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, and—the newest addition—her 22-piece assortment of earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets she designed with fine jewelry collective Cast.
“The storytelling when it comes to jewelry is often way too male-centric,” Issa Rae exclusively tells ELLE. “But I believe that we don’t have to wait for men to buy us jewelry. For me, this is an investment in who I want to be.” Cast Jewelry’s co-founder Rachel Skelly shares Rae’s sentiments, so it was only natural for the two to come together to create a collaboration.
Rae’s love for Cast’s fine jewels isn’t new. In fact, she has worn the brand quite a few times, including during one of the most special moments in any film icon’s career: the Academy Awards. But Rae’s also a firm believer in not waiting until there’s a special occasion to wear your best pieces.
“I’m a jeans, T-shirt, and Chucks kind of girl,” Rae adds. “And jewelry is my way of showing up and feeling like I’m armed for the day.”
If you’ve followed Rae’s story, you’ll know that the journey to where she is today hasn’t been easy. “I had a—no pun intended—insecurity in the past of being put in these big rooms and always asking myself what am I doing here,” Rae admits. “I felt shoddy. I felt like I wasn’t showing up as who was expected—like I wasn’t 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.” 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. “With the right piece on, I felt like I could face the day and be brave, from mornings in the office to nights at events,” 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. “As a former bald girl, once I shaved my head, hoops were the only item where other people would be like, ‘Oh, yeah, she’s a girl.’ So I told the Cast team that I needed to design a great pair for this collection because now they’ve become a part of my aesthetic no matter what.”
In addition to the artistic hoops, you’ll also find pendant necklaces, stackable bracelets, and geometric rings on the roster. Some of the designs feature Cast-created diamonds and precious onyx, and it’s 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 Rae’s designs on Cast’s website and select Nordstrom stores now.
Alexis Bennett Parker is the Commerce Content Lead at ELLE.com. In this newly created role, she oversees all shopping-related stories online, from fashion-forward trend pieces to the most coveted beauty buys on the market right now. Alexis has worked in the publishing space for 11 years, and seven of those years have been dedicated to helping shoppers make informed purchases—no buyer’s remorse here! Before joining the team at ELLE.com, she worked in the editorial departments of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and InStyle, to name a few magazines. Not only has Alexis worked closely with several brands and tested hundreds of products over the course of her career, but she’s also won awards for her work as a shopping journalist. Namely, she was an honoree at the Pynk Magazine Gala in 2023, received the Condé Nast Commerce Content Award for Best Article by a New Hire in 2021, and was included on the Top 40 Under 40 Heir’s List in 2018.