For Anyone Who Thinks Issa Rae’s Doing Too Much With Her Chic New Jewelry Line, She Says "Mind Your Business!"

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If you thought Issa Rae was already doing a lot, the actor (hi, Barbie!), writer, and producer just added one more accomplishment to her list of wins: accessories designer. Fine jeweler Cast tapped the multi-hyphenate for a 22-piece assortment of stackable bracelets, geometric rings, imaginative hoops, and pendant necklaces called Braeve.

In celebration of the launch, which is today (!!), Issa chatted with Cosmo about the line—which ranges from $250 to $5,900—fashion, creativity, confidence, and her advice for anyone who thinks she’s doing too much. Shop the pieces she loves most, then dig into this convo below!

x Issa Rae Bare Power Cuff Bracelet

x Issa Rae Midi Braeve Hoop Earrings

The Braeve Pendant Necklace

x Issa Rae Bare Braeve Huggie Hoop Earrings

Love the collection’s play on your name. Why did you choose to call the collection “Braeve”?

Oh, because I feel like jewelry is my armor. It makes me feel powerful. It makes me feel like I belong in some of the rooms that I step in. I do feel like a very brave person generally, and there’s a vulnerability to bravery that I feel like expresses itself through this collection too. Like, in the insecurity that I’ve felt in the past—imposter syndrome—that I didn’t deserve my particular career. There’s an element of bravery to accepting that “No, I do. And I can step into these rooms.” A lot of that thought process went behind this jewelry to be able to express yourself through these bold pieces.

Which piece speaks to the season you’re in now?

Without a doubt, the Braeve pendant! It’s a flip necklace that can speak to all moods for me. When I flip it on the all-black side, that means I don’t want to be bothered. If it’s on the gold side, I’m approachable. And I can also put it, you know, like, in the middle, and I don’t know what you’re gonna get.

I’m in my creation mode right now where I’ve been doing a lot of writing, a lot of refining. In that brainstorming, I’m always fidgeting with something and this pendant is like...fidgetable! I’m just constantly turning it. I’m doing it now as I’m talking. It just allows me to get those creative juices flowing.

How does your personal style contribute to your readiness to take on the day and to celebrate your wins?

I keep it as simple as possible. I don’t like to think about what I’m wearing every day. So that’s why I have a uniform of jeans, T-shirts, and Chucks—and then I accentuate that with jewelry or with hair and makeup. Jeans and a T-shirt can go anywhere.

What do you say to people who think you have to stay in a specific lane?

What works for you may not work for me. It’s great to stay in one lane if that is how you operate. I respect and appreciate that. For me, I love exploring different lanes and I like to extend my focus in different areas and that’s what makes me feel creatively free. So, basically, I’d tell them, “Mind your business!”

Okay, random, but let’s hear it: What are you bingeing right now?

Man! There are so many shows that I wanna binge—like I wanna binge Presumed Innocence because everybody keeps talking about that one. But really every single time I fall into almost bingeing a scripted show, they release a new season of, like, Too Hot to Handle or Love Is Blind. I think the last thing I binged was Love Is Blind UK and the reunion.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

You can shop Issa Rae’s collection on Cast’s website and select Nordstrom stores now.

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