Actor Karrueche Tran has been having a busy 2021 so far. The last season of her TNT series, Claws-which follows a group of manicurists working at a Florida nail shop-airs in December, and she’s currently appearing on another BET show titled Games People Play, a drama set around exploring the highly-competitive sports world. “I’m also still busy creating new designs for my jewelry brand, Kae by Karrueche,” she tells Vogue. “And I’m acting in an independent sci-fi film coming [soon].”

Tran also jetted to New York City this week to attend the CFDA Awards, held at the Pool Room and hosted by Emily Blunt. It was her first time attending the awards ceremony, but Tran felt it was especially important to highlight and uplift fashion’s design talent this year (she’s a big fashion fan herself). “It’s been a crazy year and a half, and these designers have found a way to push through while remaining creative and innovative,” Tran says. “It’s a pleasure to see them get their roses. Events like these provide a platform that celebrates individuality and creativity. It’s good to have them back.”



Attending the CFDAs with Lionne designer Latoia Fitzgerald, a close friend of hers, made the awards ceremony especially meaningful. “Not to be biased-she is my friend, but I love the brand for so much more than that,” Tran says. “I see how dedicated she is to her line. I see the care she puts into every detail, fabric choice, and cut. She really cares about this, and through her designs, you can really tell.” Considering they went as each other’s dates, both Fitzgerald and Tran had to make sure their looks were cohesive. They landed on Fitzgerald wearing a black dress with a tuxedo lapel, and Tran a black suit. “We were on the same page in regards to a suit,” says Tran. “For me, a lot of the time I am very glam and feminine, so I wanted to do a very masculine vibe.”

Though both of their looks were classic and had suiting elements, they opted to focus on strong silhouettes: Fitzgerald’s dress featured a plunging neckline, while Tran’s harp suit had cutouts at the waist. “Last night was about her, and I wanted to make sure I complemented her look,” Tran says. “I love the cut and how it fits-it's masculine but not overpowering. The collared shirt was also added after our first fitting, and I'm so happy with the way it turned out.”

While she enjoyed dressing up, Tran’s favorite part of the evening was seeing her friend Fitzgerald get some love and admiration from fellow high-profile guests. “It was both Latoia and myself’s first time attending the CFDAs, and I’m so grateful to experience that with her,” Tran says. “Seeing people like Christopher John Rogers, Anok, and Carlos Nazario celebrate her and Lionne was so inspiring and beautiful to watch. To be there, and to be with a Black woman, was a moment I’ll always remember!”