Issa Rae Wants You to Stop Waiting for Men to Buy You Jewelry
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To say that Issa Rae is in her mogul era would be an understatement. In addition to writing, producing, and starring in the biggest films and television shows, the 39-year-old superstar also has an impressive list of businesses under her belt: her haircare line Sienna Naturals, her Prosecco company Viarae, andāthe newest additionāher 22-piece assortment of earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets she designed with fine jewelry collective Cast.
āThe storytelling when it comes to jewelry is often way too male-centric,ā Issa Rae exclusively tells ELLE. āBut I believe that we donāt have to wait for men to buy us jewelry. For me, this is an investment in who I want to be.ā Cast Jewelryās co-founder Rachel Skelly shares Raeās sentiments, so it was only natural for the two to come together to create a collaboration.
Raeās love for Castās fine jewels isnāt new. In fact, she has worn the brand quite a few times, including during one of the most special moments in any film iconās career: the Academy Awards. But Raeās also a firm believer in not waiting until thereās a special occasion to wear your best pieces.
āIām a jeans, T-shirt, and Chucks kind of girl,ā Rae adds. āAnd jewelry is my way of showing up and feeling like Iām armed for the day.ā
If youāve followed Raeās story, youāll know that the journey to where she is today hasnāt been easy. āI had aāno pun intendedāinsecurity in the past of being put in these big rooms and always asking myself what am I doing here,ā Rae admits. āI felt shoddy. I felt like I wasnāt showing up as who was expectedālike I wasnāt worthy of being there. But once I started investing in these quality pieces that represented me, it felt like I was becoming who I was supposed to be.ā So the Braeve collection came about as this idea of jewelry being a form of armor for Rae and those who she speaks to through her work. āWith the right piece on, I felt like I could face the day and be brave, from mornings in the office to nights at events,ā says Rae.
For example, when Rae did the big chop, she explained how important it was for her to have a great pair of hoop earrings on hand. āAs a former bald girl, once I shaved my head, hoops were the only item where other people would be like, āOh, yeah, sheās a girl.ā So I told the Cast team that I needed to design a great pair for this collection because now theyāve become a part of my aesthetic no matter what.ā
In addition to the artistic hoops, youāll also find pendant necklaces, stackable bracelets, and geometric rings on the roster. Some of the designs feature Cast-created diamonds and precious onyx, and itās all sculpted with either 14-karat gold or sterling silver metals.
This is definitely a fine jewelry collection where you can treat yourself without having any guilt, because the beautiful pieces are sleek enough for everyday where.
Shop Raeās designs on Castās website and select Nordstrom stores now.
x Issa Rae The Braeve Ring
x Issa Rae The Humble Shine Pendant
x Issa Rae The Bare Power Cuff
x Issa Rae The Braeve Pendant Necklace
x Issa Rae The Braeve Hoop
x Issa Rae The Bare Braeve Huggie
x Issa Rae The Armor Cuff
x Issa Rae The Power Ring
x Issa Rae The Humble Shine Studs
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