The Legendary Law Roach

The brains and “image architect” behind hundreds of show-stopping red carpet moments, celebrity stylist Law Roach is quickly conquering the fashion industry. Having already styled the likes of mega-celebs such as Kerry Washington, Anne Hathaway, and Ariana Grande, this forty-three-year-old Chicago native boasts an incredibly successful career. For example, remember Zendaya’s Cinderella gown at the 2019 Met Gala or her most recent Sportmax moment at this year’s Oscars? Yep—both styled by Law Roach, AKA, @luxurylaw. But where did it all begin, and how did he become so influential?

Initially, Roach kickstarted his career as a vintage broker, a trade that had always been his “addiction,” the stylist admits. Collecting and curating rare pieces, Roach steadily attracted such a large following that he decided to open the boutique Deliciously Vintage Harlem in New York. From here, Roach’s entrepreneurial success flourished as he continued accumulating a plethora of vintage collections reflecting the current season’s hottest and most sought-after looks. Soon after, Roach opened Deliciously Vintage Chicago, “bringing a renewed energy to the city’s fashion scene.” Eventually, this budding icon decided to pack up his things, move to Los Angeles, and pursue his dream of becoming a stylist.

In 2011, Roach was introduced to his first major client, Zendaya. Although the Disney star was still in her Shake It Up era, little did the two know how influential their partnership would soon become. Roach saw it as his “responsibility” to instill in her “everything that I knew about fashion so that we could grow together.” Fast forward about eleven years, and Zendaya has already won the prestigious 2021 CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Fashion Icon Award under Roach’s guidance. “It’s emotional because it takes me back to our earliest conversations,” Roach revealed in an article with Vogue, “She wanted to be a fashion star, and I wanted to be considered the best at what I do. Reaching this milestone together is humbling; it’s been such a journey, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”

Some of the super stylist’s most memorable looks to date include Hunter Schafer’s vintage Prada set for the 2021 Met Gala, Anya Taylor-Joy’s satin Dior dress at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, Kerry Washington’s Zuhair Murad gown for the 2020 Vanity Fair party, Ariana Grande’s Giambattista Valli gown for the 2020 Grammys, and Zendaya’s Tom Ford breastplate at the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards—to name a few. Oh, and did I forget to mention he styled every look in Ariana Grande’s viral “Thank U Next” music video? But his ingenuity doesn’t end there because he is also responsible for “Céline Dion’s 2016 transformation, practically overnight, from midlife chanteuse to fashion maven.” Styling her in everything from Balmain to Vetements, Roach admits, “Céline has no fear… And when you have that type of energy, you have this attitude that we can do whatever we want and we don’t care who likes it or dislikes it. Fashion is supposed to be polarizing. It has to be overwhelming.”

Celine Dion and Law Roach, Image Courtesy: celinedionweb

Although commonly working behind the scenes, Roach has become no less renowned than his laundry list of Hollywood clients, now amassing a following of over 1 million on Instagram. As of late, he was the first African American named The Top Stylist of The Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful Stylists, and he joined the judging panel on hit TV shows such as America’s Next Top Model and Legendary. Additionally, Roach has been published in mega outlets such as GQ and Vogue, and he was awarded Style Influencer of the Year at the 35th annual FN Achievement Awards. Ultimately, Roach’s thriving career has influenced much of the industry and will undoubtedly continue to shape fashion as we know it; he states, “Right now as a culture, as a society, we are looking for authenticity… I think we are the ones that are shaping [the future].”

Strike Out,

Gracie Wipfli

Boca Raton

Gracie Wipfli is a Senior Editor for Strike Magazine FAU, passionate about uniquely communicating with the world through writing. She is a woman of many words... in composition. You can reach her at graciewipfli@gmail.com

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