additionally, a half-up crown detail added lift and quiet attitude, channeling both vintage bombshell energy and ’90s pop nostalgia. The silhouette was playful yet controlled, a clear example of retro language rewritten for today.

Similarly, Teyana Taylor leaned into structure with her “bell bob.” The shoulder-length cut flowed sleekly from the roots before flipping dramatically outward at the ends, creating its signature curved shape. A defined middle part framed her face evenly, allowing the silhouette to stand without distraction. While the style carried echoes of ’90s hair flips, its clean execution gave it contemporary clarity.