Keke Palmer Brings Platform Power to 2025 Essence Festival, Pairing Saint Laurent Heels With Capri Trend

Keke Palmer sported a black pair of Saint Laurent platform sandals at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans, while embracing the capri pants resurgence on Sunday.

As part of a tribute to the “Waiting to Exhale” soundtrack, Palmer performed Brandy’s song “Sittin’ Up in My Room” at the Caesars Superdome. She proved she knows her way around the stage in heels, opting for a towering pair of Saint Laurent sandals, specifically a platform version of the French brand’s Le Scandale style. The silhouette includes a thin peep-toe opening in front, aligning with the square toe, and slender straps encircling the ankle. She looked to be wearing a lustrous black satin iteration of the shoe. A popular style, Brooks Nader recently wore a beige leather version of the platform Le Scandale to a wedding.

Palmer’s shoes were on full display thanks to her capri pants, which are a hot item in fashion this year — from Hailey Bieber wearing a polka dot pair in New York to Renée Zellweger wearing a black leather pair in London. Palmer went with a classic tight black pair, which she paired with a sequined bralette in a silvery hue. Her cascading auburn curly hairstyle — her signature hair color lately — added a splash of color to her look.

Palmer’s appearance at the festival follows the release of her album “Just Keke” on June 20. She recently went on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where she performed a medley of songs from the album, wearing star-adorned Rene Caovilla sandals with a 2002 Versace dress.