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look book
August 10, 2018

Issa Rae's Best Looks From Awkward Black Girl to Insecure

By Anaka Kaundinya

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Photo: Getty Images

There’s no doubt Issa Rae is a force to be reckoned with. Maybe it’s that fresh Emmy-nomination glow, or how she gracefully tells it like it is, but as of late, Rae’s ability to pull off sophisticated statement looks is in high gear. The writer, actor, and producer, who created and starred in Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and Insecure, continues to pave the way by making black experiences a “regular” event on TV.

Rae is confident and self-aware on the red carpet, often with her hair styled sleek by Felicia Leatherwood. The star’s character Issa on Insecure can’t live without her graphic tees, but offscreen when the Cover Girl face is at the CFDA Awards, she’s in a bold statement Pyer Moss dress or goes for a monochrome Sergio Hudson outfit, and she can’t resist a breezy Ellery patterned dress.

Ahead of Insecure’s Sunday night season-three premiere, scroll through to see Rae in Prabal Gurung, Balmain, Altuzarra and more.

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1 / 50 Photos
July 7, 2018 During HBO's Insecure 'Live Wine Down at Essence' in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Peter Forest/Getty Images for HBO
June 4, 2018 Attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
June 4, 2018 At the CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum in New York City. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
May 31, 2018 Wearing a Narciso Rodriguez while speaking at the "For Your Consideration" Emmy Panel for Insecure in Los Angeles. Photo: Jeff ... May 31, 2018 Wearing a Narciso Rodriguez while speaking at the "For Your Consideration" Emmy Panel for Insecure in Los Angeles. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO
May 7, 2018 Attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on in New Yor... May 7, 2018 Attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on in New York City. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
March 7, 2018 Attends a panel discussion in Los Angeles. Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
March 4, 2018 At the IMDb LIVE Viewing Party in Los Angeles. Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb
February 26, 2018 At the premiere of 'A Wrinkle In Time' in Los Angeles, Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
February 8, 2018 At the 8th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for Guild of Music
February 3, 2018 Attends the Super Saturday Night Concert in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for DirecTV
January 29, 2018 At the premiere of 'Black Panther' in Hollywood, California. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
January 19, 2018 At the Power Of Story Panel: Culture Shift during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Im... January 19, 2018 At the Power Of Story Panel: Culture Shift during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
January 18, 2018 Attends An Artist at the Table Cocktail Reception and Dinner during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Photo: Nichol... January 18, 2018 Attends An Artist at the Table Cocktail Reception and Dinner during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images
January 15, 2018 Attends the 49th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, California. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for NAACP
January 11, 2018 Attends Marie Claire's Image Makers Awards in West Hollywood, California. Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Marie Claire
January 7, 2018 Attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
January 7, 2018 Attends HBO's Official Golden Globe Awards After Party in Los Angeles. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
January 6, 2018 Wearing Rosie Assoulin while attending the 2018 BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images
January 5, 2018 Attends the 18th Annual AFI Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
December 9, 2017 Attends BACARDI, Swizz Beatz and The Dean Collection in Miami, Florida. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for BACARDI
December 8, 2017 Hosts the 8th Annual Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Finale in Miami Beach. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire
November 18, 2017 Attending the Vulture Festival Los Angeles in Hollywood, California. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
November 5, 2017 At the Planned Parenthood Project Los Angeles County’s (PPAP) Politics, Sex, & Cocktails event in Los Angeles. Photo: Tommaso Bod... November 5, 2017 At the Planned Parenthood Project Los Angeles County’s (PPAP) Politics, Sex, & Cocktails event in Los Angeles. Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Planned Parenth
November 3, 2017 Wearing Michael Kors to the inaugural IndieWire Honors event in Los Angeles. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
September 17, 2017 Attends the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
September 8, 2017 Attends Harper's BAZAAR Celebration of 'ICONS By Carine Roitfeld' in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Harp... September 8, 2017 Attends Harper's BAZAAR Celebration of 'ICONS By Carine Roitfeld' in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Harper’s BAZAAR
September 8, 2017 Attends Kate Spade Presentation during New York Fashion Week in New York City. Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images
September 7, 2017 Attends the Refinery29 Third Annual 29Rooms: Turn It Into Art event in New York City. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Refinery29
August 5, 2017 Attends Black Girls Rock! 2017 as an Honoree in Newark, New Jersey. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET
August 5, 2017 During Black Girls Rock! 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET
July 15, 2017 Attends a block party celebrating HBO's new season of 'Insecure' in Inglewood, California. Photo: Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for HBO
July 12, 2017 Attends The 2017 ESPYS in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
June 25, 2017 At the 2017 BET Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Maury Phillips/Getty Images
May 7, 2017 Attends the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
February 26, 2017 Attends IMDb LIVE Viewing Party in Hollywood, California. Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb.com
February 23, 2017 At Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence
February 17, 2017 Attends BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
February 11, 2017 Attends the 48th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, California. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awa
January 26, 2017 Attends the Power Of Story: Art Of Episodic Storytelling in Park City, Utah. Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Sundance Film F
January 8, 2017 At the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
January 8, 2017 At HBO's Official Golden Globe Awards After Party in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
January 7, 2017 Attends the 2017 Film Independent Filmmaker Grant and Spirit Award Nominees Brunch Hollywood, California. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/... January 7, 2017 Attends the 2017 Film Independent Filmmaker Grant and Spirit Award Nominees Brunch Hollywood, California. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
December 7, 2016 At The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast in Hollywood, California. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Th... December 7, 2016 At The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast in Hollywood, California. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Hollywood R
November 14, 2016 Poses backstage during Glamour Women Of The Year 2016 LIVE Summit in Los Angeles. Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
September 23, 2016 Attends the 20th annual Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
September 18, 2016 HBO's Official 2016 Emmy After Party in Los Angeles. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
February 25, 2016 Attends the 2016 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood awards luncheon in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images ... February 25, 2016 Attends the 2016 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood awards luncheon in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for ESSENCE
September 18, 2014 At the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Relativity Medi
October 9, 2014 At People's 'Ones To Watch' Event Los Angeles. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
March 10, 2014 Attends xoJane.com first-ever '25 Most Shameless People on the Web' list celebration in Austin, TX Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images for ... March 10, 2014 Attends xoJane.com first-ever '25 Most Shameless People on the Web' list celebration in Austin, TX Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Say Media/xoJan
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