Law Roach's Journey To Becoming A Stylist

Law Roach, the self-described image architect, is an American fashion stylist known for his work with artists such as Zendaya, Celine Dion, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Roach grew up in Chicago, where he started his career as a vintage broker, selling vintage finds out of the trunk of his car. He eventually opened a vintage clothing store called Deliciously Vintage, which attracted high-profile customers, some of whom engaged his services as a stylist. Roach's big break came when he began working with Zendaya in 2011, and the two have since become fashion's most bankable duo, with Roach creating iconic looks for Zendaya both on and off the red carpet.

Law Roach's early life and career beginnings

Law Roach grew up in Chicago, where he started his career as a vintage broker. He was the eldest of five children and was raised by a single mother on the South Side of the city. There were times when the family did not have enough money for food, but his mother always kept them fed.

Roach's introduction to vintage shopping, or what his grandmother called "junking", began when he would go through the women's racks out of curiosity and buy a few things. As his collection grew, he stashed the clothes in the boot of his car. Before long, he was loaning things to his most stylish girlfriends, and when they began fighting over pieces at makeshift boot sales, he realised he could turn this into a business.

He went on to open a vintage clothing store in Chicago called Deliciously Vintage, which he ran with a friend. The store got national media attention when Kanye West stopped in to pick up a gift for his then-girlfriend, Amber Rose.

Roach's first paying client as a stylist was R&B singer K. Michelle. However, his big break came when he started working with Zendaya in 2011. At the time, Zendaya was a 14-year-old Disney star, and Roach was an inexperienced stylist. They collaborated on looks for the premiere of Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never', and have been working together ever since.

Roach moved to Los Angeles to work with Zendaya full-time and soon became a sought-after stylist for other celebrities, including Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, and Ariana Grande.

How he became a stylist for Zendaya

Law Roach, also known as the "image architect", has been working with Zendaya since she was a teenager. He has been her stylist for 13 years, and she has been his only client.

Roach has helped Zendaya ascend the Hollywood ranks from the Disney Channel to an Emmy Award-winning actress for Euphoria and a blockbuster movie star in Dune. He has also helped her achieve fashion icon status, with Zendaya becoming the youngest winner of the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Fashion Icon Award in 2021.

Roach and Zendaya's relationship began when nobody wanted to lend clothes to the young actress. Roach, who owned a vintage store in Chicago, stepped in and offered pieces from his store or other vintage items. He devised a "plan of attack" for her style, and the two refer to their relationship as "big ideas, small details".

Roach has styled Zendaya for numerous high-profile events, including the 2019 Met Gala, where he appeared as her fairy godmother, and the press tour for her 2021 film Dune, creating looks inspired by the movie. He also served as the costume designer for her 2021 film Malcom & Marie.

Despite Roach's public declaration of retirement from celebrity styling in 2023, he has continued to work with Zendaya. He clarified that while he was bowing out of celebrity styling, he would still be a part of her creative team in some capacity.

His work with other celebrities

Law Roach's celebrity clients include Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Tom Holland, Hunter Schafer, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Kerry Washington, Lindsay Lohan, Hailee Steinfeld, Bella Hadid, Anne Hathaway, Tiffany Haddish, Naomie Harris, Tracee Ellis Ross, Demi Lovato, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mariah Carey, Kylie Jenner, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Lewis Hamilton, Celine Dion, Anya Taylor-Joy, LaLa Anthony, Willow Shields, Ruby Rose, Jessie J, Monica, Lewis Hamilton, Alton Mason, Kehlani, and Hunter Schafer.

Roach has also styled 10 people for the 2021 Met Gala, including himself.

Roach's first paying client as a stylist was K. Michelle.

His retirement from styling

On 14 March 2023, Law Roach announced his retirement from styling via an Instagram post, stating:

> My cup is empty. Thank you to everyone who've supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, I'm so grateful for you all. If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately, it’s not! The politics, the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win... I'm out.

In the post, he clarified that he would continue to work with Zendaya, stating, "So y'all really think I'm breaking up with Z... we are forever!" He later told *The Cut* that he felt it was best to "walk away from the industry for a while" to focus on his mental and physical health.

In an interview with *The Cut* three days after his initial retirement announcement, Roach cited burnout and a desire to live a happier life as reasons for his retirement. He expressed his frustration with the challenges he faced in the industry, including "false narratives perpetuated by gatekeepers and intermediaries," which led to him losing clients. He also mentioned that he "got overwhelmed and never got a chance to properly grieve a great loss," referring to the death of his nephew in 2021.

Despite his retirement, Roach remained busy, continuing to style Zendaya for the press tours of "Dune: Part Two" and "Challengers" in 2024. He also styled Céline Dion for the 2024 Grammy Awards and the cover of French Vogue, marking her first appearances following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome in 2022.

In addition to his work with Zendaya and Dion, Roach published a book in 2023 titled "How to Build a Fashion Icon," offering styling tips for those looking to dress like a fashion icon.

While Roach stepped away from styling, he remained involved in the fashion industry and continued to make appearances. In August 2023, he attended a fashion showcase where he had an encounter with Rachel Zoe, another celebrity stylist who had stepped back from the role in 2014. Zoe shared her understanding of the challenges of making styling work as a business, as clients typically want the stylist present and not their assistants.

Roach's retirement generated speculation and shock within the fashion industry, with many still disbelieving the news. His success as a stylist and the impact he had on the industry, particularly in working with and elevating Black talent, made it hard for people to imagine him stepping away.

However, Roach's retirement was short-lived. In 2024, he returned to the spotlight, attending New York Fashion Week and sitting in the front row at the Alaïa show. He also continued to work with Zendaya, styling her for the Louis Vuitton show in Paris.

His legacy and impact on the industry

Law Roach's legacy and impact on the industry are significant and far-reaching. He has built a multi-million dollar global styling business that spans various aspects of fashion, including red carpet and celebrity dressing, editorials, campaigns, and design. Roach has also fashioned himself into a public persona, gaining a level of celebrity and attention that has led to cover stories with himself as the sole subject.

One of Roach's most notable impacts is his work as a storyteller and his ability to create iconic fashion moments for his clients. He is known for digging deep into designers' archives and sourcing unique pieces that honour Black female style legends from earlier eras. Roach's signature technique, "method dressing," involves creating looks that play with themes and motifs drawn from a performer's role, resulting in memorable red-carpet moments.

Roach has also been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry, particularly for Black talent. He has been vocal about the way the industry treats Black creatives and has used his platform to advocate for change. Roach's work with Zendaya, Céline Dion, and other prominent celebrities has helped to elevate their fashion profiles and create iconic looks that have sparked conversations about style, diversity, and representation.

In addition to his styling work, Roach has made a significant impact as a judge on reality television competitions such as "America's Next Top Model" and "Legendary." He has also been an editor of British Vogue, contributing to various international issues. Roach's influence extends beyond just styling; he has become a fashion industry insider and tastemaker, with his own distinct point of view.

Roach's retirement announcement in 2023 came as a shock to many, but he clarified that he would continue working with Zendaya, with whom he has a long-standing and celebrated partnership. Despite his retirement, Roach's impact on the industry is undeniable, and he has left a lasting legacy as one of the most influential stylists of his time.

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